In what it said is a vote of confidence for investment in the UK following the Brexit vote, Ineos Oxide has announced plans to spend a “multi-million pound” sum to raise production of ethyl acetate (etac) at its Hull facility in England. The additional 100,000 t/y capacity is expected to become available by the end of 2017. Ineos said demand for etac is strong, and the new capacity will enable it to continue supplying its European customers for many years to come.

 “We believe in British manufacturing and will support it wherever we can,” said Chairman Jim Ratcliffe. “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.”

The plant was originally built with expansion in mind, and Ineos said it expects the current project will be completed quickly with very good cost economics. The company said the site will also benefit from its decision to import shale gas from the US to Scotland. Thanks to a pipeline that links the Grangemouth complex with Hull, ethylene produced from the imported gas will serve as the plant’s main feedstock.

Ineos is Europe’s largest producer of etac, which is used to produce pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, inks and flexible packaging.