The Southeast Texas company specializes in extracting compounds from natural gas to sell to companies that make polyethylene, which is used to manufacture hard plastics, synthetic rubber and more. Booming production of natural gas from shale plays across the United States has kept the domestic price low, harming international competitors and sparking rapid growth throughout the United States, said Nick Carter, president and CEO of South Hampton's parent company, Trecora. "[...] we don't think there is a lot of risk of the U.S.