Essential Chemicals & Plastics Sector

The Essential Chemicals & Plastics Sector meets the diverse needs of customers by providing chemical products that underpin a variety of industries. The products include synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polymethyl methacrylate resin, as well as raw materials for synthetic fibers and various industrial chemicals.

Main Products

Propylene Oxide

  • Automobile seats with cushion materials made using propylene oxide as a raw material

This material is used to manufacture polyurethane and propylene glycol. Polyurethane is used as heat insulating and cushioning materials, and propylene glycol is used as a material for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Polypropylene

  • Automobile instrument panel made of polypropylene

This synthetic resin provides multiple advantages: it is light and can be easily processed, is highly durable, and highly resistant to heat and chemicals. It is widely used as a material for automobile bumpers, instrument panels, food trays, home electrical appliances, and medical instruments.

Polyethylene

  • Various products made using polyethylene

This synthetic resin is flexible, highly resistant to water and chemicals, and can be easily processed. It is widely used as a material for wrapping film, food tubes, coatings for electrical wires, and films for agricultural greenhouses.

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymer

  • Large aquarium panel made of methyl methacrylate

MMA polymer possesses outstanding transparency, weather-resistance, and a beautiful luster. It is widely used as a material for automobile tail lights, signboards, aquariums, and for the optical components of liquid crystal displays.

  • Ehime Works

Ehime Works

Main Products
Sulfuric acid, Nitric acid, Aniline, Acrylonitrile, Caustic soda, Methacrylate resin, Alumina, High-purity alumina, High-purity chemicals for the electronics industry, Super engineering plastics, Crop protection chemicals, Medical and agricultural intermediates, and Methionine

The Ehime Works was established in 1913 to produce sulfuric acid and calcium superphosphate from sulfur dioxide recovered from the emissions of the copper refinery operated by Sumitomo. Located in Ehime, in the Shikoku region of Japan, which is Sumitomo Chemical's place of origin, the Ehime Works has been transforming itself, keeping pace with the progress of the company. The Works began manufacturing industrial chemicals against the backdrop of the development of Japan's modern industries and entered the petrochemical field in 1958, ahead of the others. The Works has been proactively increasing the number of products it manufactures, although it suspended operation of its manufacturing facilities for ethylene and some ethylene derivatives in 1983. Its products now include bulk chemicals (e.g. caprolactam and methacrylate resin), fine chemicals such as methionine (feed additive), and electronics products such as optical functional films, which the Works manufactures using a variety of basic materials it produces. In 2009, the manufacturing facilities for optical functional films and other products became the Ohe Works and now functions independently. The Ehime Works responds flexibly to the development of new business and supports the company in a number of business operations.

  • Chiba Works

Chiba Works

Main Products
Acetaldehyde, Propylene oxide, Isobutylene, N-Butylene, Low-density polyethylene, Polypropylene, Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resins, Thermoplastic elastomers, Styrene butadiene rubber, Ethylene propylene rubber, and Resorcinol

After the Ehime Works, the Chiba Works started operating in the Keiyo industrial district in 1967 as Sumitomo Chemical's second petrochemical complex. In 1983, in accordance with the company's plan to reorganize and streamline its petrochemical business, the manufacturing operations for petrochemical products were consolidated at the Chiba Works. The Works enhanced its ability to manufacture existing products and succeeded in manufacturing some derivatives that had been produced at the Ehime Works, thereby further strengthening its competitive capabilities. At present, the Chiba Works is engaged in the manufacture of products in the field of synthetic resins, synthetic rubbers, and organic chemicals. It is committed to further improving and expanding its portfolio of high value-added products while developing new manufacturing technologies and supporting the major projects undertaken by Sumitomo Chemical in strategic locations such as Singapore and Saudi Arabia. The Works thus serves as the “mother plant” of the company's Essential Chemicals & Plastics Sector and plays the core role in the global development of the business.

  • Essential Chemicals Research Laboratory

Essential Chemicals Research Laboratory

With research efficiency and speed, this laboratory pursues the development of polymers to sustain and expand Sumitomo Chemical’s business. It also develops and improves catalysts and manufacturing processes and conducts polymer structure analysis. The laboratory aims to establish technologies based on the latest science and to create new research areas while upgrading fundamental technologies that support product development, such as polymer design, organic synthesis, catalyst design, analysis of chemical and physical properties, and computer simulation.

  • PCS Pte. Ltd.

PCS Pte. Ltd.

As a supplier of materials to the petrochemical complex in Singapore, this company delivers basic petrochemical products such as ethylene, propylene, acetylene, and butadiene to derivatives manufacturers.

  • The Polyolefin Company (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

The Polyolefin Company (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

As a leading polyolefin manufacturer, this company manufactures high-quality low-density polyethylene and polypropylene and markets these products widely in Southeast Asia and China.

  • Sumitomo Chemical Asia Pte Ltd

Sumitomo Chemical Asia Pte Ltd

This company plays a core role in the manufacture and sale of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer and polymer, and acrylic acid and its derivatives in Singapore, while also moving into the manufacture and sale of petrochemical products. It also sells Sumitomo Chemical's crop protection chemicals, household insecticides, and feed additives. In addition, it is responsible for market research and information collection as the Sumitomo Chemical Group's regional headquarters in the Southeast Asia, India and Oceania region.

  • Petro Rabigh's ethane cracker

Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Company (Petro Rabigh)

This company was jointly established by Sumitomo Chemical and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) as the entity responsible for implementing a project to develop a world-scale integrated refining and petrochemical complex. The joint undertaking manufactures and markets petroleum products such as gasoline and petrochemical products such as polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene oxide, and mono-ethylene glycol.