Lanxess (finally) confirms butyl plant capacities

By David Shaw, ERJ staff

Singapore -- Lanxess' butyl rubber business has confirmed the annual capacities of the company's existing factories. Previously Lanxess has not revealed capacity data, but the company has now confirmed that ERJ estimates were accurate, despite previously saying the numbers were wrong.

Dr. Ron Commander, head of Lanxess' butyl rubber business said the Sarnia, Canada plant will have capacity of 150 kt/year after an 11 percent expansion due on stream later this year. He said the Antwerp plant has capacity of 130 Kt, following a 10 percent expansion in 2006. After 2011, the company will have a further 100 kt/year available from the new unit in Singapore.

In September 2006, ERJ put these capacity figures to Commander after he announced some capacity expansion, but he said they were inaccurate.

IISRP data suggests total global capacity for butyl backbone is around 1000 ktpa, while Exxon Mobil controls about 500 ktpa. Lanxess AG comes next with 280 kt, followed by JSR with 80kt and a few other companies, notably in Russia and China make up the remaining 150 ktpa or so.

Commander said Lanxess sales of butyl materials are 88 percent halobutyl and 12 percent ordinary butyl. The company said the butyl business has annual sales of, "over Euro 500 million annually."