China Sunsine set to complete rubber insoluble sulphur project

Hengshun, Shandong – Singapore-based China Sunsine Chemical Holdings expects to complete an expansion project for insoluble sulphur production in Shanxian, Shandong, by mid-2025.

Construction and installation of machinery have been completed at the 30 kilotonne per annum (ktpa) project, the speciality rubber chemicals supplier the company announced.

The management team expects trial production runs to commence in the first half of the year, added the 28 Feb statement.

Initially announced in late 2022, the Yuan300-million (€40 million) project involves the construction of a production line for intermediate product MBT and expansion of insoluble sulphur capacity at the Hengshun site.

Around Yuan100 million of the investment is to double the site’s capacity for insoluble sulphur to 60ktpa, using continuous production technology developed by Shandong Sunsine.

Furthermore, the group is also investing Yuan200 million in a 60ktpa MBT production facility at the site, to support “continuing growth and expansion”.

The first phase of that project, rated at 20ktpa, is complete, said the group in its latest announcement.

In 2022, China Sunsine cited increased production of rubber accelerators, CBS and TBBS and higher demand for MBT as the main drivers for the investment.

At the time, the group said it was buying 20ktpa of MBT from third party suppliers to meet its requirements.