MONHEIM AM RHEIN, Germany – The global chemical company Oxea aims to annually produce 60,000 metric tons of dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), a general-purpose non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer, in Europe by the second half of 2019. To that effect, Oxea has entered into a cooperation agreement with Oxxynova, Steyerberg, Germany, a manufacturer of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT). Oxea’s DOTP will be produced at a new, dedicated production unit using the transesterification process, which is superior to conventional esterification. Oxea will supply the key precursor 2‑ethylhexanol (2-EH) to Oxxynova and will market the end product DOTP through its own sales channels. The new DOTP production unit will be constructed at Oxxynova’s manufacturing site in Germany, with engineering activities already well under way. DOTP meets the highest environmental requirements. A direct replacement mainly for dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP), DOTP is used in a wide range of applications such as construction, automotive, coatings and flooring.

“By 2019, Oxea will become the major supplier of DOTP in Europe. Our primary goal is to improve delivery reliability through local production to sustainably meet our customers’ current and future needs for this important non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer. Together with Oxxynova, we are fully backward integrated into the two key raw materials: Oxea is the largest European producer of 2-EH, and Oxxynova is the leading European producer of DMT,” said Max Grudda, Marketing Manager, Plasticizers, at Oxea.

Oxea is a global manufacturer of oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives, such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and amines. The company employs more than 1,400 people worldwide and is part of the Oman Oil Co. S.A.O.C., a commercial company wholly owned by the Government of Oman.