Japanese Plant Blast Could Hinder Car Output

An explosion and fire at a Nippon Shokubai Co. chemical factory in western Japan on Sept. 29 could disrupt domestic auto production, The Nikkei reports.

A firefighter was killed and 34 others were injured after a blast in several of the company's acrylic acid storage tanks in the city of Himeji. Nippon Shokubai says it does not know how long the facility will remain closed.

The Himeji plant accounts for about half Japan's output of acrylic ester, a raw material used in auto paint. The facility also makes an automotive catalyst for exhaust control systems, additives for resins in vehicle interiors and water-absorbent polymers used to make one-fifth of the world's disposable diapers.

Nippon Shokubai supplies acrylic ester to Kansai Paint Co. and Nippon Paint Co., which produce more than 90% of the automotive paint used in Japan. Nippon Paint tells the Nikkei it expects to meet orders for October but is unsure whether it will be have adequate supplies in November.

The paint makers are seeking alternate sources of acrylic ester. But Kansai says it will take several months to validate the quality of new paint, according to the Tokyo-based newspaper.