Completion and Start of Operations at the New Plant for Isoprene-Related Businesses in Thailand

Author , 9. February 2023

Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hitoshi Kawahara) announces that construction of a new plant for isoprene-related businesses has been completed and will soon start operations in stages. The construction was undertaken by Kuraray GC Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand; President: Hiroshi Yamamoto) and Kuraray Advanced Chemicals (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand; President: Hiroshi Yamamoto).

Plant location: WHA Eastern Industrial Park within the petrochemical complex in Map Ta Phut, Rayong Province, Thailand

Aerial view of the new plant

The new Thai plant will contribute to the continued growth of isoprene-related businesses by strengthening the global supply system and meeting rising global demand for the 3-Methyl-1.5-Pentanediol (MPD), SEPTON™ hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers (HSBC), and GENESTAR™ heat-resistant polyamide-9T (PA9T), which were developed using proprietary Kuraray technology.

Kuraray is implementing its medium-term management plan “PASSION 2026” as a five-year plan leading up to the centennial of its founding in 2026. The Company will continue to proactively invest in growth-oriented projects with the aim of realizing the long-term “Kuraray Vision 2026,” namely, being a “Specialty Chemical Company growing sustainably by incorporating new foundational platforms into its own technologies and contributing to customers, society, and the planet.”

Overview of the production equipment

LocationMap Ta Phut, Rayong Province, Thailand
Production capacityKuraray GC Advanced Materials Co., Ltd
GENESTAR™ Heat Resistant Polyamide-9T (PA9T) facilities
(production capacity: 13,000 t/y)
SEPTON™ Hydrogenated Styrenic Block Copolymer (HSBC) facilities (production capacity: 16,000 t/y)

Kuraray Advanced Chemicals (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
3-Methyl-1.5-Pentanediol (MPD) facilities
(production capacity: 5,000 t/y)
Kuraray’s investment amountApprox. ¥40.0 billion (calculated using the exchange rate as of the date of the investment decision, December 26, 2018)

Overview of the companies

Company nameKuraray GC Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.
Headquarters555/1 Energy Complex, Building A, 10th Floor, Vibhavadi
Rangsit Road, Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
RepresentativeHiroshi Yamamoto
Business descriptionManufacturing and sales of butadiene derivatives
Registered capital5.6 billion baht
Date of establishmentJune 19, 2018
Shareholders and shareholding ratioKuraray Co., Ltd.: 53.3%*
PTT Global Chemical Public Company Ltd.: 33.4%
Sumitomo Corporation: 13.3%*
Indirect shareholdings via an intermediate holding company established for the purpose of investing in the joint venture
Company nameKuraray Advanced Chemicals (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Headquarters555/1 Energy Complex, Building A, 10th Floor, Vibhavadi
Rangsit Road, Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
RepresentativeHiroshi Yamamoto
Business descriptionManufacturing and sales of isobutene derivatives
Registered capital2.7 billion baht
Date of establishmentJune 19, 2018
Shareholders and shareholding ratioKuraray Co., Ltd.: 100%

Kuraray GC Advanced Materials is a joint venture established by Kuraray, PTT Global Chemical Public Company Ltd. (Head office: Bangkok, Thailand; President & CEO: Kongkrapan Intarajang, “GC”) and Sumitomo Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & Chief Executive Officer: Masayuki Hyodo, “Sumitomo”) to manufacture and sell butadiene derivatives in Thailand. Kuraray Advanced Chemicals is a company established solely by Kuraray to manufacture and sell 3-Methyl-1.5-Pentanediol (MPD) in Thailand.

Reference: Timeline leading up to establishing the new plant

September 2015Kuraray, GC, and Sumitomo sign a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly perform a prelim Feasibility Study (“F/S”) for the potential development of manufacturing and sales of Butadiene derivatives in Thailand.
September 2016Kuraray, GC, and Sumitomo sign a Head of Agreement (“HOA”) to jointly perform an F/S for the potential development of manufacturing and sales of Butadiene derivatives in Thailand.
June 2018With the joint funding of Kuraray, GC, and Sumitomo, Kuraray GC Advanced Materials is established to manufacture and sell butadiene derivatives in Thailand. In addition, Kuraray independently establishes Kuraray Advanced Chemicals to manufacture and sell the 3-Methyl-1.5-Pentanediol (MPD) in Thailand.
December 2018The joint venture Kuraray GC Advanced Materials decides to invest in the construction of a butadiene derivative production plant in the WHA Eastern Industrial Estate within the petrochemical complex in Map Ta Phut, Rayong Province, Thailand. Kuraray Advanced Chemicals decides to construct a production facility for the 3-Methyl-1.5-Pentanediol (MPD).
February 2023Construction of the new plant of Kuraray GC Advanced Materials and Kuraray Advanced Chemicals is completed and operations begin.