As global demand for PP compounds continues to rise, Mitsui Chemicals (Tokyo / Japan; www.mitsuichem.com) in mid-May 2012 announced a series of capacity expansions at group sites throughout the world. In addition, the Prime Polymer (Tokyo / Japan; www.primepolymer.co.jp) joint venture – in which Mitsui holds 65% and Idemitsu (Tokyo / Japan; www.idemitsu.com) the remaining 35% – in mid-May acquired 70% of the shares in Brazilian PP compound producer Produmaster Indústria e Comércio (São Paulo; www.produmaster.com.br).

The Japanese group plans to raise PP output at its Advanced Composites subsidiary in Ohio / USA by 28,000 t/y in Q3 2013. With production sites in Sydney, Ohio and Nashville, Tennessee, Advanced Composites' current nameplate capacity is 226,000 t/y, Mitsui said. Further to the south, in Mexico, Mitsui subsidiary Advanced Composites Mexicana is due to raise the current output of 45,000 t/y by another 25,000 t/y in Q4 2013. On the other side of the world, in China, Mitsui group member Mitsui Advanced Composites (Zhongshan) is due to commission a 10,000 t/y capacity expansion in Q4 2013.

In addition, Mitsui subsidiary Prime Polymer on 14 May announced that it had acquired 70% of the shares in Produmaster Indústria e Comércio from Vicente Eudes de Freitas, which owns the remaining 30%. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Following the acquisition, the Brazilian company has been renamed Produmaster Advanced Composites Indústria e Comércio.

The new Brazilian group has two production facilities in the Latin American country. While the plant in Mauá, São Paulo can turn out 38,000 t/y of PP compounds, group subsidiary Produmaster do Nordeste (Camaçari, Bahia) has a nameplate capacity of 17,000 t/y. Following Mitsui’s acquisition, the latter production site will become a 50:50 joint venture of the new Produmaster Advanced Composites and Alberto de Boni Neto.