In response to “strongly growing customer demand”, oxo intermediates and derivatives producer Oxea (Dallas, Texas / USA; www.oxea-chemicals.com) plans to raise European output of its “Oxsoft” dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) plasticiser by 50,000 t/y. The company told Plasteurope.com that the capacity upgrade will take place in Germany – where it operates plants in Marl and Oberhausen – but did not specify at which facility. The added output is due to come on stream in Q4 2015.

To achieve the upgrade, Oxea said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with a third party to jointly produce DOTP. The US company responded to PIE’s query about further details by saying that the partners had agreed to keep mum about the identity of the other party.

DOTP is a phthalate-free plasticiser used as a replacement for dioctyl phthalate and diisononyl phthalate, among others. To meet rising demand for phthalate-free alternatives, Oxea recently introduced new bio-based products “Oxblue” DOSX (dioctyl succinate) and ATBC (acetyl tributyl citrate) – see Plasteurope.com of 10.02.2014.