Mitsui mulls further capacity expansion for elastomers

Tokyo – Mitsui Chemicals is considering another production capacity increase for its Tafmer elastomers, having only recently announced plans to build a new 120 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) plant for the olefinic copolymers.

Demand for Tafmer is growing in the automotive sector and in applications including solar cell encapsulants and environmentally friendly packaging materials, said president & CEO Osamu Hashimoto.

“Amid this robust demand, the additional production capacity can reach full capacity quickly, so we are considering the next production capacity increase,” the Mitsui Chemicals boss explained in a 28 Nov presentation.

In August, Mitsui said it was building a new 120ktpa plant for the production of the Tafmer-branded alpha-olefin copolymers at its site in Jurong Island, Singapore.

Scheduled for completion in fiscal 2024, the new unit will bring total production capacity for Tafmer to 345ktpa, the Japanese petrochemicals producer said 30 Aug.

In June, Mitsui Chemicals revealed goals to increase investment in its Tafmer business under its Vision 2030 plan, focused on high value-added and sustainability-oriented products.

Tafmer olefinic copolymers are used in applications, including automotive materials, packaging materials, engineering plastics modifiers and sports shoe mid-soles.

However, the Japanese supplier cited growing use of the elastomers as solar battery encapsulants as a particular growth driver for the business.