- Investment amount: Approx. 350 million EURO
- Mechanical completion: October 2017
- Commercial operation: May 2018
- New SAP plant capacity: 100,000 T/Y, new AA plant capacity: 100,000 T/Y
Investment Approval
Nippon Shokubai has approved an investment plan to expand its Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) plant and build a new Acrylic Acid (AA) plant at Nippon Shokubai Europe (NSE) in Antwerp. The expansion will add 100,000 metric tons per year (T/Y) to the SAP plant, and the new AA plant will also have a capacity of 100,000 T/Y.
Demand and Technology
SAP, a core business for Nippon Shokubai, is experiencing steady demand growth, particularly as a key material in disposable diapers. To meet this demand and showcase advanced technology, a new SAP plant in Himeji is under construction, scheduled for completion in June 2016 with a capacity of 50,000 T/Y. The company has decided to apply this technology innovation overseas as part of its long-term business plan, "Reborn Nippon Shokubai 2020."
European Market
In Europe, Nippon Shokubai anticipates steady SAP demand, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. The investment will ensure a more stable supply of both SAP and its main raw material, AA. With the new plant at NSE, Nippon Shokubai's global SAP production capacity will reach 710,000 T/Y, with 370,000 T/Y in Japan and 340,000 T/Y overseas. The AA production capacity will be 880,000 T/Y, with 540,000 T/Y in Japan and 340,000 T/Y overseas.
Project Details
The investment features include an SAP production capacity expansion to 160,000 T/Y from the current 60,000 T/Y and a new AA plant with a 100,000 T/Y capacity. The mechanical completion is scheduled for October 2017, with commercial operation starting in May 2018. The project will be located at the existing NSE plant site within the INEOS Oxide industrial site, with an investment amount of approximately 350 million EURO.
