Versalis aims to expand rubber business in US

Milan, Italy – Versalis is looking to expand its synthetic rubber business in the US as part of an “internationalisation strategy,” said a company spokeswoman – commenting on reports that the company was considering making a significant investment in the country.

“In 2016, we established a new trading company Versalis Americas Inc., based in Houston, Texas  to reinforce the presence in the American markets, in particular in the elastomers business,” said Versalis in response to an ERJ query.

The Italian petrochemicals company will manage the distribution of Versalis’ elastomers portfolio, including the new generation of products aimed at meeting demands in North American and South American markets.

Versalis announced earlier this year that it planned to make further inroads into the North American market with its new grades of EPDM and solution styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR).

The company’s products have been distributed in the US since the late 1980s through commercial offices in New York and Houston.

“We’re convinced the performance of this SBR will be recognised in the North American market,” said another Versalis manager for elastomers business unit, in an interview with ERJ earlier this year.