Matthias Zachert, chairman of the board of management of Lanxess AG. (File photo)
SINGAPORE: Lanxess AG said it has officially inaugurated its new neodymium butadiene rubber (Nd-BR) plant in Singapore. Located next to Lanxess’ existing butyl rubber plant on Jurong Island, the world-scale facility represents an investment of approximately €200 million. With an annual production capacity of 140,000 metric tonne, the plant will produce Nd-BR for global markets, with an emphasis on the growing Asian markets.
The Asia-Pacific region accounts for about a quarter of Lanxess’ sales and is home to key growth markets tied to megatrends involving mobility and urbanization. “Together with our adjacent butyl rubber plant, the opening of this new butadiene rubber plant reinforces the strategic role of Singapore as our hub for synthetic rubber production for the Asian markets,” said Matthias Zachert, chairman of the board of management of Lanxess AG, at the opening ceremony.
Among the attendees at the event was Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore’s minister for trade and industry. “This new investment by Lanxess, which comes shortly after its butyl rubber plant in 2013, reiterates the confidence Lanxess has in Singapore as a strategic base to chart their growth in the region,” said Damian Chan, executive director, energy and chemicals of the Singapore economic development board. “The synthetic rubber project is part of Singapore’s strategy to grow chemical chains from the higher olefins produced by our petrochemical crackers. This will enhance the value and resilience of our chemicals industry.”
© Worldofchemicals News