Acrylics (PMMA): Production
A world with far more MMA than it needs
What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | MMA 6.4 Mt/yr world (2024), rising to 7.3 Mt/yr by 2029; China about 2.9 Mt/yr; PMMA polymer capacity not published | Chemical Week, May 2025 | |
| World output | about 2.4 Mt MMA consumed in PMMA (2024, derived) | derived from Chemical Week, May 2025 | |
| Capacity utilisation | MMA about 60% (derived: 3.8 Mt demand / 6.4 Mt capacity, 2024) | Overcapacity drove closures by Mitsubishi Chemical, Sumitomo, Kuraray and PTT Asahi. China's MMA self-sufficiency was expected to top 120% in 2026 (Mysteel headline, Aug 2026). | Chemical Week, May 2025; Mysteel, 2026 |
| Concentration | China 44% of MMA capacity, expected 50% by 2034 (Chemical Week) | Mitsubishi Chemical (including Lucite) is the largest MMA maker; Röhm, Sumitomo, Arkema, Trinseo (Altuglas), Kuraray, Chimei, LG MMA and Wanhua follow (indicative). | Chemical Week, May 2025 |
| New capacity | MMA capacity to 7.3 Mt/yr by 2029 (+0.9 Mt/yr), China adding about 1.5 Mt/yr | China expected to add 300 kt/yr of MMA in 2026 (Mysteel headline, Jan 2026). Closures offset some growth outside China: PTTAC Rayong ended production on 31 Dec 2024; Röhm Westwego closes June 2025. | Chemical Week, May 2025; Mysteel, 2026 |
Top producing countries
China 44% · about 2.9 Mt/yr MMA (2024-25); 3.155 Mt/yr expected in 2026 (Mysteel headline) United States 12% · about 0.8 Mt/yr; Americas expected to reach 1 Mt/yr by 2029 Japan 10% · shrinking after Mitsubishi Hiroshima closure (July 2024) and Kuraray cut (indicative) South Korea and Taiwan 12% · LG MMA, Lotte MCC, Chimei, Formosa (indicative) Western Europe 10% · Röhm, Mitsubishi (Lucite) Rotterdam, Arkema/Trinseo (indicative) Middle East and Southeast Asia 8% · Saudi Methacrylates (SAMAC), Thai and Singapore plants after cuts (indicative) Chemical Week, May 2025; Mysteel, Dec 2025; Chemical Week, May 2025; US figure indicative; Chemical Week, May 2025; share indicative; indicativeLargest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Chemical Group (incl. Lucite) closed Beaumont 136 kt/yr (2021), Cassel 220 kt/yr (2023), Hiroshima 107 kt/yr (2024); scrapped Geismar 350 kt/yr (Jan 2025) | Japan | 0.182 Mt/yr MMA at Memphis (ACH); other sites not given | 2025 | Chemical Week, May 2025 |
| Röhm started March 2025; closing 150 kt/yr Westwego, June 2025; PLEXIGLAS brand | Germany | 0.25 Mt/yr MMA at Baytown (LiMA) | 2025 | Chemical Week, May 2025; S&P Global, Jul 2025 |
| Sumitomo Chemical Asia two of three lines closed Sept 2024 | Singapore / Japan | 0.223 Mt/yr MMA before closures (cut about 80%); PMMA 0.15 Mt/yr (cut about 70%) | 2024 | Chemical Week, May 2025 |
| Kuraray external sales ceased | Japan | 0.067 Mt/yr MMA at Niigata, being halved from July 2025 | 2025 | Chemical Week, May 2025 |
| Trinseo (Altuglas) bought Arkema's PMMA business in 2021 (indicative) | US / France | not published | 2025 | not published in sources reached |
| Wanhua Chemical Chinese entrant integrated with C4 and propylene chains (indicative) | China | not published | 2025 | not published in sources reached |
| Chimei Corporation large PMMA resin maker for light guides (indicative) | Taiwan | not published | 2025 | not published in sources reached |
Largest producers: India
India has no MMA monomer plant identified in sources reached and imports MMA and PMMA resin; Indian buyers were paying $1,600-1,800/t FOB China earlier in 2025, falling to the $1,200s/t in July (S&P Global, Jul 2025). Domestic acrylic sheet casters exist but capacities were not found.
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Röhm's LiMA start-up added low-cost capacity; US MMA spot fell from 111 c/lb on 14 May to 93 c/lb on 21 July 2025 (Platts). |
| EU | Prices at record lows in 2025; Mitsubishi closed Cassel; demand weak in auto and construction (S&P Global). |
| India | Import-dependent for MMA and most PMMA; demand subdued in 2025 (S&P Global). |
| China | 44% of capacity, oversupplied, self-sufficiency over 120% expected in 2026 (Mysteel). |
| Japan | Closures at Mitsubishi Hiroshima and Kuraray Niigata. |
| Middle East | Ample supply; SAMAC (Mitsubishi and SABIC JV) in Saudi Arabia (indicative). |