Growing Demand for PTA Prompts Siam Mitsui to Expand in Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate (Map Ta Phut)

Bangkok, 1 August 2006: Siam Mitsui PTA Co., Ltd, one of the world’s major producers of Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), has expanded its operations in Thailand by opening a third new plant worth Baht 9,700 million at Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate (Map Ta Phut) to cater to the growing demand for PTA in textile industry.

A 50-50 joint venture between Cementhai Chemicals Co., Ltd. and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. of Japan, Siam Mitsui PTA commenced its operations at the Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate (Map Ta Phut), developed by Hemaraj Land And Development Plc., with the opening of Plant 1 in 1999. As part of its expansion plan aimed at facilitating the rising demand for PTA, the company set up Plant 2 and Plant 3 adjacent to Plant 1. Constructed on an extent of 82 rai, the Plant 3 has the manufacturing capacity of 500,000 tons of PTA per year.

According to Mr. Suchai Asvathavornvanich, Deputy Managing Director of Siam Mitsui PTA,.” Since Plant 1 and 2 were running in full capacity, we set up Plant 3 to facilitate the future demand. Being a leader in Asia Pacific, we produce 1.44 million tons of PTA per year at the three plants” said Mr Suchai.

Mr. David Nardone, President and CEO of Hemaraj Land and Development Plc., said “Thailand’s petrochemical industry is growing at a brisk pace in line with which we are expanding Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate (Map Ta Phut). Located close to Thailand’s petrochemical hub and Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port on the Eastern Seaboard, Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate is preferred by many investors in view of its location and logistics benefits as well as the diverse range of facilities and utilities it offers. In support of the overall industrial growth and the expansion plans of our customers, we continue to expand our strategically located industrial estates, adding more land to each existing one and employing our expertise in industrial estate infrastructure and utilities management.

PTA is an intermediate petrochemical product used as a raw material in the production of polyester used extensively in the textile and garment industries. It is also consumed in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is the main raw material for making plastic water bottles and polyester film utilized in the packaging industry.