Nippon Shokubai has completed the construction of new plants for superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and Acrylic Acid (AA) in Antwerp, Belgium. The company previously only produced SAP at the site but has now added AA production, allowing for vertical integration. SAP is a key material for diapers and demand is growing globally, particularly in Europe. Nippon Shokubai has expanded its production facility to meet this demand and strengthen its position as a top supplier of SAP. The company's production capability for AA and SAP has increased from 780 KT/Y and 610 KT/Y respectively at the end of 2017 to 880 KT/Y and 710 KT/Y at the end of 2018.
NIPPON SHOKUBAI held a completion ceremony for the new plants of superabsorbent polymers (“SAP”) and Acrylic Acid (“AA”) in the premise of NSE in Antwerp, Belgium on October 2, 2018.
“We newly constructed a plant of AA which is the main raw material for SAP, although we had produced only SAP at NSE before. Now we are able to produce AA and SAP consistently here, and this vertical integration is one of our big advantages,” said Yujiro Goto, the president of Nippon Shokubai.
SAP, key material for diapers, is one of the core products of Nippon Shokubai Group. Global demand for SAP grows steadily. Also in Europe, SAP demand is expected to grow stably mainly in Central Europe and Eastern Europe. In order to meet the growth of demand, Nippon Shokubai enhanced its supply capability to European market by expanding its production facility of SAP at NSE. In addition, Nippon Shokubai newly established a production facility of AA which is the main raw material for SAP so that it can consistently produce SAP from raw material in Europe. This enabled Nippon Shokubai to further strengthen its global stable supply capability of SAP. Nippon Shokubai will continue to enhance its position as the top supplier of SAP.
Nippon Shokubai Group’s Production Capability of AA and SAP (KT/Y)
End of 2017 End of 2018
AA 780 880
SAP 610 710