Nouryon, the former AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, will begin construction next month on a project to further increase capacity for chloromethanes at its site in Frankfurt, Germany.

The expansion, due to be completed in 2020, is in reaction to growing demand in the market, the company said. Capacity figures were not disclosed.

AkzoNobel first increased chloromethanes production in Frankfurt in 2017. With the new project, annual output capability of the chloromethane methyl chloride – used in construction materials, silicones, surfactants and pharmaceuticals – will rise by more than 30%.

As well as investing in additional capacity, we will also make substantial upgrades to the facility, which will improve overall supply reliability for our customers and support their growth plans,” said Knut Schwalenberg, managing director Industrial Chemicals at Nouryon.

“We have a leading position in the European chloromethanes market and this is a significant investment to strengthen that,” he added.