In order to meet the increase in demand for EPT (ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer), used among others in automotive parts and E&E applications thanks to its good resistance to temperature, UV rays and chemicals, Mitsui Chemicals (Tokyo / Japan; www.mitsuichem.com) in late 2011 signed a joint venture agreement with China’s Sinopec (Beijing; www.sinopec.com) to produce and distribute EPT in China.

Once the new plant – capacity, location and investment costs for which remain unknown – comes on stream in Q1 2014, it will reportedly be the world’s largest state-of-the-art EPT facility. The two companies said they were currently in the process of submitting the necessary applications to the authorities.