Mitsui Chemicals to Boost Cycloolefin Copolymer Output

Tokyo, May 30 (Jiji Press)–Mitsui Chemicals Inc. said Wednesday it will spend some 6 billion yen to boost its production capacity of cycloolefin copolymer, a material for pickup lens used in DVD players and recorders.

The firm will build a new facility to make the amorphous polymer at its existing plant in Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture, western Japan. The plant, slated to come on stream in May 2008, will have an annual production capacity of 3,000 tons.

Mitsui Chemicals currently owns a facility that is capable of producing 3,400 tons of cycloolefin copolymer a year at its plant in Waki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan.

Demand for cycloolefin copolymer, also used to make lens for mobile phone cameras, is likely to continue growing by more than 20 pct annually, company officials said.END

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