Arkema announces a new project to produce polyamide 12 in China mid-2020

To complement its major project in the bio-based polyamide 11, Arkema announces a 25% expansion in its global polyamide 12 polymers production capacities to support its customers’ strong demand in Asia.

Arkema announces an investment plan to increase by 25% its capacity of polyamide 12 polymers, commercialized under the trademark "Rilsamid". This new capacity will be added at Arkema’s Changshu platform in China and is expected to come on stream by mid-2020. With this latest investment plan, Arkema continues to reinforce ist specialty polyamide business in all three major global regions – Europe, North America and now Asia.

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This investment which represents several tens of millions of euros, will support the strong demand in growth applications such as cable protection, lightweighting (metal replacement) in automobiles, improved high performance sports shoes (running, soccer, etc.) and evolving applications in the consumer electronics segment.

The mid-term growth rates in these applications are expected to exceed 7% per year in Asia. With this latest project, the specialty polyamides business will continue to bolster its industrial, commercial and R&D presence in Asia, and confirms its commitment to supply its global customers locally.

“This project announcement is the latest of several major investments in specialty polyamides in Asia to support the momentum of our advanced materials offer in the region”, said Julie Zhang, Regional President of Arkema’s Technical Polymers business in Asia. “It’s energizing for our customers to see how quickly we are evolving into a local sourcing supplier, into a world-class manufacturing presence in Asia with R&D and service to match.”

This project is complementary to our recent project announcement in the bio-based polyamide 11 chain (monomer and polymer) and is consistent with the Group’s ambitious strategy to significantly step up the development of its advanced materials, which should eventually account for over 25% of sales by 2023, while continuing to further consolidate its presence in Asia.

A designer of materials and innovative solutions, Arkema shapes materials and creates new uses that accelerate customer performance. Arkema's balanced business portfolio spans high-performance materials, industrial specialties and coating solutions. Reporting annual sales of €7.5 billion in 2016, the company employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide and operates in close to 50 countries. The research centers in North America, France and Asia concentrate on advances in bio-based products, new energies, water management, electronic solutions, lightweight materials and design, home efficiency and insulation.

More information: www.arkema.com

Arkema, Colombes, France

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