Asahi Kasei to build S-SBR plant in Singapore

ERJ staff report (DS)

Singapore -- Asahi Kasei Chemicals has said it will construct a new plant to produce solution-polymerised styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) in Singapore. The products are targetted directly at high performance tyres.

The first phase, due on stream in June 2013 will be 50 kt/year, and a second phase, expected on stream in the first half of 2015, will double that. The plant will be located in the Tembusu district of Jurong Island, Singapore.

Asahi Kasei operates a 105 kt/year solution polymerisatino plant in Kawasaki, Japan and a JV plant in Oita, Japan with total capacity of 35 kt/year. The Oita plant is run by Japan Elastomer Co., Ltd., which is a 75-25 joint venture between Asahi Kasei Chemicals (75) and Showa Denko K.K. (25). All three plants - including the new Singapore unit -- can produce S-SBR or polybutadiene rubber or even styrenic block copolymers.

Asahi Kasei Chemicals has expanded synthetic rubber operations as a field of strategic global expansion with a key focus on S-SBR for fuel-efficient high-performance tyres. With its new S-SBR plant in Singapore, Asahi Kasei Chemicals will study further supply expansions while developing higher-quality and higher-performance products to meet both growing demand and heightening customer requirements.

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Press release from Asahi Kasei