Sumitomo Chemical- Jilin Xindongtai joint venture to produce PP

19-Aug-11

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (Sumitomo Chemical) and Jilin Xindongtai Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd. (Xindongtai), a Chinese plastic compound producer, established a joint venture company for the manufacture and sale of polypropylene (PP) compounds for automotive applications. A new PP compound manufacturing plant will be constructed in Changchun. PP compounds are high-performance materials made by kneading PP with synthetic rubber and inorganic fillers to improve such properties as impact resistance and rigidity for use in automobile bumpers and interiors. Demand for such materials is growing each year as automobile production increases and lighter vehicles require higher per-unit use of PP compounds. To meet growing need from automakers operating globally, Sumitomo Chemical has been actively expanding its PP business worldwide, establishing bases of operation in South China, Europe, North America, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. China's strong economic growth has made it the world's largest market for automobiles, and in 2005 Sumitomo Chemical established a company, Zhuhai Sumika Polymer Compounds Co., Ltd., in the city of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province to meet demand for PP compounds mainly from South China. In addition, Sumitomo Chemical recently decided to establish a new company in Dalian, Liaoning Province in order to enhance supply capabilities for North China, further strengthening its PP compound business with Japanese and other automakers in the region. Meanwhile, Chinese automakers have rapidly been increasing their presence in their local market over the recent years, and serving these customers will be a key to success for Sumitomo Chemical to accelerate future business expansion. The company's decision to establish a base of operations in partnership with a local company represents its new initiative to achieve this end.