7 Feb 2019
Tokyo – Mitsui Chemicals Inc. has reported strong automotive sector demand for its elastomer materials in the third quarter of the group’s current fiscal year.
The positive trend was seen mainly in overseas market, Mitsui said in a report on its financial performance for the three months to 31 Dec.
On the other hand, “terms of trade [were] unfavourable due to upward swing in raw material prices,” the Japanese group stated 5 Feb.
Looking to fourth-quarter activities, Mitsui said it is set to start construction work to expand capacity for thermoplastic olefinic elastomer in North America.
A new 6,000 tonnes/year facility for the production of its Milastomer-brand materials is due to start up in the next fiscal year.
Last March, Mitsui announced plans to set up a new production unit at its Sidney, Ohio, Advanced Composites site, for completion this June.
The unit is intended to meet new automotive demand for the elastomer, which is also used in civil engineering, construction and consumer applications.
Mitsui, which produces olefinic elastomers in Japan, Europe and China, last year added a 5,000 tonnes/year line at its Sun Alloys subsidiary, in Chiba, Japan.
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