Celanese has started production of vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) at its newly constructed plant on Jurong Island, Singapore. Investment costs were not revealed for the facility which is the US-based company’s third VAE plant in Asia. The 70,000 t/y Singapore plant benefitted from existing infrastructure at the site which houses Celanese’s integrated acetyls complex. The company also produces VAE at two other plants in Nanjing, China.

The additional capacity will support growing demand in Southeast Asia – including Australia, India and New Zealand. “Southeast Asia and India are leading the world’s construction demand – especially for infrastructure projects – which drives the region’s heavy demand for important materials such as VAE,” said Mark Oberle, Celanese’s senior vice president and head of Asia operations.

Celanese’s VAE technology produces water-based emulsions that enable manufacturers to produce environmentally friendly products including paints, architectural coatings, carpet backings, adhesives for woodworking and paper packaging as well as apparel and textile finishing. US contractor Jacobs Engineering provided engineering, procurement, and construction management services on the project.