World diaper output may take a hit from blasts at Japan plant
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos
A woman pushing her trolley walks next to disposable diapers for sale at a supermarket in Jakarta, June 16, 2012. Global diaper output is likely to take a hit from an increase in the price of acrylic acid after a chemical tank explosion at Nippon Shokubai Co's Himeji plant in Japan, a main production base of the ingredient, Japanese media reported. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
TOKYO (REUTERS) - Global diaper output is likely to take a hit from an increase in the price of acrylic acid after a chemical tank explosion at Nippon Shokubai Co's Himeji plant in Japan, a main production base of the ingredient, Japanese media reported.
Nippon Shokubai is one of the world's biggest makers of acrylic acid, the main ingredient of a resin called SAP, which is used in diapers.
The plant produces about 20 per cent of the world's SAP and 10 per cent of global output of acrylic acid.
Operations at the plant are likely to be halted for a long time and other makers of SAP resins are operating on a full-production footing, leaving little room for back-up production, the Nikkei business daily said on Sunday.
