Orion constructing new carbon black plant in China

Houston, Texas - Orion Engineered Carbons has started construction work on its second plant in China for specialty and high-performance carbon black, the company has announced.

The new facility in Huaibei in the eastern province of Anhui is expected to be completed late next year and to begin operating in 2023, said the 30 Aug statement.

With a targeted initial production capacity of 65-70 kilotonnes per annum, the plant is designed to make a variety of carbon black for specialty and high-end rubber grades.

To enhance sustainability, Orion said will equip the plant to convert its waste heat to steam that will be sold to the local industrial park.

The project will expand the company’s production of carbon black in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, stated Orion, noting applications in tires, textile fibres, coatings, batteries and consumer goods. 

“The strongest growth in demand for carbon black in the coming years is widely projected to be in Asia,” said Corning Painter, chief executive officer at Orion.

“This new site in China will enable us to better supply our customers and strengthen our position as a leading global supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon black.”

The unit will complement Orion’s first Chinese plant, built in 1994 in Qingdao in the eastern province of Shandong, as well as its production site in Yeosu, South Korea.