Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation plans to establish a new production site for performance polymers in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, and start production of PVC slush powder, which is suitable for automotive interior panel skins and other parts, in the spring of 2019. Ryoka Performance Polymers (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. will have capacity of 3,500 tonnes/year, be headed Franck Ruel by and staffed by approximately 20 employees.

Currently, Mitsubishi Chemical has two production sites for performance polymers in Suzhou and Changshu, located in Jiangsu Province in coastal China, that produce PVC compounds including PVC slush powder, thermoplastic elastomer, and adhesive polyolefin, for various applications such as automobiles, electric wires and cables, and construction materials. The automotive market of performance polymers in China has shown a steady expansion, and expectations are especially high for future growth in demand for PVC compounds including PVC slush powder, which have excellent design capabilities and texture, for use in automotive interiors.

Mitsubishi Chemical aims to meet this robust demand by establishing a new performance polymer production site, through a newly-established subsidiary in Chengdu, in west-central China, where automotive parts production sites have clustered in recent years. The company also plans to look into production of items for the food, medical care, and optical fields, which, like performance polymers, are expected to see significant growth in the future.