Japan’s Nippon Shokubai has officially opened a 100,000 tonnes/year acrylic acid (AA) plant that was built at a cost of about $200 million at Cilegon, Banten, Indonesia. This takes its global capacity to 980,000 tonnes, of which 540,000 are in Japan itself.

AA is a key raw material in superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) for disposable diapers, the application that is mainly driving continuing demand growth. SAPs are also used in paints and adhesives. Nippon Shokubai claims to be the world’s largest SAP producer and has integrated AA and SAP facilities across the globe.

Distributor IMCD has agreed to acquire Polychem, a Vienna-based supplier of chemical raw materials and additives to speciality chemical manufacturers in Austria and Southeast Europe, notably in coatings and construction. Terms were not disclosed but it is known that Polychem had sales of about €25 million in 2020.

Distributor IMCD has agreed to acquire Megasetia Agung Kimia, which it said “provides a significant platform for further growth in the life science segments in Indonesia”. This will take place in two tranches, with 70% being bought now and the rest in 2025. Closing is expected in December.