New Fibre Projects In China Despite Lagging Demand

China is to build four new glass fibre direct melt furnace factories, even though demand is expected to lag behind production until at least 2010. Its projects include enlarging Yuntian Chemical's factory at Chongquing to lift annual output from its current 25,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes by 2005, though the firm sold only 23,000 tonnes in 2002. Saint-Gobain expects domestic glass fibre demand in China to rise by more than 10% from its current 200,000 tonnes/year by 2005 - but it says production capacity is already 240,000 tonnes/year. (whole item)