South East Asian Chemical News

THAILAND 

BST Elastomers has completed construction of its 40,000 tpa butadiene rubber and 60,000 tpa styrene-butadiene rubber plant. Both JSR Corp and Nippon Zeon are investors in the facility, holding a combined 32% stake. The Japanese companies will support exports from the BST plant. The plant is located at the petrochemical complex in Map Ta Phut, Rayong Province. Production output will supply tire, PS resin, industrial manufacturing and footwear manufacturers. (September 27th 1998)

CPAC has announced that it has broken ground on a new photographic chemical plant in the Wellgrow Industrial Park in Bangkok. CPAC holds an 80% interest in the facility, the other 20% being held by AMCM who have over 20 years experience in the Asian photographic industry market and will manage the day-to-day operations at the facility. The plant will be completed by March 1999 and is slated to begin manufacturing in 2000. (September 29th 1998)

Degussa Catalyst Thailand has opened a production plant in Bangkok recently. The facility has capacity of 500,000 "hot tubes", which are used for emission control in two-stroke motorcycles. Degussa also has plans to open more facilities in Thailand. These include an automotive emission control plant in the Rayon province and another catalyst factory for the diesel pickup and petrol engine passenger car markets. (September 22nd 1998)

Siam Cement Group (SCC) has announced plans to set up a holding company for each of its eight business lines. The new holding companies will include Cementhai Industry Co Ltd (for its cement and construction interests), Cementhai Chemicals Co Ltd, Cementhai Steel Co Ltd, and Siam Pulp and Paper and another for its ceramic and glass businesses. This move is likely to attract outside corporate investors as well as give each business line more control over its own strategy. (September 11th 1998)