ExxonMobil starts up new PE line at largest PE plant in the world

US firm ExxonMobil Chemical Company has commenced production on the first of two new 650,000-tonnes/year high-performance PE lines at its plastics plant in Mont Belvieu, Texas.

The full project, part of the company’s US$20 billion expansion project in the Baytown area and its broader Growing the Gulf expansion initiative, will increase the plant’s PE capacity by approximately 1.3 million tonnes/year.

The Mont Belvieu plant capacity will total more than 2.5 million tonnes/year, making it one of the largest PE plants in the world. The company says its performance PE products will deliver significant sustainability benefits enabling lighter weight higher performance packaging, lower energy consumption and reduced emissions.

A significant portion of Mont Belvieu PE will be exported from the Port of Houston later this month. At peak, the site will ship more than 200 containers a day.

“The expansion of our Mont Belvieu facility further enhances our ability to meet growing global demand for high-performance polyethylene products around the world,” said Neil Chapman, President of ExxonMobil Chemical. “The investments we’re making through our Growing the Gulf initiative will not only expand our existing manufacturing and export capacity, but will further stimulate local economic growth and create thousands of full-time jobs.”

ExxonMobil is planning to invest more than US$20 billion over ten years to build and expand manufacturing facilities in the US Gulf region. These projects are expected to create more than 45,000 jobs, including more than 12,000 full-time jobs. The expansion covers 11 major chemical, refining, lubricant and liquefied natural gas projects along the Texas and Louisiana coasts.