Nouryon Doubles Triethylaluminum Co-catalyst Capacity in China and Makes Several Major Investments

Nouryon, a global leader in specialty chemicals, announced significant investments in China to meet growing domestic demand for high-performance polymers. With China becoming one of the fastest-growing polymer markets in the world, Nouryon is collaborating with customers to drive growth through localized manufacturing and innovation.

Nouryon recently completed a metal alkyl capacity expansion project at its Jiaxing plant, doubling its triethylaluminum (TEAL) production capacity. Triethylaluminum is a key co-catalyst for the production of polyethylene and polypropylene, widely used in packaging, automotive parts, and consumer goods.

China's dependence on foreign triethylaluminum will remain high through 2025. Annual domestic consumption has exceeded 10,000 tons since 2019, but domestic production capacity is severely insufficient, resulting in a primary reliance on imports. Currently, imports are primarily sourced from overseas companies such as AkzoNobel and Chemtura.

Data from 2022 shows that only a handful of domestic companies possess large-scale production capabilities. These include Fengguang Solar's Yulin project, with a first-phase capacity of 4,000 tons, scheduled to begin production at the end of 2022, and a second-phase capacity of 4,000 tons planned to be released gradually after 2023. Liaoning Xiangyang has a capacity of approximately 3,000 tons, and Zhejiang Friend has a capacity of approximately 3,000 tons.

Even if all projects reach full production, total domestic production capacity will still fall short of fully meeting demand, and imports are expected to remain high for an extended period.

Against this backdrop, the expansion of Nouryon's Jiaxing plant will significantly increase China's local supply of triethylaluminum, alleviate market shortages, and further strengthen the company's strategic position in China's polyolefins industry chain.

Concurrently, Nouryon plans to launch local production of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) in China in 2027. MMAO is a key component in catalysts for polyolefin elastomers used in solar panels, and the solar photovoltaic industry is one of China's fastest-growing market segments. In addition, the company will establish an Organic Peroxide Innovation Center in Tianjin in 2026 to provide specialized polymer application R&D capabilities, accelerating product development and enhancing customer technical support.

Nouryon President Larry Ryan said, "Our continued investment in China demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with future-oriented, high-performance polymer solutions through local manufacturing and innovation. Leveraging our extensive global experience in polymer catalysts and integrating it with local market needs, Nouryon is improving supply chain reliability, accelerating technological innovation, and enabling our customers' business growth."

The expansion of the Jiaxing site also includes key infrastructure upgrades, such as the installation of an advanced thermal oxidizer emission control system and the addition of blending and cylinder transfer capabilities, further strengthening the site's strategic position. The Jiaxing site has housed a metal alkyl R&D laboratory since 2024, focusing on improving process efficiency and exploring new production methods. It also plays a key role in supporting innovation and harmonization of industry standards in China's polyolefins industry.

These projects are part of the High Performance Materials division within Nouryon's Polymer Specialties business unit. As a leading global polymer solutions provider, Nouryon continuously promotes lightweighting, durability, and efficiency across the entire polymer lifecycle, from production and modification to recycling.

Nouryon currently operates metal alkyl production sites in La Porte, Texas, USA; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Jiaxing, China. It also has established metal alkyl application centers in Deventer, Netherlands, and Jiaxing, China. Furthermore, the company maintains transshipment and blending facilities in Jiaxing, China; Paulinha, Brazil; and Mahad, India, establishing a global, flexible, and efficient supply network.