Methanex has started producing methanol from its new Geismar 2 plant in the US state of  Louisiana. First volumes are being produced roughly three months ahead of schedule, and the company said full operating rates are expected to be reached over the coming weeks.

The 1 million t/y plant is the second facility the company has relocated to Geismar from its site near Punta Arenas, Chile. The first unit, Geismar 1, started production in 2015.

John Floren, CEO of Methanex, said the company’s total capacity, including the Geismar 2 start-up, has risen by around 3 million tonnes over the past three years.

The total cost for relocating the two plants from Chile to the US was approximately $1.4 billion, which Floren said was substantially cheaper than building a new plant.