Huntsman Expands Manufacturing of Key Specialty Amine Product
New Supply Will Meet Demand of Gas Treating and Electronics Markets
The Woodlands, TX – Huntsman Corporation (NYSE:HUN) is expanding its capability to manufacture its Diglycolamine® Agent (DGA® Agent) amine product, which will increase capacity by more than 20%. The expansion at Huntsman’s Port Neches, Texas manufacturing plant is complete, while a similar expansion at the company’s specialty amines plant in Llanelli, Wales will be completed during the fourth quarter of this year. Huntsman has also initiated engineering studies with the goal of bringing additional capacity on line within the next 18 months.
Huntsman is the world’s leading producer of DGA® Agent along with its co-product, morpholine. DGA® Agent scrubs carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and other impurities from natural gas and refinery gas streams, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and sulphur emissions that contribute to acid rain. It also is used by the electronics industry to make photo-resist strippers needed to make LCD screens and printed circuit boards. Other uses include metal working fluids, agricultural chemicals and as an intermediate for shampoos and polyurethane foam catalysts.
Gas conditioning and electronics uses are driving demand for DGA® Agent. In particular, demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) has spurred the need for DGA® Agent, which can remove carbon dioxide from natural gas to very low levels, facilitating the liquefaction process. At the same time, electronics demand has been growing at more than 10% per year.
“This investment demonstrates Huntsman’s commitment to our Gas Treating and Electronics market segments,” says Don Stanutz, President, Performance Products Division. “It also strengthens our position as the leading producer of DGA® Agent. Our technology will allow us to preferentially produce this additional DGA® Agent while minimizing morpholine production.”
Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and commodity chemicals. Its operating companies manufacture products for a variety of global industries including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation, textiles, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, health care, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances and packaging. Originally known for pioneering innovations in packaging, and later, rapid and integrated growth in petrochemicals, Huntsman today has 15,000 employees and 78 operations in 24 countries. The Company had 2005 revenues of $13 billion.
Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed in the Huntsman companies’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the company’s expectations will be realized. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.