Tosoh Corp. (Tokyo, Japan; www.tosoh.com) announced plans to increase production capacity for chloroprene rubber (CR), marketed under the product name Skyprene, which is part of the functional polymer product lineup of the Specialty business, at the Nanyo Complex in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The investment in this production expansion is approximately ¥5 billion. Once debottlenecking and expansion are complete in October 2021, the site’s CR capacity will be 37,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr).
CR produced from these facilities is used in the manufacture of automotive hoses and belts, industrial parts, and adhesives. In recent years, the supply–demand balance in the CR market continues to remain tight, driven especially by increasing demand for medical gloves1.
The company plans to take measures to renew its facilities in line with the expansion of its production capacity and will strive to ensure the stable supply of chloroprene rubber while responding to growing demand. Tosoh plans further expansions of the scale and profitability of its business going forward.