More monomers

The Japanese firm Mitsubishi Rayon and UK-based Lucite International are to jointly invest in the construction of two new MMA (methyl methacrylate) monomer plants - one in North America and one in Singapore.

Between them, they will have a total capacity of 260,000 tons/year.

The Singapore plant, with a capacity of 140,000 tons/year, will be built by Lucite and is due to be finished by the end of 2007. The 140,000 tons/year plant in Texas will be constructed by MRC and completed by the end of 2009.

In response to the growing demand for acrylic products manufactured from MMA, both Lucite and MRC have already previously announced that they are independently constructing new manufacturing facilities in China.

Lucite is currently commissioning a 100kte plant and MRC is constructing a 90kte facility. Both these will be completed next year.