Huntsman Expands Manufacturing of Key Specialty Amine Product

　　Huntsman Corporation (NYSE:HUN) is expanding its capability to manufacture its Diglycolamine Agent (DGA Agent) amine product, which will increase capacity by more than 20%.  The expansion at Huntsman's Port Neches, Texas manufacturing plant is complete, while a similar expansion at the company's specialty amines plant in Llanelli, Wales will be completed during the fourth quarter of this year. Huntsman has also initiated engineering studies with the goal of bringing additional capacity on line within the next 18 months.
Huntsman is the world'ss leading producer of DGA Agent along with its co-product, morpholine.  DGA Agent scrubs carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and other impurities from natural gas and refinery gas streams, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and sulphur emissions that contribute to acid rain.  It also is used by the electronics industry to make photo-resist strippers needed to make LCD screens and printed circuit boards.  Other uses include metal working fluids, agricultural chemicals and as an intermediate for shampoos and polyurethane foam catalysts.
    Gas conditioning and electronics uses are driving demand for DGA Agent.  In particular, demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) has spurred the need for DGA Agent, which can remove carbon dioxide from natural gas to very low levels, facilitating the liquefaction process.  At the same time, electronics demand has been growing at more than 10% per year. This investment demonstrates Huntsman's commitment to our Gas Treating and Electronics market segments,± says Don Stanutz, President, Performance Products Division.°It also strengthens our position as the leading producer of DGA Agent.  Our technology will allow us to preferentially produce this additional DGA Agent while minimizing morpholine production.