Sekisui Chemical in US$186m expansion

Japan-based Sekisui Chemical Co Ltd said it will invest an additional 20 billion yen (US$186 million) in its China operations to raise annual mainland sales to 60 billion yen (US$559 million) by 2010, an eightfold increase on sales now. An official said the move was aimed at answering Chinese, rather than export, demand. He said China sales are expected to reach 7.6 billion yen (US$71 million) this year, but over 80% of that amount has to be imported from Japan. In two years, the resin maker has reportedly invested 5 billion yen expanding production of intermediate membranes used in glass for vehicles and buildings, and for medical equipment.