Asahi Kasei breaks ground on 50ktpa S-SBR plant in Singapore

ERJ staff report (LMH)

Jurong Island, Singapore - Asahi Kasei Chemicals held a 22 June groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of construction of a 50 kilotonnes per annum S-SBR (solution-polymerised styrene-butadiene rubber) plant in Singapore.

Asahi Chemicals currently produces around 140 ktpa of S-SBR and butadiene rubber in its Kawasaki Works and Oita plant in Japan.

The ceremony in Jurong Island, Singapore, was attended by some 100 guests, including Leo Yip Seng Cheong, chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Yoichi Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to Singapore, and Taketsugu Fukiwara, president of Asahi Kasei Corp.

S-SBR is a synthetic rubber which enables the production of tyres that provide greater fuel efficiency while maintaining safety performance, Asahi Kasei Corp. said in a 23 June statement. The Japanese company said that heightening environmental awareness was leading to greater demand for S-SBR globally, noting that the overall market for tyre rubber in Asia is expanding rapidly.

Asahi Kasei Chemicals said its S-SBR plant in Singapore represents a major step in diversifying its operation base for “enhanced stability of supply to meet growing demand and customer needs.” Phase one is due to finish in May 2013, with phase two expected to bring a further 50 ktpa on-stream by early 2015.

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Press release from Asahi Kasei Chemicals