Asahi Kasei operating ACN unit at 100% after debottlenecking

26 November 2004 02:34  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (CNI)--Japan’s Asahi Kasei Chemical is operating its 300 000 tonne/year acrylonitrile (ACN) plant in Mizushima at a full capacity after completing a plant debottlenecking earlier in November, a company spokesman told CNI on Friday.

 

Capacity at the plant was increased by 50 000/tonne. The higher capacity will cater to the expected increase in demand for ACN from China, he said.

 

ACN is used in the production of  acrylic fibres, which are used in carpets and clothing, as well as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), which are used in pipes and fittings, automobiles, furniture and packaging.

 

Asahi Kasei has said previously that it is considering China, as well as Thailand and other Asian countries, as possible locations for a new ACN plant with a capacity of around 250 000 tonne/year. This is expected to be integrated with a new methyl methacrylate plant.

 

A decision on the Chinese project is expected to be made by the first quarter of 2005, with the new plant scheduled to come onstream in 2008.

By: Siva Govindasamy
+65 6780 4359

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