Akzo Nobel expanding capacity in China

Akzo Nobel has announced the completion its plant expansion for the manufacture of monochloroacetic acid (MCA) in China.

The company's Taixing site - which now boasts production capacity of 60,000 MT/year - is the largest of its kind in China. It will help to meet steadily increasing demand for MCA in China, where the market is growing in line with GDP at more than 10% annually. MCA is a chemical intermediate which is widely used for the production of agrochemicals, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), surfactants and a variety of other applications.

The Taixing plant - which now has more than double the original design capacity - incorporates state-of-the-art proprietary technologies and best-in-class HSE standards to deliver a superior cost position coupled with the lowest environmental footprint available in the market.

It represents the latest in a series of key developments for Akzo Nobel in China. Last year, the company inaugurated a Powder Coatings Technology Center in Ningbo, while in December, the new chelates facility located at the €275 million Ningbo multi-site became operational. The Ningbo site is due to be officially opened in November.

AkzoNobel employs more than 6,000 people in China and generates more than €1 billion annually in revenue.