Arkema Invests in New Polyamide Unit in Singapore
Arkema recently increased its global Rilsan polyamide 11 production by 50% after opening a new plant in Singapore. The company is now building another unit at the same site to produce Rilsan Clear, a transparent polyamide. This new project will cost about $20 million and is expected to start operating in early 2026.
This investment will increase Arkema’s global production capacity of Rilsan Clear transparent polyamides by three times. The additional capacity is intended to address rising demand for high-performance transparent materials in markets such as eyewear, consumer electronics, healthcare devices, and home appliances.
Arkema produces bio-based transparent polyamides, including Rilsan Clear Rnew G850 and G820, which contain 45% and 62% bio-based carbon, respectively. These materials are designed to be lightweight, transparent, flexible, and resistant to chemicals and temperature changes, and can be recycled through Arkema’s Virtucycle program.
“We are very proud to take this new step forward with this expansion dedicated to transparent polyamides as it aligns with the evolving demand landscape, showcasing our commitment to global growth” said Laurent Tellier, Senior Vice-President High Performance Polymers and Fluorogases. “It marks the next step in developing our strategic platform in Singapore to support our valued customers in Asia and beyond.”
The project will also contribute to Arkema’s strategy to develop local supply from the region to the region, providing customers with shorter lead times, resilient and competitive local supply chains.
