STYRENE Butadiene (SB) latex producer, Styron Europe GmbH is reducing its manufacturing capacity for SB latex in Europe by 70,000 dry metric tonnes, in response to the current overcapacity in the European marketplace.
The capacity reduction was completed over the past several months across Styron production facilities in Hamina, Finland; Rheinmunster, Germany; and Terneuzen, The Netherlands.
Due to declining demand in the European paper-coating market and current market conditions, the company sees the reduction vital to regain a healthy supply/demand balance.
According to Christian Page, Business Director for Latex in Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, the shift in production is due to the current conditions in the EU marketplace, which is no longer sustainable for Styron’s SB latex business in the region.