World Diaper Output May Take a Hit from Blasts at Japan Plant

Global diaper output is likely to take a hit from an increase in the price of acrylic acid after a chemical tank explosion at Nippon Shokubai's Himeji plant in Japan, a main production base of the ingredient, Japanese media reported.

Nippon Shokubai is one of the world's biggest makers of acrylic acid, the main ingredient of a resin called SAP, which is used in diapers.

The plant produces about 20% of the world's SAP and 10% of global output of acrylic acid.

Operations at the plant are likely to be halted for a long time and other makers of SAP resins are operating on a full-production footing, leaving little room for back-up production, the Nikkei business daily said on Sunday.

The explosion occurred on Saturday afternoon at an acrylic acid residue tank and the fire spread to another acrylic acid tank and a toluene tank.

Two explosions occurred, killing a 28-year-old fire fighter and injuring 33 people. The fire was put out on Saturday night.