Sumitomo Chemical Company, a leading Japanese chemical maker, Thursday started the third-phase expansion of its methyl methacrylate (MMA) production capacity in Singapore.

The company broke ground for its third MMA monomer plant and second MMA polymer plant on the day, which is estimated to cost the company 200 million U.S. dollars.

Upon operation in the first quarter of 2008, the new facility is expected to produce 90,000 tons of MMA monomer and 50,000 tons of MMA polymer annually, according to a press release issued by the company.

"With the completion of the third MMA monomer plant, Sumitomo will be in a commanding position as the largest MMA producer in Asia. In Singapore alone, Sumitomo will have a total annual MMA monomer production capacity of 223,000 tons and total annual MMA polymer production capacity of 100,000 tons," said Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang at an event celebrating the opening of Sumitomo's second MMA monomer plant in the city state.

MMA monomer and polymer are used for the production of light guide panels in Liquid Crystal Displays and thick optical panel applications, among others.

The output of Singapore's chemicals industry reached 66.5 billion Singapore dollars (about 41.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2005, accounting for 32 percent of the country's total manufacturing output, according to the minister.

Source: Xinhua