Japanese chemicals firm Mitsui has announced the start-up of its electrolyte solution production facilities for lithium-ion batteries in Nagoya, Japan.
The new facilities, with a total electrolyte solution capacity of 5,000 tonnes/year, were built to meet growing domestic demand for lithium-ion electrolyte solution for batteries, according to the company.
Mitsui Chemicals intends to actively promote domestic business expansion and gradually move away from its existing contract production toward production at the new Nagoya Works site.
The firm is also speeding up the construction of its electrolyte solution production facilities at Formosa Mitsui Advanced Chemicals Co., a joint venture between Mitsui Chemicals and Taiwan’s Formosa Plastics in China, for start-up in November 2017, to enhance the production and supply systems for further market expansion.
The company said: “Mitsui Chemicals has positioned the mobility domain as one of its key growth drivers.”
Demand for lithium-ion batteries has expanded in line with the growth of laptop, smartphone, and tablet device markets, Mitsui said. In the future, eco-friendly hybrid and electric vehicles are expected to become widespread in East Asia, including China and Japan and “growth in the electrolyte solution market is especially forecast for vehicles“, Mitsui said.
