Sinopec targets early 2027 start-up at Tianjin synthetic rubber plant

Tianjin, China – Sinopec's Yanshan Petrochemical is targeting first-quarter 2027 production at its 200,000-tonne/year synthetic rubber project in Tianjin, as construction moves into its final stages.

In a 22 Oct update, the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) said the project's buildings had been topped out and all tower equipment installed with the installation of other equipment was 'more than halfway complete.' 

The project is targeting mechanical completion by the end of 2026, followed by the start of production in the first quarter of next year, said the report.

The first phase, involving investment of CNY2.416 billion (€340 million), will have annual capacity for 100,000 tonnes of solution-polymerised styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR) and 100,000 tonnes of polybutadiene rubber (BR).

The units will use Sinopec's proprietary technologies to produce materials for high-performance tires, particularly for electric vehicles, as well as plastics modification and footwear applications.

Wang Chuandi, deputy chief engineer of Yanshan Petrochemical and manager of its Tianjin Nangang project management department, described the development as a "key step" in implementing the company's wider manufacturing strategy.

The project is part of a larger CNY6 billion investment programme within the Nangang industrial zone, aimed at extending the local C4 petrochemical value chain.

According to TEDA, the new facility is expected to "fill gaps in domestic supplies of high-end synthetic rubber" and reduce reliance on imports.

Yanshan officially started construction in December 2025, following earlier project approvals and preparatory works.