Baytown’s petrochemical industry to generate $870M per year in economic activity

BAYTOWN – The petrochemical industry in Baytown has become a worldwide epicenter for the chemical and petrochemical industries, and adding thousands of jobs.

"The two largest plants in Baytown are ExxonMobil and Chevron Phillips. They both are spending over $5 billion each on their plant expansions. In construction, for all of the expansions including the smaller plants, we are looking at over 20,000 additional construction workers. The construction will continue for another two to three years, and there are more jobs in every area, across the board," said Patti Jett, coordinator of public affairs at Baytown Chamber of Commerce.

In July 2014, ExxonMobil announced it started construction of a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker at its Baytown complex and associated facilities in nearby Mont Belvieu.

The chemical industry and other industrial sectors account for nearly 30 percent of U.S. natural gas demand.

The project will employ about 10,000 construction workers, create 4,000 related jobs in nearby Houston communities and add 350 permanent positions at the Baytown complex.

It is expected to increase regional economic activity by roughly $870 million per year and generate more than $90 million per year in additional tax revenues for local communities. 

The average annual wage in the Texas chemical industry is about $100,000. 

The program has earned state and federal recognition for recruiting and training instrument technicians, welders, pipefitters and other skilled employees for the chemical industry. This program will involve 50,000 students and educators over the next five years.

Also in 2014, Chevron Phillips Chemical broke ground on a $6 billion expansion of its facilities in Baytown. The company will also build two new facilities in Old Ocean near Sweeny.