Nouryon adds new MMAO production capacity in Jiaxing, to be put into operation in the first half of 2028.

Product positioning: Core co-catalyst to POE, connecting the photovoltaic and automotive manufacturing chains

MMAO is an aluminum-based co-catalyst and an essential raw material to activating polyolefin elastomer (POE) and α-olefin catalytic systems. POE combines high strength and flexibility, and is a core material to photovoltaic encapsulation films, while also being broadly utilized in lightweight automotive components; α-olefins, in turn, are key upstream monomers to POE production.

China has have become a major production cluster to POE and α-olefins. Nouryon's regional layout of MMAO production capacity in Jiaxing can shorten the supply chain radius and provide downstream customers with greater stable and responsive raw material support.

Corporate interpretation: Close to the core of manufacturing development, supporting customers' production expansion

Alain Rynwalt, Senior Vice President of Nouryon's High-Performance Materials Business, stated that the expansion of the photovoltaic sector, lightweighting of automobiles, and energy efficiency upgrades continue to drive demand to durable high-performance plastics, and MMAO is a key component in the production of such materials. By leveraging the Jiaxing base to nearby supply, stable supply will be delivered to the core area of manufacturing development, helping downstream manufacturers expand production with confidence.

Supply landscape: Currently only mass-produced at U.S. factories, items are adapted to extensive manufacturing production

At this stage, Nouryon's MMAO production capacity is concentrated in its U.S. factories. The Jiaxing project marks its new production capacity to this category in China.

This MMAO has good solubility and strong storage stability, and is suitable to extensive continuous manufacturing production. Meanwhile, the condition of MMAO immediately affects catalytic efficiency and determines the consistency of traits of end items such as POE, making it a high-barrier fine chemical in the upstream of the polyolefin manufacturing chain.

sector significance: Localization of upstream catalyst supporting facilities, improving the POE manufacturing chain supporting system

In recent years, China's POE production capacity has continued to expand, and demand to photovoltaic encapsulation films has remained high, driving a growing demand to localized upstream co-catalyst supporting facilities. The implementation of Nouryon's MMAO project in Jiaxing will fill the gap in the supply of key upstream additives to the POE manufacturing chain, decrease supply chain risks caused by long-distance overseas transportation and logistics cycle fluctuations, and provide supporting support to China's new photovoltaic materials and lightweight automotive materials manufacturing chains.