OREANDA-NEWS. November 15, 2016. ExxonMobil announced today plans to add a new production unit at its Beaumont polyethylene plant that will increase capacity by 65 percent – or approximately 650,000 tonnes per year -- to meet growing demand for high performance plastics.

ExxonMobil is a leader in the manufacture of polyethylene products for packaging applications that deliver light-weight, tough, damage-resistant films. Construction of the new unit has begun at the plant, where current polyethylene production capacity is one million tonnes per year. Startup is expected in 2019.

As the U.S. continues to produce abundant supplies of oil and natural gas, ExxonMobil is investing billions of dollars along the U.S. Gulf Coast to help meet growing global energy demand. These investments will not only expand existing refining and chemical capacity, but also stimulate economic growth and create jobs. In fact, ExxonMobil’s investments could create more than 28,000 temporary jobs in construction and more than 1,200 permanent jobs over the next few years and beyond.

“The availability of vast new supplies of U.S. shale gas and associated liquids for feedstock and energy is a significant advantage that enables expansion to meet strong global demand growth in polyethylene,” said Cindy Shulman, vice president of ExxonMobil’s plastics and resins business.

The Beaumont project builds on supply advantages created by ExxonMobil’s expansion of its Mont Belvieu Plastics Plant in Texas, where two similar polyethylene units are being added. Combined, this multi-billion dollar investment will increase the company’s U.S. polyethylene production by 40 percent, or nearly two million tonnes per year, making Texas the largest polyethylene supply point for ExxonMobil.

“ExxonMobil is committed to continuing investments in its world-class, integrated facilities,” Shulman said. “We combine our state-of-the-art production expertise with a first-class technology organization, which enables us to offer innovative polyethylene products for applications such as flexible food packaging that increases product shelf life and safety.”

The Beaumont expansion project will employ 1,400 construction workers and create 40 permanent jobs upon completion, as well as generate \\$20 billion in economic activity in the first 13 years of operation based on 2015 Impact Data Source estimates.

“We’re part of the growth in an area that is primed for new business,” said Jason Duncan, manager of the Beaumont polyethylene plant. “The expansion of the polyethylene plant is now ExxonMobil’s third significant investment in the Beaumont area over the past 18 months, the impact of which will benefit the local economy in the years to come.”

ExxonMobil’s previously announced investments at Beaumont include expansion of the refinery’s crude refining capacity in 2015 and, earlier this year, construction of a new unit to increase domestic supply of ultra-low sulfur gasoline and diesel.

About ExxonMobil Beaumont

ExxonMobil’s integrated operations in Beaumont, Texas, include refining and chemical manufacturing. The operations have 2,100 employees, accounting for one out of every 7 jobs in the Beaumont area, according to the economic analysis firm, the Perryman group.

About ExxonMobil Chemical Company

ExxonMobil Chemical Company is one of the largest petrochemical companies worldwide. The company holds leadership positions in some of the largest-volume and highest-growth commodity petrochemical products in the world. ExxonMobil Chemical Company has manufacturing capacity in every major region of the world, serving large and growing markets. More than 90 percent of the Company’s chemical capacity is integrated with large refineries or natural gas processing plants. To learn more, visit www.exxonmobilchemical.com.

Cautionary Statement: Statements of future events or conditions in this release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results, including project plans, schedules, and capacities and local impacts, could differ materially due to factors such as changes in prices of oil, gas, or petrochemicals and other market factors affecting the chemical industry and the supply and demand for our products; the occurrence and duration of economic recessions; timely completion of construction projects and unforeseen technical or operating difficulties; legal or regulatory events; the actions of competitors; and other factors discussed under the heading Factors Affecting Future Results on the Investors page of our website at exxonmobil.com.