The company said it will boost capacity at its Huelva, Spain, plant by 15 kilotons, to a total capacity of 90 kilotons per year, and will increase capacity at its Teluk Kalung, Malaysia, facility by 6 kilotons, to a total of 56 kilotons per year. The company said it is investing $35 million in the expansions, which are under way.
Huntsman Tioxide earlier announced plans to modernize and expand its Greatham, UK, plant to 100 kilotons per year, in an $85-million project that includes the installation of an additional production line. The investments are part of an ongoing program to upgrade and expand manufacturing facilities, the company said. Huntsman Corp. purchased Tioxide, the former TiO2 business of ICI plc, in 1999 as part of a $2.8-billion acquisition involving four businesses.
Separately, Huntsman Corp. also has announced plans to launch a new Specialty Chemicals unit, described as a broader-based polyurethanes business and expanded surfactants and ethylene oxide derivatives business. Under a reorganization program, Huntsman said it will integrate its catalyst-products business, a part of Huntsman Performance Chemicals, into Huntsman Polyurethanes. The Specialty Chemicals unit will include Polyurethanes, Propylene Oxide, Propylene Glycol, MTBE, and the existing petrochemical-based Performance Chemicals group.
