Oleon announced on June 29 a grand opening for its first esters production plant in North America in Conroe, Texas, intended to meet growing demand for oleochemical solutions in various industries, including lubricants. The Ertvelde, Belgium-based company in May 2022 announced construction of the plant, which has an expected initial investment of over $50 million. The company said the Conroe plant will start with warehousing and blending, followed in 2024 by an esterification unit.