DATE : 2015-08-27

 

Germany-based chemicals producer Evonik has canceled plans to build a methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant in Alabama, the company said on Thursday.

Evonik had planned to construct a 120,000 tonne/year MMA facility in Mobile, Alabama. Announced in 2012, the plant was scheduled to come online in mid-2015.

As the target date passed, market sources said the company had delayed commencement of the project.

The company has now confirmed the project has been canceled following a strategic review. It did not provide further explanation.

The new facility was to be the first to utilize the company’s Aveneer production process, which is said to provide greater yields without the use of sulphuric acid.

Evonik currently operates an MMA facility in Fortier, Louisiana, with an annual production capacity of 150,000 tonnes/year, according to ICIS data. The company also has MMA plants in Germany and China.

MMA is a liquid monomer used primarily to produce resins and acrylic polymers. It is used in the production of acrylic sheeting and in surface coatings.

Major US producers of MMA include Arkema, Dow Chemical, Evonik and Lucite.

 

SOURCE Icis News