Rubber News reports that ExxonMobil has confirmed that it plans to close its butyl rubber unit at Notre Dame de Gravenchon, France by the third quarter of 2015. The unit produces regular butyl rubber; the closure will have no effect on the company’s halobutyl operations, where ExxonMobil is the largest producer in the world.
In May 2014, ExxonMobil announced the construction of new units to produce halobutyl rubber and Escorez hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins at its petrochemical complex in Singapore. The rubber unit will have 140,000 tonnes of capacity, while the resins unit will have 90,000 tonnes, primarily for hot melt adhesives. Completion is scheduled for 2017.
