News
Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hitoshi Kawahara) held a local opening ceremony on April 5, 2023, to commemorate the start of operations at a new plant for isoprene-related businesses in Thailand.
President Kawahara spoke at the ceremony
Ribbon cutting ceremony
The new plant was constructed in the WHA Eastern Industrial Park within the petrochemical complex in Map Ta Phut, Rayong Province, Thailand, and was brought online in stages from February 2023.
Operated by Kuraray GC Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand; President: Hiroshi Yamamoto) and Kuraray Advanced Chemicals (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand; President: Hiroshi Yamamoto), the plant will produce GENESTAR™ heat-resistant polyamide-9T (PA9T), SEPTON™ hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers (HSBC), and the 3-Methyl-1.5-Pentanediol (MPD), which were developed using proprietary Kuraray technology.
Press release: Completion and Start of Operations at the New Plant for Isoprene-Related Businesses in Thailand
The opening ceremony was attended by Kuraray President Kawahara and other associates of Kuraray, associates of Kuraray GC Advanced Materials, associates of Kuraray Advanced Chemicals, associates of Sumitomo Corporation, and associates of the government of Thailand’s Rayong Province. Addressing the assembly, President Kawahara stated, “I have high expectations for the isoprene-related businesses as a growth pillar in the medium-term management plan ‘PASSION 2026.’ The new Thai plant will contribute to the continued growth of isoprene-related businesses by strengthening the global supply system and meeting rising global demand for GENESTAR, SEPTON, and MPD.”
Kuraray is implementing its medium-term management plan “PASSION 2026” as a five-year plan leading up to the centennial of its founding in 2026. The Company will continue to proactively invest in growth-oriented projects with the aim of realizing the long-term “Kuraray Vision 2026,” namely, being a “Specialty Chemical Company growing sustainably by incorporating new foundational platforms into its own technologies and contributing to customers, society, and the planet.”
Overview of the Production Equipment
| Location | WHA Eastern Industrial Park within the petrochemical complex in Map Ta Phut, Rayong Province, Thailand |
|---|---|
| Production capacity | Kuraray GC Advanced Materials Co., Ltd GENESTAR™ Heat Resistant Polyamide-9T (PA9T) facilities (production capacity: 13,000 t/y) SEPTON™ Hydrogenated Styrenic Block Copolymer (HSBC) facilities (production capacity: 16,000 t/y) Kuraray Advanced Chemicals (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 3-Methyl-1.5-Pentanediol (MPD) facilities (production capacity: 5,000 t/y) |
| Kuraray’s investment amount | Approx. ¥40.0 billion (calculated using the exchange rate as of the date of the investment decision, December 26, 2018) |
Overview of the Companies
Kuraray GC Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.
| Company name | Kuraray GC Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 555/1 Energy Complex, Building A, 10th Floor, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 |
| Representative | Hiroshi Yamamoto |
| Business description | Manufacturing and sales of butadiene derivatives |
| Registered capital | 5.6 billion baht |
| Date of establishment | June 19, 2018 |
| Shareholders and shareholding ratio | Kuraray Co., Ltd.: 53.3%* PTT Global Chemical Public Company Ltd.: 33.4% Sumitomo Corporation: 13.3%* * Indirect shareholdings via an intermediate holding company established for the purpose of investing in the joint venture |
Kuraray Advanced Chemicals (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
| Company name | Kuraray Advanced Chemicals (Thailand) Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 555/1 Energy Complex, Building A, 10th Floor, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 |
| Representative | Hiroshi Yamamoto |
| Business description | Manufacturing and sales of isobutene derivatives |
| Registered capital | 2.7 billion baht |
| Date of establishment | June 19, 2018 |
| Shareholders and shareholding ratio | Kuraray Co., Ltd.: 100% |
Kuraray GC Advanced Materials is a joint venture established by Kuraray, GC and Sumitomo Corporation to manufacture and sell butadiene derivatives in Thailand. Kuraray Advanced Chemicals is a company established solely by Kuraray to manufacture and sell 3-Methyl-1.5-Pentanediol (MPD) in Thailand.
