Mitsui to build huge metallocene-EPDM factory

Tokyo -- Mitsui Chemicals has announced plans to build a 75 kt/year EPDM factory at its Ichihara (Chiba Province) chemical plant. The investment is likely to be around ¥20 000 milllion (Euro 150 million).

The new plant will be Mistui's first to use a metallocene catalyst technology and is expected to be on stream in October 2007. Construction is due to begin in August 2006.

Currently, MCI has two EPDM lines at its Ichihara Works, each of which is capable of producing 20,000 to 25,000 tonnes of EPDM per year. However, the planned new facility, which will use a new process based on proprietary metallocene catalyst technology, and will be able to produce 75 000 tonnes of EPDM per year, the highest capacity in the world for a single line. After the launch of the new production line, MCI will provide a stable supply of high-quality EPDM as the largest supplier in Asia.

In a statement, Mitsui said, "The decision to establish a new facility was prompted by expanding worldwide demand for EPDM and thermoplastic olefinic elastomer (trade name: Milastomer), of which main raw material is EPDM.