Akzo Nobel will build MCA plant in China

Akzo Nobel will build MCA plant in China Arnhem, the Netherlands, December 2, 1999. - Akzo Nobel's Functional Chemicals business unit will build a 25,000 ton per annum monochloracetic acid (MCA) plant in the Taixing Economic Development Area, Jiangsu Province, Republic of China. The investment amounts to EUR 20 million and the plant will be operated as a wholly owned foreign enterprise. Construction will begin in June 2000, with the plant supplying the local market from early 2002 onwards. "This is in line with our strategy of growing world class businesses" said Rudy M.J. van der Meer, Akzo Nobel's Board Member responsible for Chemicals. "The large, fast growing MCA market in China is of particular interest to this core business area and this strategic investment will further strengthen our global MCA position," he added. Akzo Nobel is the leading MCA producer in the world with plants in Sweden and the Netherlands. The company also operates a Japanese joint venture, Denak, together with Denka K.K. MCA is a raw material for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and surfactants. It is used mainly in the agrochemicals segment in China. Demand in this segment of the Chinese economy is expected to grow. In addition to producing MCA, Akzo Nobel's Functional Chemicals business unit is the world's principal producer of chelates, which among other applications can deliver micronutrients to plants, and makes organophosphorus-based fire retardants for plastics and hydraulic fluids. In addition, the business unit is a leading global producer of ethylene amines. Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, serves customers throughout the world with healthcare products, coatings, chemicals, and fibers. The company currently employs approximately 83,000 people in almost 70 countries. Consolidated sales for 1998 totaled EUR 12.5 billion (NLG 27.5 billion, USD 13.8 billion, GBP 8.4 billion). The financial results for the year 1999 will be announced on February 25, 2000. Internet: http://www.akzonobel.com http://functionalchemicals.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/12/02/19991202BIT00070/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/12/02/19991202BIT00070/bit0002.pdf