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.