Bridgestone to invest $100 million in 50 ktpa SBR plant in China

Tokyo-Bridgestone Corp. is planning to invest about $100 million to build a synthetic rubber plant in Huizhou in China's Guangdong Province, "to meet growing global demand for SR used in tyres," the group said in a 28 Dec announcement.

The tyre maker aims for the new plant, in the Huizhou Dayawan Economic and Technological Development Zone in Guangdong Province, to begin operations at the beginning of 2008. Annual production of SBR at Huizhou should reach around 50 kilotonnes and will be used mainly to supply Bridgestone Group's tyre plants in China and in other parts of Asia.

Bridgestone has set up a subsidiary, Bridgestone (Huizhou) Synthetic Rubber Co. Ltd, to operate the plant, which will be based in the Huizhou Dayawan Economic and Technological Development Zone. The Japanese tyre major said Huizhou City officials have approved the project

Bridgestone already operates two SR plants in the US. The decision to set up a plant to make "enhanced performance rubber especially for China and Asia in line with an expected surge in demand in those areas," said Bridgestone.

The group added that it has obtained a licensing agreement with JSR Corp. on the technology to produce this enhanced performance SR.

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Press release from Bridgestone

Tire maker eyes 3rd rubber plant Shanghai Daily (China)

Bridgestone to spend $100 million on China plant Reuters (Japan)