Asahi Kasei Chemicals has finalized a decision to construct a second plant in Singapore to produce solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) with capacity of 50,000 tons/year. The new plant will be located adjacent to an S-SBR plant of the same capacity which is currently under construction.

Under the Asahi Kasei Groups "For Tomorrow 2015" mid-term management initiative launched early this year, Asahi Kasei Chemicals is making proactive capital investments to expand its S-SBR operations as strategic world-leading business. One key element of this expansion is the construction of its first S-SBR plant in Singapore, with capacity of 50,000 tons/year. Construction began in mid this year, and start-up is scheduled for May 2013. With S-SBR demand expected to increase further, Asahi Kasei Chemicals decided to advance plans for a second plant in Singapore to meet customer needs and ensure stable supply.

Asahi Kasei Chemicals will continue to study additional capacity expansion for S-SBR in line with rising demand to attain the worlds No. 1 position in the field of S-SBR for fuel-efficient high-performance tires.

About S-SBR

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is a synthetic copolymer consisting of styrene and butadiene. S-SBR in particular is enjoying rapid demand growth, as it is increasingly used for the production of tires that enable greater fuel efficiency while maintaining safety performance. Being an optimal material for improving the balance of performance characteristics including abrasion resistance, safety, and fuel efficiency the modified S-SBR produced by Asahi Kasei Chemicals using its continuous polymerization process is widely recognized among tire manufacturers around the world.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group is structured with Asahi Kasei Corp. as a holding company and nine core operating companies focused on specific fields of operation.