Huntsman Corporation and Saudi family-owned conglomerate Zamil Group on Saturday started production at joint-venture plant that will add 6.5 per cent to global ethylene amines supply, state media said.

The 50-50 pertners spent SR1.08 billion ($288 million) to build the plant owned by Arabian Amines Company, the official SPA news agency reported.

The plant starts at a production capacity of 27,215 tonnes per annum but it can be increased to 41,000 tonnes. The product will be marketed by Huntsman in Asia and Europe.

Ethylene amines are used in various applicatiosn including asphalt, fuel additives, bleaches, corrosion inhibitors and fabric softeners.-Reuters