Major styrenics producer Ineos Styrolution is planning to expand capacity in Mexico in response to growing demand in the Americas. Production at the plant in Altamira, which produces a variety of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) solutions, will be raised by 20,000 t/y to an overall capacity of 180,000 t/y. The extra output is expected to go on stream by the first quarter of 2018.

The additional capacity will reduce Ineos Styrolution’s need for imports, which have been required to support rising demand in the Americas and will free up the volumes to meet growth in other regions. The German-headquartered company said it is seeing growing demand for ABS- and ASA-based solutions, particularly in market segments such as automotive, construction, household and toys, sports and leisure.

Alexander Glueck, president Americas, said the investment is in line with the company’s Triple Shift growth strategy, which focused on growing markets, growing industries and on innovative products for its customers to stay competitive in their respective markets. Last month, Ineos Styrolution agreed to buy the joint venture K-Resin styrene-butadiene copolymers business of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and Daelim Industrial. The deal, when completed, will allow the Ineos offshoot to supply customers from sites in all the world’s major regions.