Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical to shut two Singapore MMA lines in Q3

04 May 2012 11:10  [Source: ICIS news]

BRISBANE (ICIS)--Sumitomo Chemical Singapore is planning to shut two of its three methyl methacrylate (MMA) lines at Jurong Island for scheduled maintenance in the third quarter, a company source said on Friday.

Its 53,000 tonne/year No 1 MMA line will be shut around August for three-four weeks, while its 90,000 tonne/year No 3 line will be taken off line in September and will be down for more than a month, the source said.

During the shutdown of the two lines, Sumitomo would likely reduce sales to the spot market.

Sumitomo Chemical has a third MMA line in Singapore with an 80,000 tonne/year capacity.

The company is in the process of building inventories to prepare for the shutdown, the source said, adding that the three MMA lines, with a combined capacity of 223,000 tonnes/year, are currently running at 90-95% of capacity.

Sumitomo Chemical is also scheduled to bring on stream its new 50,000 tonne/year polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) line in Jurong Island around August, the source said.

The new plant will boost Sumitomo’s total PMMA output in Singapore to 150,000 tonnes/year.

Its two 50,000 tonne/year PMMA lines currently in operation are running at full capacity, the source said.

By: Junie Lin

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