TSRC mulls building new SSBR plant in China

Taipei, Taiwan - Taiwanese synthetic rubber supplier TSRC is considering the construction of a solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR) plant in Nantong, China.

The project involves a 60 kilotonne per annum (ktpa) SSBR production line in the northeastern Chinese city, the group's CEO Joseph Chai said at a recent investors conference.

The proposed plant would produce functionalised SSBR for green tires and be the first such production facility in mainland China, according to Chai.

The unit would meet demand arising from collaborations with global tire brands,  added the TSRC leader - without providing further details on investment or timeline.

Chai went on to report that the planned relocation of an emulsion SBR (ESBR) facility operated by subsidiary Shen Hua Chemicals Industries was on-track for completion.

The ESBR unit is being relocated within Nantong to support the local government environment-protection requirements along the Yangtze River.

The new facility has a production capacity of 200ktpa and is set for trial production in the first quarter of 2025, said the TSRC leader.

TSRC aims to complete full transition from the old factory to the new plant by the end of the first half of 2025, he added.

The Taiwanese group also expects to commercialise the operation of a relocated  nitrile rubber plant in Nantong, operated as a joint venture with Arlanxeo.

The move, which was announced in 2021, is designed to expand the unit's nitrile rubber production capacity from 30ktpa to 40ktpa.