German specialty chemicals company Lanxess is expanding its global production network for inorganic pigments in China. A new high-tech facility for premium iron oxide red pigments is being constructed at the Ningbo Chemical Park on the Chinese East Coast.

The plant, with highly modern environmental standards, will initially have an annual capacity of 25,000 metric tons. The investment of about €55 million will create 150 new jobs. Construction will begin in the second quarter 2013. The production startup is scheduled for the first quarter of 2015.

Lanxess already operates one of China's largest and most modern plants for iron oxide pigments in Jinshan, Shanghai. This plant has an annual capacity of 38,000 metric tons of high-quality iron oxide yellow and black pigments each year.