Arkema Announces the Successful Start-up of Its Acrylic Acid Capacity Expansion at Clear Lake, Tx

Regulatory News:

In line with previous announcements, Arkema (Paris:AKE) has brought on stream additional acrylic acid capacity at its Clear Lake, Texas, site. A ramp-up period is planned to continue over the next few months associated with commercial qualification of newly manufactured products. This project will improve reliability and increase competitiveness of the Clear Lake plant and brings the site to a nameplate capacity of 270 KT per year.

The project is a major portion of the $110 million investment plan announced in November 2010. Last year, at its Bayport, Texas facility, Arkema started up a 2-Ethyl Hexyl Acrylate unit (2-EHA) used in pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA). The acrylic acid capacity expansion at Clear Lake was the second project announced and is currently being readied for commercial operation. The third project from this plan is the addition of a Methyl Acrylate unit, dedicated to supply water treatment and engineering polymers markets. This unit is targeted for mechanical completion near the end of this year.

"This significant investment program was a key initiative to strengthen Arkema’s position in the North American market” indicated Marie-Pierre Chevallier, Global Group President, Acrylic Monomers for Arkema. "With two key strategic and balanced production platforms in the Americas (Clear Lake and Bayport, TX) and in Europe (Carling, France), we can truly deliver on our Acrylic offering for all our customers around the world.»

The completion of this important investment program will help Arkema meet demand in a number of fast-growing market segments and reinforces its position as #4 Acrylic Monomers global supplier.

A global chemical company and France’s leading chemicals producer, Arkema is building the future of the chemical industry every day. Deploying a responsible, innovation-based approach, we produce state-of-the-art specialty chemicals that provide customers with practical solutions to such challenges as climate change, access to drinking water, the future of energy, fossil fuel preservation and the need for lighter materials. With operations in more than 40 countries, some 14,000 employees and 10 research centers, Arkema generates annual revenue of €6.4 billion, and holds leadership positions in all its markets with a portfolio of internationally recognized brands.