FMC builds capacity in Thailand
Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, FMC Corporation predicted that investments made in its pharmaceutical chemicals unit – FMC Bioploymer – have positioned the business for growth.
The firm – which reported its full year results last week – said revenue from specialty chemicals increased 6 per cent to $236m with its Biopolymer division seeing steady performance and sales growing in the mid-single digit despite currency effects.
FMC did not say what had driven the growth, but did say that capacity investments will be key to the unit’s performance this year explaining that the ability to make more microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) gel – which is used in drug formulation and capsule production – will be important.
CEO Pierre Brondeau said: “Our Biopolymer business will benefit from capacity increases” citing the MCC plant the firm is building in Thailand as an example.