Mitsubishi Chemical Establishes Needle Cokes Plant in South Korea

Japanese major chemical maker, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation announced on Tuesday to establish manufacturing and sales joint company of needle coke in South Korea with Japanese major large dealer, Mitsubishi Corporation and South Korean largest steel maker, POSCO. They will work out details for establishment of joint company.

Needle coke is raw material of high quality electrode used by electric furnace. Joint company sells needle coke to mainly China and India which steel output of electric furnace is expected to increase, which constructs plant in Gwangyang iron works of POSCO and plans to start operation of plant within 2014. The production capacity is about 60,000 tonnes per year. POSCO supplies tar. Mitsubishi Chemical provides needle coke production technology.

Mitsubishi Chemical builds up alliance with POSCO group, which purchases tar from POSCO in Sakaide plant and plans to enhance purchase system of tar for high purity graphite business such as needle coke.