Tosoh debottlenecking leads to 1000-tonne CSM capacity increase

ERJ staff report (LMH)

Tokyo -- Tosoh Corp. has said its debottlenecking operations have resulted in a production capacity increase of 1000 tonnes for its specialty-grade synthetic rubber Toso-CSM (chlorosulphonated polyethylene).

This expansion brings Tosoh's total annual CSM capacity to 9500 tonnes at its main, Nanyo Complex manufacturing facility, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The increased capacity allows Tosoh to support continued demand growth and new applications.

The company plans to develop advanced CSM-related through synergies with its Skyprene Chloroprene Rubber operations. Market demand for CSM is expected to remain firm, with sales of between 70 percent and 80 percent abroad, Tosoh said. Demand is expected to grow especially for automobile related applications in Asia.

Tosoh said it was first compelled to increase production capacity for Toso-CSM in an attempt to stabilise the global supply structure in a market thrown into turmoil when the only other major manufacturer of CSM announced its withdrawal from the business in 2009.

Since 2010 and the completion of its capacity expansion, from 4000 to 8500 tonnes, the company's production lines have run at full capacity to support the global demand, Tosoh said.

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Press release from Tosoh Corp.