Lanxess to build second synthetic rubber plant

Germany’s Lanxess AG will break ground on a 140,000 metric ton per annum synthetic rubber plant on Jurong Island, Singapore, in September. The €200 million (US$261.7 million) neodymium polybutadiene (Nd-PBR) plant will start up in the first half of 2015. The facility will be the largest of its kind in the world and serve the growing market for “green tires”, especially in Asia. “I am delighted to announce that it is now full steam ahead for the second largest investment project in our company’s history,” said LANXESS’ Chairman of the Board of Management, Axel C. Heitmann, at an event in Singapore to sign contracts with key suppliers. Critical to Lanxess’ latest Nd-PBR investment in Singapore is the availability of butadiene feedstock. The company has signed a long-term supply contract with Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore (PCS). PCS is building a new butadiene extraction unit and associated infrastructure necessary to supply the raw material. (March 2, 2012)