HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

ExxonMobil Chemical today announced that it has completed a major expansion to increase halobutyl manufacturing capacity at its plant in Baytown, Texas.

The expansion is part of the company's commitment to help meet growing demand for halobutyl rubber. By adding equipment and modifying existing facilities, the Baytown plant has increased its capacity to produce EXXON(TM) Bromobutyl rubber (brominated butyl rubber) by 60 percent.

"ExxonMobil Chemical continues to invest in halobutyl manufacturing at our facilities worldwide. In the Baytown complex alone, our project investment has exceeded $400 million since 2000," said Art Sullivan, vice president of ExxonMobil Chemical's Butyl Polymers Business. "This further demonstrates our continued global supply commitment to customers in the tire industry, supported by more than 70 years of experience in butyl rubber research and development and product know-how."

The ability of halobutyl to be vulcanized with other rubbers, along with its unique properties, such as low air permeability, high heat resistance, and excellent flex cracking resistance makes it valuable in tire inner liner applications. Since halobutyl retains air far better than other elastomers, more than 80 percent of the rubber in most premium-grade tire inner liners is halobutyl.

ExxonMobil Chemical is a major supplier of halobutyl rubber to the global tire industry, greatly expanding its capacity to produce this polymer in the last decade and affirming its commitment to supporting industry growth. In fact, since 1995 ExxonMobil has more than doubled its global halobutyl capacity.

About ExxonMobil Chemical

ExxonMobil Chemical is a global leader in technology, product quality and customer service with petrochemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations around the world. For more information visit: www.exxonmobilchemical.com.

Note to Editors:

The term "ExxonMobil Chemical" refers collectively to some or all of the companies affiliated with Exxon Mobil Corporation, and/or itself, which have chemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations around the world.

Source: ExxonMobil Chemical Company

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