ExxonMobil Chemical (Baytown, Texas / USA; www.exxonmobilchemical.com) has launched production of its new HDPE and LLDPE swing plant at Beaumont, Texas. The group’s third large polyethylene plant gives a 65% boost to capacity with another 650,000 t/y. Total capacity at the site is now almost 1.7m t/y of PE. According to Plasteurope.com’s Polyglobe database (www.polyglobe.net), ExxonMobil is the world’s leading polyethylene producer, with a capacity exceeding 11m t/y of PE, of which more than 6m t/y is in the US.

The company says there is strong demand for high-performance grades for liquid and food packaging, construction liners and agricultural films. The new Beaumont line complements the two PE lines ExxonMobil installed in Mont Belvieu, Texas, each with a capacity of 650,000 t/y too – see Plasteurope.com of 26.10.2017.