Lanxess subsidiary reports sales increase of 6.8 percent

ERJ staff report (RPN)

Mannheim, Germany – Lanxess A.G.'s Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH speciality chemicals subsidiary had a 6.8-percent increase in sales in 2012 compared with 2011, reports Rubber & Plastics News. This performance is attributed partly to high growth in North and South America.

Lanxess said the operation had global sales of $446.4 million in 2012. Sales in the Americas climbed 25 percent to $123.3 million, and in the Asia/Pacific region by 3 percent to $124.6 million.

The parent company posted overall sales of $11.7 billion for the year.

Rhein Chemie did well despite increasingly difficult market conditions in the second half of the year, said Anno Borkowsky, subsidiary's CEO and president.

Among highlights of the year, Borkowsky mentioned the launching of production of rubber additives in Jhagadia, India, and in expansion of the firm's business in the tire industry via the acquisition of U.S.-based bladder specialist Tire Curing Bladders.

Rhein Chemie is building a tire bladder manufacturing plant that is scheduled to open in Porto Feliz, Brazil, in the first half of this year. In the second half of 2013, production is expected to start at a Lipetsk, Russia, facility that will make predispersed, polymer-bound rubber additives, used to manufacture tires, seals, damping elements and other products.