German oxo chemicals producer Oxea said Monday it is planning to expand the production capacities of the downstream plants at its Bay City, Texas site in the US.
A feasibility study is currently in the final stages and is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2012, Oxea said in a statement.
The Bay City site hosts production plants for oxo-alcohols, carboxylic acids and acetate esters, mainly for the North and South American markets.
"There is a continuously growing demand for oxo chemicals from an increasing number of industries. Oxea's oxo-alcohols and carboxylic acids, for example, are building blocks for among others phthalate free plasticizers or energy-efficient lubricants for the manufacturing of environment-friendly cooling systems, and are therefore in high demand," said Miguel Mantas, executive board member for marketing and sales.
Oxea did not provide other details of the expansion plan, which was mapped out after it completed the syngas expansion project at the site in late-2011.
Syngas production at Bay City increased by 10%, Oxea said.
Actual production levels were not disclosed.
Syngas is the main precursor for Oxea's production of oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives, such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and amines, which are widely used in the manufacture of coatings, lubricants, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, and plastics.
