Arkema is expanding capacity for its Kynar polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in Calvert City, USA, by about 20%, with work set to start in mid-2018. A start-up date and capacity details were not disclosed.

The expansion, said Arkema, has been prompted by strong demand in the new energies and water management markets as well as in the more traditional applications of chemical processing and high-performance cables.

In April, the French specialty chemicals group brought on stream new Kynar PVDF capacities in Changshu, China. The plant’s capacity was increased by 25% to meet its customers’ growth in the region, especially in new energies (batteries and photovoltaics) and water management markets, as well as in construction coatings and chemical processing.  The facility, which started operating in 2011, previously underwent a capacity hike of 50% in 2012.

According to US market consultancy Grand View Research, the global PVDF market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6% from 2017 to 2025.