ExxonMobil completes Japanese BR expansion

Kawasaki, Japan - ExxonMobil Chemical's Japanese affiliate ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha announced that Japan Butyl Co. Ltd. has completed a major expansion of butyl rubber capacity at its plant in Kawasaki, Japan. The expansion adds 18 kilotonnes per annum, bringing the plant's total capacity to 98 ktpa.

“These advancements are part of ExxonMobil Chemical's longstanding commitment to serve the growing butyl market," said John Lyon, vice president, global butyl polymers business unit, ExxonMobil Chemical, in a 21 Oct statement.

“Our goal is to continue being a reliable supplier of quality butyl polymers. This is particularly important for the Asia Pacific market, which is growing at a rapid rate,” he added.

The expansion is part of the company's commitment to help meet growing demand for butyl rubber and uses ExxonMobil's recent advances in process technology, the announcement said. Proprietary technology advancements allow for the butyl polymerisation reaction to operate at -75°C as against the convention -95°C, ExxonMobil said. This creates significant energy and capital investment savings, it pointed out.

ExxonMobil Chemical claims to be an industry leader in the development and application of premium butyl polymers that add value through enhanced product performance in areas such as energy efficiency, longer product life and greenhouse gas emission reduction.

This Japan Butyl Co. Ltd. expansion is the latest of several recent company expansions to serve the growing butyl market, the announcement said. In 2008, ExxonMobil expanded halobutyl capacity at its Baytown, Texas, plant by 60 percent. This was preceded by the 2006 expansion of Japan Butyl's halobutyl capacity at its Kashima plant by 17 ktpa.

About Japan Butyl Co., Ltd.

Japan Butyl Co., Ltd., a butyl rubber manufacturing company, is a joint venture of ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha and JSR Kabushiki Kaisha. The company serves as a supply base for butyl rubber primarily in Asia. ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha holds a 50 percent stake in Japan Butyl Co., Ltd.

ExxonMobil Chemical Butyl Polymers claims to be the world's leader in butyl technology, services and products, with more than 65 years of butyl rubber experience.