ExxonMobil Affiliate to Expand Halobutyl Rubber Capacity at JBC Kashima Plant
- Capacity to increase to 80,000 tons per year
- Second Kashima expansion in five years
ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha (EMYK) announced today that Japan Butyl Co. Ltd.
(JBC) will expand the capacity of its halobutyl
rubber manufacturing plant at Kashima to 80,000 tons per year. The
expansion is planned to be completed in 2012.
'Demand for halobutyl rubber is expected to grow at about six percent
per year, mainly in the Asia Pacific region,? said John Lyon, vice
president, butyl polymers, ExxonMobil Chemical Company. 'The expansion
by our affiliate′s joint venture at Kashima will add 10,000 tons per
year of capacity in the region. This aligns with ExxonMobil Chemical′s
long-term commitment to meet industry demand.?
This is the second capacity expansion in five years at the Kashima
halobutyl rubber plant.
The JBC butyl polymers manufacturing plant at Kawasaki also completed a
major expansion in 2010 to bring its total capacity to 98,000 tons per
year. That expansion incorporated ExxonMobil proprietary technology that
enables significant energy savings.
Lyon adds, 'Auto production is growing at a rapid pace in Asia,
especially in China. This has led to increased tire sales for new cars
and trucks as well as the sale of replacement tires as these vehicles
age. Halobutyl rubber holds air in tubeless radial tires for both
passenger cars and heavy duty trucks.?
ExxonMobil Chemical has more than doubled its global halobutyl rubber
capacity since 1995. The company is a world leader in synthetic rubber
technology, products and customer support.
About Japan Butyl Co., Ltd.
Japan Butyl Co., Ltd., a butyl rubber manufacturing company, is a joint
venture of ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha and JSR Corporation. The company
serves as a supply base for butyl rubber primarily in Asia. ExxonMobil
Yugen Kaisha holds a 50 percent stake in Japan Butyl Co., Ltd. http://www.j-butyl.jp/
About the ExxonMobil Japan Group
The ExxonMobil Japan Group comprises ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha and its
related companies and subsidiaries including TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K.
and Tonen Chemical Corp., and is a major manufacturer and marketer in
Japan of petroleum fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals. Elements of the
Group began operations in Japan in 1893. ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha is a
100% indirect subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation of the United
States. TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K., an affiliate of ExxonMobil Yugen
Kaisha, which holds 50.02 percent of its shares, is listed on the 1st
Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information, see our web
sites at www.exxonmobil.jp/
, www.tonengeneral.co.jp
About ExxonMobil Chemical
ExxonMobil Chemical is one of the world′s premier petrochemical
companies with manufacturing, technology, and marketing operations
around the world. The company delivers a broad portfolio of products and
solutions efficiently and responsibly, with a commitment to create
outstanding customer and shareholder value. ExxonMobil Chemical endorses
the principles of sustainable development, including the need to balance
economic growth, social development and environmental considerations. To
learn more, visit www.exxonmobilchemical.com.
About ExxonMobil Butyl Polymers
ExxonMobil Chemical Butyl Polymers business is the world′s leader in
butyl technology, services and products, with more than 65 years of
butyl rubber experience. To find out more about ExxonMobil Chemical
Butyl Polymers, visit www.butylrubber.com.
Note to Editors:
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for convenience, and may include any one or more of ExxonMobil Chemical
Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, or any affiliates they directly or
indirectly steward.
ExxonMobil Chemical Company
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