TPC Group Reveals Plans for Further Boosting Di-Isobutylene Production Capacity

TPC Group has announced a significant expansion in its di-isobutylene (DIB) production capacity to meet growing global demand. DIB is a key product within the Company’s Specialty Products business unit, used across a range of industries. The company has a strong track record of implementing cost-effective solutions to safely and efficiently increase capacity. In 2021, TPC Group commissioned a cross-functional team to identify infrastructure upgrades and operational improvements to boost DIB production at its Houston facility. Since then, the team’s efforts have resulted in a 27 percent increase in capacity by 2023, with additional enhancements to improve the loading of isocontainers for export.

Randall Redd, Vice President of Specialty Products at TPC Group, emphasized the company's commitment to meeting the growing need for DIB while maintaining environmentally sound and safe operations. He credited the company’s “One TPC” culture for fostering collaboration and creative thinking, leading to significant performance improvements. “TPC is dedicated to being a leader in all of its business areas and continuously seeks ways to better serve its customers worldwide,” said Redd.

DIB is a crucial ingredient in several applications, with its demand primarily driven by the increasing use of low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. These refrigerants, mandated by the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, are expected to reduce up to 105 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. DIB plays a key role in the lubricants used with these next-generation refrigerants. Beyond refrigeration, DIB is also used in phenolic resins for tire manufacturing, antioxidants for plastics, and high-performance chemicals in personal care products, lubricant additives, and adhesives.

TPC Group's integrated production facility is unique, with on-site production of isobutylene, the raw material for DIB. Additionally, the facility is equipped to load various transport options, including trucks, isocontainers, railcars, ships, and barges, allowing for global distribution. The latest capacity expansion positions TPC Group to better serve its international customer base, ensuring a reliable supply of DIB for a variety of critical industries.

TPC Group, based in Houston, is a leading producer of value-added products derived from C4 hydrocarbons and provides essential infrastructure and logistics services along the Gulf Coast. The company supplies its products to a broad range of markets, including synthetic rubber, fuels, lubricant additives, plastics, and surfactants. With over 80 years of operational experience, TPC Group operates manufacturing facilities in the industrial corridor near the Houston Ship Channel and in Port Neches, Texas, as well as a product terminal in Lake Charles, Louisiana.