Specialty chemical company Clariant is building a surfactants plant in Zhenjiang, eastern China, to meet growing demand in the country. The facility is expected to open for production around halfway through the year.

The new plant will serve a range of sectors including the textile, personal care, paint, coating, metal working, oil, mining and homecare sectors.

The new plant in Zhenjiang is located on the Yangtze river between Nanjing and Shanghai, offering good access to the company’s key customers in the region.
 
“In line with the company’s strategy to further develop our business in the rapidly growing markets of Asia, this investment demonstrates Clariant’s long-term commitment to China. Despite the current economic downturn, the medium- and long-term prospects for the region are strong. The new facility is built to the highest environmental and production standards and will ensure we have the capacity to serve our customers' needs in the future,” said Siegfried Fischer, a member of the firm’s executive committee with responsibility for the functional chemicals division.