OSAKA, JAPAN: Chemical company Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd said it plans to expand superabsorbent polymers (SAP) capacity at its Zwijndrecht, Belgium site, to increase to 160,000 metric tonne per year (mtpy) up by 100,000 mtpy. The company will also build a new 100,000-mtpy acrylic acid plant at the site, it said. Moreover, Nippon said it will invest €350 million ($391 million) to build the new plants, an investment which is approved by the board of directors.
Nippon expected the mechanical completion of the project in Oct 2017, while commercial production was expected to begin in May 2018, it said.
As a major producer of SAP, Nippon Shokubai expects steady demand for it in Europe, especially central and eastern Europe. Additionally with the new acrylic acid plant, Nippon has ensured stable supply of the raw material to produce SAP, which is mainly used for making disposable diapers.
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