TSRC relocates Chinese rubber plant, announces €150m expansion project

Taipei, Taiwan – TSRC Corp. has completed the relocation of its rubber production facility within Nantong to support the local government’s environmental protection requirements along the Yangtze River.

With the relocation, the production capacity of the plant, operated by subsidiary Shenhua Chemical Industrial, has increased from 170 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) to 220 ktpa, TSRC reported on 16 May.

The unit currently produces emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR), predominantly for use in tire production.

According to TSRC, the certification process for the new plant’s products is currently underway with global tire customers.

In the meantime, in a separate statement, TSRC published an environmental impact report for expanding the recently opened site, with a Yuan1.2 billion (€150 million) investment plan.

According to the report, “phase II” of the Shenhua Chemical project will involve the addition of an annual production capacity of 70ktpa of synthetic rubber.

This will include 55ktpa of solution styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR) and 15ktpa of lithium polybutadiene rubber (Li-BR) production units, said the environmental impact report.

TSRC did not provide further details about the timeline of the project.

The Taiwanese group had previously signalled plans to build a major SSBR plant in Nantong.

In an investors’ conference late last year, TSRC said the planned project would produce functionalised SSBR for green tires and be the first such production facility in mainland China.

TSRC also relocated and expanded its joint venture nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) plant with Arlanxeo in Nantong earlier this month in line with new environment protection plans.

As reported by ERJ, the new facility produces a broader portfolio of NBR products with designed capacity increased from 30 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) to 40ktpa. (ERJ report)