Japan’s Asahi Kasei Chemicals plans to restart its 390,000 tonne/year No 3 SM unit at Mizushima on 20 November. The No 3 unit, which was taken off line in the first half of October for a 40-day turnaround, would again undergo maintenance in mid-March 2010 for around a month. The company’s 320,000 tonne/year No 2 unit, at the same site, would also be taken off line in February next year for around 70 days of maintenance. The company’s 150,000 tonne/year No 1 unit was shut permanently in 2007.