Sumitomo Chemical Co is expected to announce this week that it will be December before it is able to re start production of the epoxy for which the semiconductor industry is panting; of the two lines that produced the epoxy resin, one is thought to be relatively undamaged, and capable of supporting production again by December; other resin makers including Nippon Kayaku Co and Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Inc and Chang Chung Plastics Ltd in Taiwan – are raising production; there may be a shortage in early November, December and January, and there may be a shortage in particular grades of the epoxy resin, Tommy Tang, a chemicals analyst with Baring Securities (Japan) Ltd told the Wall Street Journal after being briefed by Sumitomo Chemical.
