AMSTERDAM — Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) will start construction in May on a project to further increase capacity for chloromethanes at its site in Frankfurt, Germany, supporting growing global customer demand. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2020.

The company first increased chloromethanes production in Frankfurt in 2017; the new project will increase annual production capacity of the chloromethane methyl chloride by more than 30%. Methyl chloride is used for the manufacture of various construction materials, silicones, surfactants and pharmaceuticals.

“As well as investing in additional capacity, we will also make substantial upgrades to the facility, which will improve overall supply reliability for our customers and support their growth plans,” said Knut Schwalenberg, Managing Director Industrial Chemicals at Nouryon. “We have a leading position in the European chloromethanes market, and this is a significant investment to strengthen that.”