Mitsui to launch elastomer expansion in Q3

Tokyo - Mitsui Chemicals is expecting to start an elastomer capacity expansion at its production facility in Chiba, Japan in the third quarter of 2017.

In its financial results for the second quarter, ended 30 June, the Japanese company said the new line at the Mitsui Chemicals’ subsidiary Sun Alloys Co will add 5,000 tonnes per annum of capacity for thermoplastic olefin elastomer Milastomer.

The expansion was announced in July 2016, where the Japanese company said the move was in response to upswings in demand for the materials.

Demand, according to Mitsui Chemicals, is growing significantly for uses in automotive materials, gaskets and civil engineering joint fillers, with the uptrend expected to continue in automotive interiors and as weather strips.

Mitsui Chemicals has stated that the group’s mid-term business plan positions mobility segment as a targeted business domain that drives growth, in addition to the healthcare and food & packaging domains.

The group’s Milastomer business is a core business in the mobility domain, the company added, noting that it would continue to expand and grow the business.