China includes ageing rubber, tire plants in major chemical upgrade scheme

Beijing — China has launched a new round of measures to upgrade ageing petrochemical and chemical facilities, with explicit implications for rubber, tire and carbon black production.

Announced 3 April by seven government authorities, the joint action plan (2026-2029) aims to “accelerate the upgrading of old installations” and “promote high-quality development” of the sector.

According to the ministry of industry and information technology (MIIT), the initiative is designed to address “low technical standards, outdated processes and insufficient automation” at older plants.

Such issues, said MIIT, pose “high safety and environmental risks” and “low operating efficiency.”

While covering the wider petrochemical industry, the measures extend to downstream segments including “rubber products, tires, carbon black and rubber additives.” 

Under the programme, China will carry out a nationwide review of facilities more than 20 years old, followed by a classification approach allowing companies to “rebuild, upgrade or phase out” installations.

MIIT said more than 1,600 ageing units have already been identified, with over 600 requiring upgrades, “mainly concentrated in traditional chemical sectors.”

Companies will be encouraged to adopt “advanced, environmentally friendly technologies” and improve efficiency, while outdated capacity will be eliminated in line with industrial policy and energy targets.

For rubber and related industries, the plan highlights tighter requirements on emissions, energy consumption and process safety, according to MIIT.