Shin-Etsu says silanes-supply still affected by Japan earthquake

Tokyo – Chemicals & polymers maker Shin-Etsu  expects delays in the shipment of some silicone products due to ongoing repairs at its Naoetsu factory, Japan.

Equipment at the factory, which produces silicones as well as other chemical products, automatically stopped after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Japan on New Year’s day.

In an 18 Jan statement, the Japanese group said it was making adjustments to the shipment of silane products due to a “delay in the recovery of some of the silicone equipment” at the factory.

Shin-Etsu had previously announced that operations had partially resumed at the site and that more facilities would restart production gradually.

The latest update did not provide a timeline for when the silane production would resume.