Sumitomo Corporation (13.3 %), together with PTT Global Chemical Public Company Ltd. (PTTGC; 33.4 %) and Kuraray Co. Ltd. (53.3 %), have been jointly conducting a detailed feasibility study on the manufacture and sale of butadiene derivatives in Thailand and recently concluded a joint venture agreement with these partners.
Since September 2016, the three companies have been conducting a detailed feasibility study on manufacturing and sales of PA9T heat-resistant polyamide resin (production capacity: 13,000 t/y) and HSBC hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer (production capacity: 16,000 t/y) at a candidate location on the Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate located in the petrochemical complex at Map Ta Phut in Rayong province, Thailand.
With the conclusion of the joint venture agreement, the three companies will begin application procedures with the relevant authorities and will be working out final investment decisions and other details pertaining to the joint venture company.
The project can expect to see steady growth with competitive raw material and utilities supply from PTTGC and the PTT Group, Kuraray’s production technology and sales & marketing know-how, and Sumitomo’s global trade network.
Source: Sumitomo Corp. website, Tokyo; 7 Mar 2018
(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)