Marubeni Corporation, Idemitsu Kosan, and Oriental Petrochemical Taiwan announced that they have agreed to establish a supply chain for biomass Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) produced from biomass naphtha. Production of biomass PTA is planned to begin in 2024 in Taiwan, the first time it will be produced there.

Idemitsu Kosan will produce biomass PX from biomass naphtha using the mass balance method. It will then be converted to biomass PTA by OPTC, a PTA manufacturer under the Far Eastern New Century Group (a PET manufacturing company in Taiwan). Marubeni will be coordinating the management of the supply chain's establishment as well as the marketing of the biomass products.

PET resin, the raw material for PET bottles, is composed of approximately 70% PTA and 30% ethylene glycol. Therefore, by using biomass PTA and biomass ethylene glycol, 100% biomass-derived PET resin can be produced. While biomass ethylene glycol has become increasingly popular, replacing petroleum-derived PTA with biomass-derived PTA has been a challenge.

Biomass naphtha, the raw material for biomass products, is manufactured from raw materials derived from renewable materials such as plants, and can thus reduce CO2 emissions compared to naphtha derived from petroleum.

Through this newly established supply chain, the three companies will contribute to CO2 reduction in the plastics industry and the swifter realization of a low-carbon society.