Arizona Chemical is idling its Port St. Joe, Fla., tall oil plant for two weeks starting last Friday, citing economic conditions.
Market projections show softer demand for tall oil fatty acids and rosin products in the first quarter, so they decided to take this opportunity to bring down the refinery to address some maintenance issues, Arizona Chemical spokeswoman Alison Abernathy told Lube Report.
We expect this temporary curtailment will affect approximately 50 of the plants 76 employees, who will be furloughed for most of the two-week period, said Mike Brantley, Port St. Joe plant manager. The company expects to resume full production the week of Feb. 23.
Arizona Chemical makes a variety of tall oil products, including tall oil fatty acids, soaps, rosins and distilled tall oils. Tall oil fatty acids are used in manufacture of metalworking fluids and corrosion inhibitors, and in industrial uses such as lubricants for belt conveyors, escalators and tracks.
The Jacksonville, Fla.-based company produces naturally derived specialty resins and pine-based chemicals for the lubricants, adhesives, inks and coatings, fuel additives, mining and oleochemicals markets. It has manufacturing plants in the United States and Europe.