Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masayuki Waga) today announced that it has decided to increase the annual production capacity of SoarnoL™ ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) resin by 3,000 tons to 41,000 tons at its consolidated subsidiary Noltex L.LC. (Noltex; Head office: Texas, the U.S., President: Kuniyoshi Asano). The production increase is slated to take effect in the summer of 2020.
EVOH is high gas-barrier resin used to produce packaging materials that help prolong the flavor and quality of foods, resulting in a reduced food waste. Global demand for EVOH resin has been expanding, backed by growth in emerging markets, as well as increasing use of individual packaging because of lifestyle changes in recent years and rising calls to limit the use of preservatives and food additives. Due to these factors, MCC anticipates solid growth in demand for EVOH resin in the coming years.
MCC holds a significant share in EVOH market with focus on packaging globally, as well as has three SoarnoL™ EVOH resin production sites in Okayama, Japan, Texas, the U.S., and Hull, the U.K. The company will meet soaring demand for food packaging materials by increasing its annual production capacity and establishing a structure capable of further expanding the business. It will not only increase production capacity to capitalize on rising demand, but also speed up development of the business by continually offering food packaging-related solutions and making full use of the MCC Group’s collective strength.