MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL
Expansion of EVOH capacity in the UK
Mitsubishi Chemical (Tokyo, Japan; www.m-chemical.co.jp/en) intends to more than double production capacity for its SoarnoL-brand ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer in Hull, UK. The company currently produces 18,000 t/y at the site according to Plasteurope.com’s Polyglobe database (www.polyglobe.net). As of July 2025, this volume is set to increase to 39,000 t/y, says Mitsubishi, adding that the construction of the plant began in April 2023.
EVOH is used primarily as a barrier layer in packaging materials for foods. Soarnol is regarded as being easy to recycle. Mitsubishi is thus expecting demand for the material to increase over the next few years.
EVOH is used primarily as a barrier layer in packaging materials for foods. Soarnol is regarded as being easy to recycle. Mitsubishi is thus expecting demand for the material to increase over the next few years.
 EVOH is used primarily as a barrier layer in packaging materials for foods (Photo: Mitsubishi Chemical) |
On the other hand, no news has emerged about the Mitsubishi MMA plant in Billingham. The plant with a capacity of 211,000 t/y was shut down for maintenance at the start of 2022 and has not been started up again on economic grounds. While Mitsubishi had announced that a definitive decision would be taken on closure at the start of 2023, the matter evidently still remains unresolved.
18.09.2023 Plasteurope.com [253592-0]
Published on 18.09.2023
German version of this article...