LANXESS starts up new NBR plant in Nantong, China

23 May 2012 10:50  [Source: ICIS news]

NANTONG (ICIS)--Germany’s LANXESS announced on Wednesday the start-up of its new 30,000 tonne/year nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) plant at Nantong in China’s Jiangsu province.

The $50m (€40m) plant is part of a 50:50 joint venture between LANXESS and Taiwan’s TSRC Corp.

“This new plant is the most modern of its kind in Asia, and will address the needs of the two leading megatrends in China – rapid urbanization and growing mobility,” said LANXESS chairman Axel Heitmann, who is at the site for the plant’s official opening.

The company said the new NBR plant is expected to start commercial operations in early July.

China is the world’s biggest and fastest-growing NBR market, with a compounded annual growth rate of about 10%. Demand is being driven by the local automotive, footwear and flooring industries.

“With this new plant, our customers in China will have ready access to locally produced, high-quality grades of NBR,” said Uwe Westeppe, head of NBR business line at LANXESS Technical Rubber Products business unit.

($1 = €0.79)

By: Dolly Wu
+65 6780 4359

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