HOUSTON – Kuraray Co. Ltd. announced plans to increase the production capacity of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, EVAL™ within its subsidiary, Kuraray America Inc. The Kuraray EVAL plant located in Pasadena, TX, will increase capacity by 11,000 tons per year with planned operations to begin in the summer of 2018.

“In addition to expanding EVAL production within the United States, this announcement also represents a $75 million investment towards the Bayport community,” said Robert Armstrong, Plant Manager at Kuraray America Inc. “With the recent opening of the Kuraray Poval plant and the consideration of enhancing current VAM production, Kuraray continues to further their commitment to southeast Texas.”