Versalis Pacific Trading (Shanghai), a wholly owned subsidiary of Eni petrochemicals subsidiary Versalis, has signed a sales agreement with India’s Reliance Industries to market the emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR) produced by Reliance in its new plant.

The agreement dates from a licensing deal in 2011 when Versalis contracted to provide technology for the 140,0000 t/y production unit at Reliance plant at Hazira, India, targeted at customers in the tire industry. The new plant is now up and running.

Versalis said it is pursuing a “very active licensing strategy” to expand its industrial footprint in Asia.

In addition to the Shangai unit, the Italian company has established Versalis Pacific India in Mumbai (India). It also operates two Asian joint ventures – with Lotte Chemical in South Korea, with Petronas in Malaysia – and currently is in negotiations with other major international market leaders.