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Suppliers, Carmakers to Meet on Resin Crisis

Auto suppliers and vehicle producers are meeting in suburban Detroit on Tuesday to discuss the global shortage of PA-12 resin caused by a fatal explosion at an Evonik Industries plant in Germany on March 31.

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Auto suppliers and vehicle producers are meeting in suburban Detroit on Tuesday to discuss the global shortage of PA-12 resin caused by a fatal explosion at an Evonik Industries plant in Germany on March 31.

The high-performance resin is used in automotive fuel systems and brake lines. Evonik's plant produces about half the world's cyclododecatriene, a key ingredient in PA-12.

Other suppliers of PA-12 say they are already running at or near full capacity and won't be able to help ease the shortage. Last week TI Automotive Chairman William Kozyra warned that vehicle production is almost certain to be disrupted in the next few weeks. TI Automotive supplies fuel systems to virtually all the world's major carmakers.

Vehicle producers tell Bloomberg News they are assessing the crisis but are not yet experiencing shortages. Chemical producers say other materials could be substituted, but it isn't clear how quickly such options could be certified for use.

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