19 Apr 2006
Rhodia constructs new Polymerization Unit in South Korea
The Group consolidates its leading positions in the Asian Polyamide market
Paris, April 19 2006 – Rhodia has announced the construction of a polymerization unit on its integrated production platform in Onsan (South Korea). With an annual capacity of 48,000 tonnes, the unit will start polyamide production at the end of 2007. The new unit, representing an investment of almost euro 40 million, is aimed at further strengthening Rhodia’s market position. Rhodia is the world’s second largest polyamide producer and the front-ranked player in the Asian polyamide 6.6 market.
The facility – Rhodia’s first polymerization unit in Asia – will produce nylon salt and polyamide 6.6 polymers for engineering plastics and industrial fibers used in the automotive, electrical and electronics, and consumer goods industries, for which their mechanical and thermal properties give them an ideal fit.
“This decision is completely in line with the growth strategy adopted by the Group,” says Laurent Schmitt, President of Rhodia Polyamide. “Our investment will allow Rhodia Polyamide to provide a better service to its customers in Asia, as well as capture new opportunities in a market enjoying a very high annual growth rate of around 20 percent.”
Geographic expansion in high growth regions is a primary objective for Rhodia, which brought a new engineering plastics facility on-stream near Shanghai (China), in February.
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Notes for editors
Rhodia Polyamide is an upstream integrated company providing intermediates for polyamide and other applications, polyamide polymers, as well as a complete downstream range of added value products including engineering plastics polyamide 6.6 and polyamide 6-based industrial polyamide yarns, technical and consumer polyamide fibers and textile yarns. With seventeen state-of-the art production facilities along with R&D and technical centers, Rhodia Polyamide serves customers on every continent, with the capability to develop products and technologies locally.
Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for its strong technology positions in Performance Materials, Functional Chemicals and the Organics and Services clusters. Partnering with major players in the automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires, and paints and coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining original molecules and technologies to respond to customers’ needs. Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development, communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia generated sales of €5 billion in 2005 and employs around 19,500 people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges.
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