Nouryon, the former Akzo Nobel specialty chemicals business, has increased capacity for dialkyl peroxide by 25% at its Ningbo site in China. The product, sold under the name Perkadox 14, is a key ingredient in many elastomer-based products, ranging from sports goods to industrial wires and cables.

The company said demand for the peroxide is increasing in Asia and worldwide, not least because it has less odor than other organic peroxides on the market. This, Nouryon said, makes it ideal for consumer products such as athletic shoe soles and yoga mats.

Since 2018, Johan Landfors, managing director Polymer Chemistry said Nouryon has  invested more than €100 million to build organic peroxides production capacity across the globe and as a global leader will continue to invest in expansion.

 The Ningbo project is the latest in a series of investments the Dutch company has made recently to improve supply to polymer market customers in India, Mexico and the US.