Nippon Shokubai has approved an investment plan to build a Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) plant and an Acrylic Acid (AA) plant at NSE. The SAP plant will have a capacity of 100,000 metric tons per year, while the AA plant will have a capacity of 100,000 tons per year. This investment is in response to the steady growth in demand for SAP, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. The new plant at NSE will increase Nippon Shokubai's global SAP production capacity to 710,000 tons per year and enhance its position as one of the world's top suppliers of SAP. The investment is expected to be completed by May 2018, with an investment amount of approximately 350 million EURO.
NIPPON SHOKUBAI gives approval to the investment plan at NSE. The plan is to build SAP plant with 100,000 metric tons per year and AA plant with 100,000 T/Y
Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP), one of NIPPON SHOKUBAI’s core businesses, shows steady growth of demand as a key material of disposable diapers. To accommodate growing demand and verify our advanced technology, the new SAP plant in Himeji is currently under construction, which was already announced last year and is scheduled to be completed in June 2016 with a capacity of 50,000 T/Y.
NIPPON SHOKUBAI has studied bigger expansion overseas applying the technology innovation in Himeji, based on the long term business plan, called “Reborn NIPPON SHOKUBAI 2020” and has decided on 11th May 2015 the investment of SAP and AA at NSE.
In Europe, NIPPON SHOKUBAI expects a steady demand of SAP especially in Central and Eastern Europe. NIPPON SHOKUBAI will ensure more stable supply after the investment of not only SAP but also its main raw material, AA.
With this new plant at NSE, NIPPON SHOKUBAI group’s global SAP production capacity will be 710,000 T/Y (Japan 370,000T/Y and overseas 340,000T/Y) and NIPPON SHOKUBAI will enhance its position as one of the world top suppliers of SAP. (ref.) AA production capacity after completion of the said expansion : 880,000T/Y (Japan 540,000T/Y and overseas 340,000T/Y)
Investment Features
Production capacity : SAP 100,000 T/Y (expansion)
(current capacity 60,000 T/Y, totally 160,000 T/Y after completion)
AA 100,000 T/Y (new)
Schedule: Mechanical completion - October 2017
Commercial operation - May 2018
Location: Existing plant site of NSE (industrial site of INEOS Oxide)
Investment amount: Approx. 350 million EURO