Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) achieved a strong performance in the first half of fiscal 2015 (April–September) for EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) rubber. Contributing factors were a weak yen and low naphtha prices. Shanghai Sinopec Mitsui Elastomers Co. Ltd. (SSME), Mitsui Chemicals’ joint venture for EPDM production in China that went onstream at the end of 2014, started up again in...
Materials
Interview With Zeon—Update on Singapore Plant
Hiroyuki Hirakawa, director and senior corporate officer, head of Elastomers and Chemicals Business Headquarters, and division manager–Synthetic Rubber of Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205), commented on the recent state of Zeon Chemicals Singapore Pte. Ltd. He said that the company’s production facilities will be in full operation while addressing the necessary mechanical and equipment issues until the plant is fully ramped up. Hirakawa...
Interview With Zeon—Acrylic Rubber in Full Production
Hiroyuki Hirakawa, director and senior corporate officer, head of Elastomers and Chemicals Business Headquarters, and division manager–Synthetic Rubber, Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205), spoke about his company’s strategy. According to Hirakawa, specialty rubber is Zeon’s mainstay. The company’s acrylic rubber (AR) is in full production. Total output, however, has not been growing as anticipated because the grades with increasing shipment volumes are...
Asahi Kasei S-SBR Sales Strong
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp. sales volume for solution styrene butadiene rubber (S-SBR) increased over the previous year during the first half of fiscal 2015 (April-September). The Chinese economy and falling automobile sales during the first half had a negative effect on the rubber industry, while Asian tire manufacturers adjusted their production prior to the summer. Even so, an Asahi Kasei...
Lanxess Aspires to Be True Global Partner – Japan President Tsuji
Hideo Tsuji, president and CEO of Lanxess K.K. (and head of Rhein Chemie Additives Business Unit in Japan and Korea), said at a recent event that he has two key strategies for leading the company’s business in Japan. The first involves products. Tsuji is intent on stepping up Lanxess’s role as a worldwide partner for its customers amidst rapidly advancing...
Rubber Production Strong Despite Sluggish Output in Customer Industries
Production volume for synthetic rubber in Japan from January to September 2015 was 1.24 million tons, a more than 2 percent year-on-year increase, according to the Synthetic Rubber Industry Association of Japan. This was despite output by manufacturers in synthetic rubber customer industries such as automotive and tires was sluggish. Performance at synthetic rubber companies for the first half of...
