Skip to main content

Ube plans double electronic boost

Japan’s Ube has revealed that is has been studying the feasibility of commercializing dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) in the US and has also decided to build an additional plant for high-purity nitric acid in Japan. Both moves are described as in line with its medium- and its longer-term plans.

The company is now beginning basic design for a plant in Louisiana, which would have capacities of 100,000 tonnes/year for DMC and 40,000 of downstream EMC. A final investment decision is to be made in 1H fiscal 2023. Operations would commence in 2H fiscal 2025.

CDMO expansion for AGC

AGC is to expand the production lines of its AGC Wakasa Chemicals subsidiary at the Kaminaka plant in Japan’s Fukui prefecture. The amount involved was not disclosed but the expansion, due to start operation in Q1 2024, will increase AGC Wakasa Chemicals’ manufacturing capacity by 50%, with more potentially to come.

Mitsui Chemicals to buy Meiji Seika agro business

Mitsui Chemicals Agro, the agrochemicals subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, has agreed to acquire the agrochemicals business of its Japanese compatriot Meiji Seika Pharma. No financial details were disclosed, other than that the impact on total sales is expected to be minor.

The acquired business is based in Tokyo with a manufacturing subsidiary in Iwate and six branch offices, employing 110. It will be fully integrated into Mitsui Chemicals Agro. The company offers various formulations, including:

* Probenazole, the world’s first systemic acquired resistance type fungicide

Mitsui takes most of Honshu Chemical

Mitsui Chemicals has announced that its Y1,830/share tender offer for the common stock of its Japanese compatriot, Honshu Chemical Industry, was completed on 11 June. The company had originally announced its intention to buy most of Honshu Chemical eight months previously.

Merck invests in Japan

Merck KGaA is to spend €20 million to expand the R&D and manufacturing capabilities at its site in Shizuoka, Japan, where it opened a 6,000 m2 facility in January. Due to be complete by January 2022, this will mainly address demand in areas driven by the digital economy boom.

Subscribe to Japan