Chemicals company Denka Chemicals opened a new polyvinyl chloride plant in Singapore on Tuesday, its first such factory outside Japan.

The $46 million plant in Tuas will produce the company's proprietary product, Toyokalon, which is used mainly in artificial hair products such as wigs, weaves and braids.

The new plant will employ 40 staff, bringing Denka's total workforce in Singapore to 250. The company has three other chemicals facilities in the Republic.

Denka's newest Singapore plant will produce 10,000 metric tons of Toyokalon each year, mainly for export to Africa and North America.

Demand for artificial hair products in the African market has grown 5 to 10 per cent yearly, the company said. It counts countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Togo and Congo among its biggest customers.