LANXESS Expands Further in Asia      

To meet the increasing global demand for rubber chemicals especially in the Asia Pacific region, LANXESS has officially inaugurated a new rubber chemicals plant to produce the antioxidant 6PPD.  This new plant is a joint venture with local partners Anhui Tong Feng Electronics and Tongling Xinda. The plant started production in August 2007 and had its first commercial sale in September 2007.  It is located in the city of Tongling, which is near the Yangtze River in the province of Anhui, about 500 kilometers to the west of Shanghai.
    LANXESS, with its partners, is the first foreign company to manufacture 6PPD in China. LANXESS already produces this important rubber chemical in Europe, India and the United States.
    Luis Lopez-Remon, head of the Rubber Chemicals business unit at LANXESS, said: "Demand for rubber chemicals is shifting towards Asia. The Asia Pacific region now accounts for more than 40% of the world's rubber chemicals market.  LANXESS is quick to respond to market changes by setting up our new rubber chemicals plant in China. With this new plant, we can now supply our growing base of national and international rubber and tire customers domestically in China."