Ineos will reinstate 100,000 t/yr of acrylonitrile capacity at its plant in Green Lake, Texas, bringing the facility's total capacity back to 545,000 t/yr.
Ineos did not specify when it will bring the capacity back online. It said it will schedule a turnaround of its Seal Sands nitriles facility in the UK in 2016. US production could possibly make up for a turnaround at that plant.
Acrylonitrile is a raw material for synthetic fibers. Low US propylene prices, supported by investments in new US PDH capacity, will benefit margins, the company said.
"The addition of significant production capacity in China has forced worldwide acrylonitrile operating rates down to less than 80pc, the lowest level since 2008," said Gordon Adams, commercial director for Ineos Nitriles. "However, with its feedstock advantage, scale and leading technology, the INEOS Nitriles, Green Lake facility will be able to compete in the global market."
