<article><p class="lead">Japanese petrochemical producer Nippon Shokubai has started commercial operations of an acrylic acid production facility in Banten, Indonesia, in response to growing demand for acrylic acid and super-absorbent polymers.</p><p>The company started the 100,000 t/yr plant in April, it announced on 24 May.</p><p>Nippon Shokubai said that its total output capacity of acrylic acid in Indonesia rose to 240,000 t/yr with the launch of the new production facility. It also lifted the company's global production capacity to 980,000 t/yr, with 540,000 t/yr within Japan and 440,000 t/yr overseas.</p><p>Nippon Shokubai expects demand for feedstock acrylic acid and super-absorbent polymers, which are mainly used to manufacture paper diapers, to expand on the back of an increase in the population of infants and the elderly.</p><p>Nippon Shokubai expects its sales of acrylic acid for super-absorbent polymers, vehicles and electric parts to recover in the April 2023-March 2024 fiscal year, after shrinking demand pressured sales in 2022-23.</p><p class="bylines">By Nanami Oki</p></article>
