Roehm to end MMA production at US Westwego site in June 2025

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Roehm will end methyl methacrylate (MMA) production at its Westwego, Louisiana, plant in June 2025, according to a press release.

The plant will continue to process material and supply the market until the scheduled closure.

It has a capacity of 160,000 tonnes/year, according to ICIS Supply and Demand Database.

“The closure of the Westwego plant comes after strategic financial and production network analysis, taking into account the improved efficiency and distribution that our future Bay City, Texas, plant will provide,” according to Jack Chenault, president of Roehm America.

The shutdown of the Westwego plant will impact about 70 salaried and hourly employees, while the Bay City plant will create 70 direct jobs once completed.

This comes as construction progresses on schedule for the company’s new 250,000 tonne/year MMA plant, with production expected to begin in H1 2024.

To be integrated into OQ Chemicals’ production facilities, the plant will be the first to use Roehm’s ethylene-based Leading in Methacrylates (LiMA) technology on a large industrial scale.

Nearly all MMA is polymerised to make homopolymers and copolymers, the largest application being the casting, moulding or extrusion of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or modified polymers.

Front page picture: Crystals made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
Source: Shutterstock