The Performance Intermediates Plant in Antwerp is one of the world's largest and most up-to-date plants for the production of aliphatic and aromatic solvents. This plant, which was established in the sixties and modernized in the seventies, is fully integrated with the Esso Refinery in Antwerp. The plant premises also contain a transshipment terminal for ethylene.

Operations

Different petroleum fractions from the Antwerp Esso Refinery form the raw materials for the production of ExxonMobil Chemical Fluids. These are pumped through pipelines from the Esso Refinery to the ExxonMobil Chemical units.

Other raw materials, higher olefins, are also supplied for the production of specific types of solvents: the Isopar fluids. They are imported by sea-freighter from another ExxonMobil Chemical plant in Fawley (UK).

This ethylene is primarily supplied by the ExxonMobil Chemical plant in Fife (Scotland), unloaded in Antwerp and stored in a land tank that has been specially designed for the storage of this product. From there the product is pumped to the ExxonMobil Chemical polyethylene plants at Antwerp and Meerhout.

Dynamic Market

The range of products produced by the Antwerp Intermediates Plant has changed significantly over the years.

The production process is constantly being modified as a dynamic market increasingly requests more specialised products. An increasing number of new high quality fluids with very specific properties are constantly being developed.

The applications for our products are very diverse. They are used as a solvent for paints, (car) enamels, agricultural chemicals, cosmetics and oil - and fuel-additives. They are also used in aerosol propellants as a replacement for chlorofluorocarbons (CFC).

Nice to Know!

The Antwerp Intermediates Plant is the 'Fluids supply point' for Europe. This means that all the distribution activities within Europe are monitored from the plant. Logistics and stock accounting specialists are located in Antwerp.

Fact Sheet