Lucite International Group Limited (Head Office: Southampton, U.K.; CEO: Ian Lambert; hereafter “Lucite International”), a Group company of Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., has decided to construct a new plant for the manufacture of Methacrylic Acid (MAA) at its facility in Beaumont, Texas, U.S.A. Details are given below.

Overview of new facility
Total investment: $36.2 million (approx. ¥3.1 billion)
Construction site: Lucite International’s Beaumont (Texas) facility
Production capacity: 23,000 tons per year
Construction schedule (tentative): Starting in July 2011 Scheduled start of production: 4th quarter of 2012

Background
With the economic growth of emerging countries, supply of MAA remains tight in Asia, especially China, as well as in North and South America.
Because demand for MAA is expected to grow, Lucite International has decided to build a supply base for MAA in the Americas region.

*MAA
MAA, which is produced using Acetone Cyanohydrin (ACH) as its main ingredient, is used as a raw material primarily in paint, adhesives, synthetic rubber, and admixture for concrete.

Profile of Lucite International (U.S.A.)
Main business: Manufacture and sale of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) monomer, and polymer and resin products, etc. derived from MMA monomer.
Established: April, 1947
Capitalization: $363 million (approx. ¥29 billion)