Asian MMA Expansion Surges Past 90 Million Kilos Reshaping Global Supply Chains

The global methyl methacrylate (MMA) market is undergoing a rapid transformation as Asian producers ramp up capacity at an unprecedented pace. According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, global MMA production capacity will rise from 6.4 million tons in 2024 to 7.3 million tons by 2029, with over 900,000 tons of the new capacity coming from Asia alone. This aggressive growth is triggering a domino effect, forcing producers in other regions to restructure operations or cut back entirely.

Mitsubishi Chemical, the world’s largest MMA producer, recently shelved its planned 350,000-ton facility in Louisiana, citing oversupply in Asia as a key factor. The decision will cost the company an estimated ¥20 billion. In a broader restructuring effort, Mitsubishi also shuttered a 107,000-ton plant in Hiroshima and a 220,000-ton site in the UK, aiming to streamline global production and enhance profitability.

Meanwhile, Röhm Group has launched a new MMA plant in Bay City, Texas, capable of producing 250,000 tons annually using its proprietary LiMA process. This facility will replace an older 150,000-ton operation and supply Röhm’s domestic PMMA production. Despite the influx of Asian supply, the U.S. market remains tight, and Röhm is currently the only American producer using advanced C2 technology. Röhm’s private equity backer, Advent International, is now evaluating further investment opportunities.

Across Asia, the effects of oversupply are already evident. Sumitomo Chemical shut down two MMA production lines in Singapore last September, slashing output by 80% for MMA and 70% for PMMA. Kuraray is also halving the 67,000-ton capacity at its Niigata plant in Japan and will stop external sales by July 2025.

In Thailand, PTT Asahi Chemical—a joint venture between Asahi Kasei and PTT Global Chemical—terminated MMA production at the end of 2024, with plans to dismantle the facility by 2028.

While certain recovery signs are emerging, major producers agree that maintaining profit margins for general-grade MMA remains a long-term challenge. The industry is now betting on technology innovation, smarter capacity deployment, and high-value applications to adapt to the new landscape.