Toray to expand PPS resin capacity in South Korea

Toray Industries Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Toray Advanced Materials Korea, will start using TORELINA polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) at a plant in Gunsan, South Korea from December 2024 The annual production capacity of resin is increased by 5,000 tons. Toray Group’s PPS manufacturing capacity at this plant and the Tokai plant in Aichi Prefecture, Japan will thus increase to the world’s leading 32,600 tons.

At the same time, the company will also expand the production of sodium hydrogen sulfide, the key raw material of polyphenylene sulfide resin. As a result, Toray will strengthen its position as a cost-competitive integrated manufacturer from raw materials to resins.

Toray Advanced Materials Korea will supply domestic unconsumed PPS resin to Toray Group’s compounding plants in China, Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia and other regions as part of efforts to expand its global business.

PPS resin is a super engineering plastic. Its main advantages are excellent heat and chemical resistance, mechanical strength and flame retardancy. Its applications include electrical components for a growing number of electrified vehicles, electrical and electronic equipment, and housing-related components. The scope of application will continue to expand. Toray has decided to increase the production capacity of Toray Advanced Materials in South Korea to meet the expected 6% annual growth in global demand for PPS resin compounds.

The Toray Group is a comprehensive manufacturer of PPS, producing not only resin compounds but also films and fibers. It is the world’s largest company in this field. It will strengthen this position with new expansions to foster advanced, environmentally friendly product applications that will see rising demand in the plastic compounding segment.

Toray has made global expansion in promising fields a core strategy of its medium-term management plan AP-G2022 project. Therefore, the Toray Group will pursue sustainable growth by expanding its resin business to capture demand in China, other parts of Asia and emerging markets. It also hopes to capitalize on opportunities in automotive, electrical and electronic devices, housing-related components and other areas.