Oxea Expanded The Production Capacities of Carboxylic Acids at Its Oberhausen Site

German oxo chemicals maker Oxea said Wednesday it had expanded the production capacities of carboxylic acids at its Oberhausen site in Germany to meet growing global demand.

Output from existing carboxylic acid units have been increased by 10% following expansion work, with the additional capacities scheduled to go on stream "within the next few weeks," it said.

Construction of a new plant in Oberhausen is proceeding as planned and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013, Oxea said, adding that this project would bring to five its carboxylic acid plants globally.

Oxea declined to give other details, including existing and expanded production capacities.

Carboxylic acids are widely used in the manufacture of energy-efficient lubricant esters for environmentally friendly air conditioners and refrigerators or specialty plasticizers.