Sumitomo Chemical and Zeon are to establish a joint venture which will integrate the companies’ SSBR businesses. Sumitomo Chemical’s SSBR is used as a feedstock for fuel-efficient tires.
Under the agreement, the companies have been looking into various opportunities of cooperation, including development of new products to better meet customers’ needs by bringing their technologies together, increasing cost-competitiveness further, ensuring a stable supply of products, or transferring their SSBR business operations, including those of their respective affiliates, to a newly formed joint venture.