Ineos Oxide site at Saltend, Hull in UK. (File photo)
HULL, UK: Ineos Oxide Ltd has invested a multi-million pound for the expansion its manufacturing facility at Hull in UK, increasing the production capacity of ethyl acetate (EtAc) by 100,000 tonnes per year. It is expected that the additional capacity will be available by the end of next year.
EtAc is in high demand for use in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, inks and flexible packaging and the Hull plant is already at full capacity. This new investment will enable the company to continue to serve customers across Europe for many years to come.
This is the first major UK investment decision to be made following the Brexit vote and reflects Ineos’ confidence in the UK economy and its ability to continue to deliver for its customers.
The Hull site will also benefit from Ineos’ $1 billion decision to import US Shale gas to Scotland. A pipeline linking Ineos’ petrochemicals plant at Grangemouth with Ineos Oxide in Hull means the site will be able to use ethylene produced from imported US shale gas, as its main raw material.
The Hull plant was originally built with expansion in mind and so the project should be completed quickly with very good cost economics. It will also benefit from easy logistical access to Europe and the global market, supporting both import of raw material and export of EtAc.
“We believe in British manufacturing and will support it wherever we can. Our Hull plant is at capacity and this extra investment will enable us to significantly increase production that we will sell all over Europe and across the world,” said Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos founder and chairman.
“We are the largest producer of EtAC in Europe and we are about to get a lot bigger. Growth in demand for our products is strong and this investment will support our customers’ needs over the long term,” said Graham Beesley, CEO Ineos Oxide.
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