BASF announced yesterday it increased its global production capacity for higher carboxylic acids isononanoic acid and 2-ethylhexanoic acid from 55,000 metric tons per year to 68,000 t/y to support growing demand for them as components for synthetic lubricants, including for the refrigeration industry. The company produces the carboxylic acids at facilities in Kuantun, Malaysia, and Ludwigshafen, Germany.