Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) recently posted its full-year results for 2018, showing a significant increase to sales but a decrease in all profit metrics. While the company’s sales rose by 16.3 percent year-on-year to reach almost 603 billion yen ($5.45 billion), its operating profit fell 13.8 percent to 65.79 billion yen, with ordinary profit down 17.6 percent to 61.17 billion...
kuraray
Kuraray Plans Major Investment to Build New TPE Factory in Thailand
Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) is set to build a new factory in Thailand for the production of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and highly functional resins. Located in the Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate, part of Thailand’s Map Ta Phut complex, the new factory is slated for completion at the end of 2021. Kuraray will use the location to provide 13,000 tons of...
Kuraray Announces Plan to Form Butadiene Derivatives JV With PTTGC, Sumitomo
Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) announced on March 7 that it has inked a joint venture agreement with Sumitomo Corp. (TYO:8053) and Thai-based PTT Global Chemical PCL (PTTGC) for a butadiene derivative business. The three companies began detailed feasibility studies in September 2016. Ahead of the final decision on investment, they signed an agreement to hold further discussions and to file...
Bridgestone and Kuraray Give for US Hurricane Relief
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) and chemical products manufacturer Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) have announced that they will donate aid to the victims of the recent hurricanes in the U.S. Bridgestone, and its U.S. subsidiary Bridgestone Americas Inc., will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross in order to support those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Meanwhile, Kuraray will donate...
Kuraray’s Liquid Farnesene Rubber Used in Car Tires for First Time
Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) said that Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has adopted liquid farnesene rubber (LFR) as a performance enhancing additive in the production of its latest winter tire, the Winter Maxx 02. This is the first time that LFR is used in car tires. LFR is a liquid rubber developed by Kuraray using farnesene, a new biologically derived...
Kuraray Posts Growing Profit Amid Falling Sales for 2016
The Isoprene Chemicals (IPC) division of Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) has posted a year-on-year 0.2-percent increase on operating profit for 2016, at 6.934 billion yen ($60.53 million). The modest increase comes on a 7.1-percent decline in year-on-year sales, at 51.083 billion yen. Despite performing strongly with fine chemicals, thermoplastic elastomers and liquid rubber, the division struggled with its heat-resistant polyamide...