TOKYO—Mitsui Chemicals is watching demand surge for Tafmer elastomers. And as it does, the Japanese chemicals company is keeping an eye on another potential plant expansion.
"Amid this robust demand, the additional production capacity can reach full capacity quickly, so we are considering the next production capacity increase," company CEO and President Osamu Hashimoto said Nov. 28.
News of the possible expansion comes on the heels of a recently disclosed Tafmer elastomers capacity investment in Singapore. That new plant, to be located in Jurong Island will have about 120,000 metric tons of capacity for the olefinic copolymers, and is scheduled for completion in fiscal year 2024.
The new Singapore unit will bring total production capacity for Tafmer to 345,000 tons per year.
But demand for Tafmer may be outpacing that capacity, especially in the automotive sector where applications include solar cell encapsulants and environmentally friendly packaging materials.
In June, Mitsui Chemicals revealed goals to increase investment in its Tafmer business under its Vision 2030 plan, which is focused on high value-added and sustainability-oriented products.
Tafmer olefinic copolymers are used in applications such as automotive materials, packaging materials, engineering plastics modifiers and sports shoe mid-soles.
