Rhodia to build an upstream silica facility in China

Paris - Rhodia is to build to build a joint-venture sodium silicate plant at Qingdao, China. The facility with a capacity of 220,000 tonnes is scheduled to come on-stream in the first quarter of 2008. it will be built through a a joint venture agreement with Qingdao Haiwan Group and Qingdao Dongyue Sodium Silicate Company, said Rhodia.

Sodium silicate is an intermediate for precipitated silica manufacturing. The new facility will supply Rhodia's Asian silica manufacturing plants in Qingdao, China and Incheon, South Korea, all of which are specialised in high performance silica which is aimed mainly at the tyre industry.

"This new facility will give Rhodia a source of competitive raw material to support the growing needs of its silica business in Asia ", commented Eric Noyrez, President of Rhodia Silcea. "As the global leader in high performance silica, we benefit from a rapid increase in demand of the tyre, nutraceutics and silicone markets".

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Press release from Rhodia