Kuraray to Enhance EVOH Resin Production Capacity

Kuraray  will boost the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH resin; Kuraray trademark: EVAL) production capacity of Kuraray America, Inc., an indirectly wholly owned Kuraray subsidiary located in the U.S. state of Texas. Brief details are as follows.


EVAL boasts superior gas barrier properties. Due to this feature, EVAL demand continues to grow, particularly for food packaging applications that offer better food preservation and for automobile fuel tanks that effectively prevent hydrocarbon emissions.

In recent years, EVAL applications have expanded to include agricultural and industrial products in addition to wallpaper, pipes for floor heating systems and vacuum insulation panels for refrigerators.

Previously, the increase in EVAL demand had been centered primarily in industrialized nations, such as Japan and the United States as well as those in Europe. However, demand is now rising in emerging nations. To secure a stable supply structure, Kuraray has concluded that it is necessary to boost its EVAL production capacity.

The Kuraray Group outlined the deepening of its core businesses as one of the main management strategies of its GS-STEP medium-term management plan, which commenced in fiscal 2015. In the core vinyl acetate business, Kuraray is continuing to strengthen its base of operations globally. As for EVAL, with this enhancement, which follows on last year’s production enhancement in Europe, Kuraray aims to expand its business as a leading company in the area of EVOH resin and barrier materials.