Russia’s leading speciality chemicals manufacturer, Nouryon (formerly known as AkzoNobel) has commenced production at its new plant that had started construction in 2020, in Ningbo, China, to cater to the rising need for polymers in Asia. The new site boasts facilities to furnish production of two industrially important intermediates, Tertiary Butyl Alcohol (TBA) and Tertiary Butyl Hydroperoxide (TBHP), with a total annual capacity of 35 KTPA.

The Ningbo site already houses six production facilities dedicated to the manufacturing of chelating agents, ethylene amines, organic peroxides, surfactants, and cellulose ethers. Nouryon’s other sites in Asia are spread across the countries of Japan and India.

Tertiary Butyl Alcohol and Tertiary Butyl Hydroperoxide are intermediates that are used in the production of polymers serving the end-user sectors of paints and coatings, packaging, and construction. Tertiary Butyl Alcohol is a camphor-like smelling organic material produced from isobutane using the hydroperoxide process, by the catalytic hydration of isobutylene, or by reacting acetone with methyl magnesium chloride. It finds wide usage in organic synthesis as, starting material for peroxides, an alkylating agent, or catalyst/reagent for the production of esters and ethers. It is also becoming popular as a blending component in gasoline. In Asia, Tertiary Butyl Alcohol and Tertiary Butyl Hydroperoxide are typically used in hygienic food packaging, PVC pipes, and paint resins.

As per ChemAnalyst, the Asia Pacific region enjoys the largest revenue share (of around 45%) of the Tertiary Butyl Alcohol market owing to the rapidly expanding industrialization that has boosted the operations of the packaging, pharmaceuticals and paint sectors. The addition of capacities in China is going to stabilize the supply of Tertiary Butyl Alcohol in the Asian market, consequently causing the Tertiary Butyl Alcohol prices to stay steady in the coming months. Furthermore, the new units will foster Nouryon’s hold over the fast-growing Asia Pacific polymer market.