Texas Petrochemicals to add polyisobutylene plant

Texas Petrochemicals Inc. (TPI), a Houston-based petrochemical company specializing in C4 hydrocarbons, on September 25 announced plans to more than double its current production of polyisobutylene (PIB) by mid-2008 with the addition of a new manufacturing facility at its Houston plant site.

The scheduled expansion is expected to supplement the company's existing production capacity of more than 65,000 metric tons per year, which has been debottlenecked during the past several years. A significant portion of the planned capacity is committed to long-term contracted customers, but unreserved capacity is available for new customers seeking to expand their polyisobutylene supply.

"The expansion is driven by our commitment to customers to fulfill their long-term requirements," said Sandra Davis, vice president, specialty polymers and new business development. "There is significant demand for highly reactive PIB (HR-PIB) for both fuel and lube additives. In addition, TPI has a strong and growing customer base in the industrial markets, which we will continue to support. We believe overall North American PIB production capacity is tight, and the market can accommodate additional capacity to serve new applications."

TPI, with annual sales of more than $1.5 billion, is the only merchant producer of HR-PIB in North America, where its application in lubes and fuel additives continues to generate strong demand. TPI services all PIB markets, which include both the industrial and additive markets.

TPI first entered the PIB market in May 2000 with the startup of its patented process to produce a wide range of PIB products. Since that time, the company has more than doubled its capacity through multiple expansion projects.

TPI's Houston plant manufactures a full range of high-quality polyisobutylene products ranging in molecular weights from 350 to 3,500, which service all the major markets including caulks, sealants, adhesives, cling film, lubricant base stocks and personal care. The company is a direct marketer of PIB but also uses national break-bulk distributors. TPI also has an extensive line of highly reactive polyisobutylene products ranging in molecular weights from 350 to 2,300, which are especially designed for use as dispersants for lube and fuel additive applications.