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EU approves Japanese ABS supplier mergerEU approves Japanese ABS supplier merger

Integration of the ABS businesses of Techno Polymer and UMG ABS creates a giant in Japan

Stephen Moore

January 5, 2018

2 Min Read
EU approves Japanese ABS supplier merger

The European Union has approved the merger of Japanese acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin suppliers Techno Polymer Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSR, and UMG ABS, Ltd., which is equally owned by Ube Industries (50%) and Mitsubishi Chemical (50%). The companies originally announced their intent to merge their ABS businesses on March 30, 2017, with the plan being to integrate on October 1, 2017. Approval from the EU was forthcoming on November 13.

This UMG ABS plant in Japan has become part of the largest ABS supplier in Japan through the merger with Techno Polymer.

ABS resin demand in Japan has stagnated in recent years at around 270,000 tonnes, with around 50,000 tonnes satisfied by imports in 2016. This compares with ABS exports of around 146,000 tonnes from Japan in 2016, meaning local suppliers manufactured approximately 370,000 tonnes of ABS in 2016 compared with domestic capacity of 642,000 tonnes. The domestic market has come under increased pressure from imported material in recent years.

The combined entity formed through the merger of Techno Polymer and UMG ABS will boast capacity in Japan of 430,000 tonnes/year, well ahead of second-ranked player Nippon A&L (a joint venture of Sumitomo Chemical and Mitsui Chemicals) with 100,000 tonnes/yr of capacity.

The other Japanese producers of ABS have a more offshore outlook compared with the other companies. Toray Industries, for example, has 72,000 tonnes/year of capacity in Japan but 350,000 tonnes/year of capacity for ABS and SAN resins in Malaysia. Denka, meanwhile, has a 40,000-tonnes/year ABS plant in Japan but its core styrenics business in located in Singapore, where it operates plants for polystyrene (200,000 tonnes/year), methyl methacrylate styrene (70,000 tonnes/year), styrene butadiene copolymer resin (40,000 tonnes/year), and Denka IP, a styrene-n-phenylmaleimide-maleic anhydride copolymer used as a modifier to increase the heat resistance of ABS (25,000 tonnes/year).

About the Author

Stephen Moore

Stephen has been with PlasticsToday and its preceding publications Modern Plastics and Injection Molding since 1992, throughout this time based in the Asia Pacific region, including stints in Japan, Australia, and his current location Singapore. His current beat focuses on automotive. Stephen is an avid folding bicycle rider, often taking his bike on overseas business trips, and is a proud dachshund owner.

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