Announcement on the Discontinuance of MMA Production by the ACH Process and Acrylonitrile-Related Production at the Hiroshima Plant, and on Subsequent Withdrawal from Some Businesses

The Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG Group) hereby announces that it has decided to discontinue MMA monomer production by the ACH process as well as the production of acrylonitrile and acrylonitrile derivatives at the Mitsubishi Chemical Hiroshima Plant (Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture) as described below. Also, following the discontinuance of production, the MCG Group will withdraw from the chelating agent and acetonitrile businesses.
 

1. Reason for discontinuance of production

As a leading company in the MMA business, the MCG Group produces MMA monomers by three different methods (ACH process, C4 process, and Alpha technology) at its MMA monomer production bases around the world, while enhancing the supply chain in response to the demand-supply situation and trends with regard to materials used for production.
 
For the acrylonitrile business, the MCG Group has two production bases in Japan to supply acrylonitrile and acrylonitrile derivatives, and also supplies a byproduct from the acrylonitrile production process as a material for MMA production by the ACH process.
 
In order to enhance the Group’s competitiveness in the MMA and acrylonitrile businesses and optimize the supply system, the Group has decided to discontinue MMA monomer production by the ACH process as well as the production of acrylonitrile and acrylonitrile derivatives at the Hiroshima Plant.
 
However, the MCG Group will continue to produce MMA monomers produced by the C4 process at the Hiroshima Plant, along with continued production of acrylonitrile and sodium glycinate at the Okayama Plant (Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture) and acrylamide at the Kanto Plant (Tsurumi) (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture).
 
2. Products to be discontinued at the Hiroshima Plant

　・MMA monomers^*1 produced by the ACH method

　・Acrylonitrile^*1

　・Acrylonitrile derivatives (chelating agent, acetonitrile and ammonium sulfate)
 
３．Schedule
Production of the products listed above will be discontinued in July 2024.


Reference: MCG Group’s MMA monomer and acrylonitrile production capacity

・MMA monomers
・Acrylonitrile

Plant	Production capacity (kt/year)
Japan (Hiroshima)	90
Japan (Okayama)	90

^*1 MMA monomers are used as a material for acryl resin and other products, and acrylonitrile is used as a material for ABS resin, acrylic fiber and other products.