Mitsui Chemicals announced that it has decided to increase production capacity at the meta-Xylylene Diisocyanate (XDI) plant within its Omuta Works in response to growing demand for hardeners used in hardly yellowing coatings. This would make the expansion of domestic production capacity by 20 percent. The operational launch of the plant is expected to be in September 2025.

XDI is a special isocyanate that Mitsui Chemicals was the first in the world to produce on a commercial scale. XDI is widely acknowledged as a high refractive index ophthalmic lens material offering high durability, and as a coating and functional material for its outstanding resistance to yellowing and quick-curing properties.

It is expected that the demand of XDI will further increase due to quality of life needs and shift away from mixed materials particularly in items such as adhesives for food packaging, which have to meet particularly rigorous safety standards, special inks and coating materials used in solar cells and smartphones, and microcapsules, which also require a high level of safety.

Mitsui Chemicals is therefore responding to this increasing demand by expanding the XDI plant within its Omuta Works.

Mitsui Chemicals’ Long-Term Business Plan, VISION 2030, includes a commitment to meet eco-friendly demand in the converting solution field. With this capacity increase, Mitsui Chemicals will continue to proactively build up its supply setup.