Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and Prime Polymer Co., Ltd. announced a 14,000 ton augmentation of polypropylene production in the U.S. (Sidney, OH) to meet growing demands of the automotive materials sector.

Although the North American automobile industry was negatively impacted by the Global Financial Crisis, currently the market has returned to normalcy with forecasts of significant growth in the future, according to Mitsui.

The planned augmentation is expected to not only strengthen the Group's current top class position in the expanding North American market but similarly bolster the Group's global supply network. It follows an already announced expansion of 28,000 t/y this year, so that overall Mitsui´s post-augmentation capacity will reach 268,000 t/y in its facilities in Ohio and Tennessee.

The Mitsui Chemicals Group targets strengthening and further expanding production of its already global polypropylene for automotive materials, which is currently manufactured in eight major world markets (Japan, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, India, Thailand, and China).

Source : Mitsui Chemicals Inc.