Arlanxeo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, has opened a new 65 kilotonne/year polybutadiene (BR) production line in Brazil, typically used in tyre and other rubber compounds. The new production line supplements Arlanxeo’s existing production capacity in Brazil, and reinforces our commitment to meeting customer demand for reliable, locally produced BR in Latin America.
Commenting on the successful start-up of the new production line, Donald Chen, CEO, Arlanxeo, said: “Arlanxeo continues to invest in high growth markets, and our new polybutadiene production line reflects our confidence in Brazil and the broader Latin American market. We are delighted that the production line was constructed and commissioned safely, and we look forward to supplying our customers in Latin America with reliable, locally produced BR.”
The new production line is located in the south of Brazil in the Triunfo petrochemical complex in Rio Grande do Sul. Arlanxeo’s commitment to Brazil includes recent investments in a new nitrile rubber production line in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, and a new warehouse operation for polychloroprene in São Paulo, together with the existing world scale production facilities in Caxias, Triunfo, Cabo and a business centre in São Paulo.
“Arlanxeo’s state-of-the-art BR production line in Brazil is a direct response to growing demand for BR in Latin America. Customers can rely on Arlanxeo to deliver high quality, locally produced BR for the tyre and plastic markets, without needing to navigate complex global supply chains,” said Angelo Brazil, LATAM Regional Head, Arlanxeo.
Polybutadiene is produced by chemically linking multiple molecules of butadiene to form giant molecules, or polymers. The polymer is noted for its high resistance to abrasion, low heat build-up, and resistance to cracking, and is widely used to produce tyre treads, belts, hoses, gaskets and other automobile parts, as well as heels and soles for footwear.