TOKYO -- The Chinese government's fight against air pollution has pushed up prices for materials used in greener steel production, as well as in commodity-grade plastic.
Japanese chemical maker Showa Denko is cashing in on the stricter environmental policy. At a production site in Nagano Prefecture recently, graphite electrodes -- which look like cannon barrels -- were lined up for shipment. The company recently boosted production capacity 7% to an annual 45,000 tons at the site, but is still having trouble keeping up with orders. Showa Denko expects its operating profit to jump 80% on the year in fiscal 2018.
