ExxonMobil to build butyl rubber, hydrocarbon resin plants in Singapore

ExxonMobil Chemical announced Thursday that it will build facilities to manufacture premium halobutyl rubber and Escorez hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin at its recently-expanded petrochemical complex in Singapore. 

Engineering and procurement activities have begun, with construction expected to begin in the second half of 2014 and completion anticipated in 2017.

The company is a major supplier of halobutyl rubber to the global tire industry, and this expansion project will add production capacity of 140,000 tpy, according to ExxonMobil officials.

The hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin production unit will be the world’s largest, with a capacity of 90,000 tpy, to meet long-term demand growth for hot-melt adhesives.

“Our expanded steam cracking capability at Singapore provides a platform for growth through a wide range of petrochemical building blocks that can be further upgraded to specialty products,” said Steve Pryor, president of ExxonMobil Chemical. “We continue to invest in expanding capacity at our strategic hub in Singapore, which is an ideal location to efficiently serve the fast growing Asia Pacific market.”