In a further step to expand its additives business in China, Clariant has signed a joint-venture contract with Tiangang Auxiliary, a privately owned producer and supplier of UV light stabilizers.

Clariant’s Performance Additives business will invest multi-million Swiss francs to build a plant with Tiangang Auxiliary in the Cangzhou National Coastal-Port Economy and Technology Development Zone in Hebei province, to manufacture process and light stabilizers. Production is scheduled to go on stream in the first half of 2019. Details on the plant’s capacity and equity stakes in the proposed joint venture were not disclosed.

Clariant said China is a key market for high-end process and light stabilizers and the plant will meet increasing local demand for the additives in various growing industries such as textiles and automotive.

“Having local production with a well established and trusted partner improves proximity to our customers and to our raw material suppliers. This will enable us to accelerate response times and shorten supply lead times,” said Stephan Lynen, head of Clariant’s Additives business unit.

The venture with Tiangang follows Clariant’s announcement in May that it was investing in Zhenjiang to built two units to produce its AddWorks light stabilizers, other additive solutions and Ceridust micronized waxes serving the plastics, coatings and inks industries. The new facilities are expected to commence operations in the second half of 2018.