03.04.14
Eastman Chemical Company announced an expansion of carboxylic acids capacity at its Longview, TX, and Kingsport, TN, facilities. The additional capacity is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014 and will add approximately 50 million pounds of carboxylic acids to support the increasing internal and external demand of the product.
“Eastman is committed to the continued optimization of its plants that produce these acids,” said Tony Ponder, business manager for Eastman’s Oxo Chemicals business unit of the Specialty Fluids & Intermediates (SFI) business segment. “Our olefin crackers in Texas allow Eastman a competitive position in carboxylic acid production with the supply chain capabilities to ship globally.”
“Internal demand for our acids ensures our commitment to long-term efficient production for both internal and external customers,” said Chip Millican, business manager for Eastman’s Organic Intermediates business unit, also a part of the Specialty Fluids & Intermediates business segment. “These are important intermediate materials and we continue to invest in them. Additionally, our engineers have identified at least 20 million pounds of additional low cost capacity that could be implemented in the future as demand dictates.”