Japan Polypropylene has decided to scrap its 80,000 t/yr Yokkaichi polypropylene (PP) plant in west Japan's Mie prefecture in March next year to optimize its operations.
The firm has attempted to optimize production with shrinking domestic PP demand and increasing competition with cheaper supplies from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, while enhancing functional PP production like those for vehicles.
Japan Polypropylene has also closed the 70,000 t/yr PP production line at its Goi plant in east Japan's Chiba prefecture and the 106,000 t/yr line at its Kashima plant in east Japan's Ibaraki prefecture.
The company's remaining PP output capacity will be 765,000 t/yr with the closure of the Yokkaichi plant.
Japan Polypropylene is 65pc owned by Japan Polychem, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical, and 35pc by JNC Petrochemical that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of chemical producer Chisso.
