Japan Butyl to expand halobutyl rubber capacity at Kashima plant

The expansion is planned to be completed in the next year.

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.

ExxonMobil Chemical is engaged in synthetic rubber technology, products and customer support.

ExxonMobil Chemical Company butyl polymers vice president John Lyon said demand for halobutyl rubber is expected to grow at about six percent per year, mainly in the Asia Pacific region.

"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," Lyon said.

JBC, a butyl rubber manufacturing company, is a joint venture of ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha and JSR Corp.

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