BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd (BPC), a joint venture between BASF and PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG), intends to expand the annual production capacity of 2-Ethylhexanoic Acid (2-EHA) from 30,000 to 60,000 metric tons by 2024.
“We are committed to supporting our customers’ growing demand in various 2-EHA downstream ap-plications, such as synthetic lubricants for the white goods industry, and PVB plasticizers for safety glass production in the construction and automotive segments. With the increased capacity, we con-tinue to ensure persistent supply capability in Asia Pacific with the highest standard of product quality,” said Vasilios Galanos, Senior Vice President, Intermediates Asia Pacific, BASF.
“2-EHA has been an integral part of BPC’s growth and it is timely that the expansion is planned to cap-ture the growing market. The expansion is also in line with PCG’s sustainable growth strategy to ex-pand our portfolio with higher value products. By leveraging the existing integration between BPC and other PCG plants in the Kuantan Verbund site, we are able to maximise our value chain by improving the quality and cost competitiveness of our products and continue delivering innovative solutions to our customers,” said Datuk Sazali Hamzah, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, PCG.
2-EHA is a chemical intermediate used as a compound in the production of synthetic lubricants as well as oil additives. It is also used in functional fluids like automotive coolants, metal salts for paint dryers, plasticizers, stabilizers, catalysts and other applications in various industries.
Apart from the production site in Kuantan, Malaysia, BASF produces 2-EHA at its Verbund site in Lud-wigshafen, Germany.