Arkema Hikes China Fluoropolymer Capacity

Growing demand has prompted Arkema to boost capacity for its Kynar polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in Changshu, China. The French chemical producer said the 25% increase in output will help meet strong demand in Asia, particularly in new energies such as batteries and photovoltaics and water treatment applications, as well as in the traditional markets of coatings and industry applications. Capacity details were not disclosed but Erwaon Pezron, global group president for Arkema’s technical polymers business, said the investment will make Changshu the largest PVDF plant in Asia.

The group said the project supports its ambition in technical polymers and is also part of its strategy to speed up the growth of its High Performance Materials division. Arkema had previously doubled Changshu’s Kynar capacity in 2012. Early last month, the Paris-headquartered firm said it was expanding capacity in China for specialty polyamides. Two production lines for PA 11 will be added at its site in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, in 2017, as well as extra compounding capacity.