The facility in Thang long II Industrial Park has an average capacity of 2,000 tons of products annually. Its capacity may be raised to 10,000 tons annually depending on market demand.

Yoshihiko Sumitani, general director of SOC Vietnam, said Sumitomo Osaka Cement Group was established in 1907 in Japan, while SOC was only set up in Vietnam in 2011.

SOC Vietnam now is boosting development and production of lithium iron phosphate to make anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. It was already granted the copyright for lithium iron phosphate production and business and targets to launch the products worldwide, Sumitani said.

“The pilot plant with a small capacity in Japan has failed to satisfy our development’s demand, therefore, the new plant in Vietnam will be the foundation for us to expand business operations in anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in Asia and around the world,” he revealed.

Anode materials for lithium-ion batteries that SOC is producing are being highly-valued by the market and have captured great attention of customers from Japan, Europe and America. The new plant when in place will help SOC meet rising demand from customers, thus enhancing its competitiveness on the global market.

Sumitomo Osaka Cement Group started its business in the cement industry in Japan. The group so far has expanded it operations to minerals, building materials, optoelectronics and other advanced materials industries.