PCBL Chemical is positioning itself for significant growth through strategic expansions and capacity additions across multiple business segments, capitalising on emerging global chemical market opportunities. 

The company is making substantial investments in its manufacturing capabilities, with a notable recent development being the allocation of 116 acres of land in Andhra Pradesh’s Naidupeta region.
This new site represents the company’s sixth manufacturing location, which can house roughly 400,000-450,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of carbon black capacity. It is strategically positioned near major ports like Kattupalli and Krishnapatnam, enabling efficient logistics and cost-effective goods movement. 
“The first phase of this expansion will involve establishing a 150,000  MTPA carbon black plant, with an estimated investment of approximately INR 9.5-9.6 billion and a projected timeline of 2-2.5 years,” said Raj Gupta – Chief Financial Officer – PCBL Chemical Limited.

Current manufacturing capacity has already been expanded, with the company recently commissioning a specialty line of 20,000 MTPA in Mundra, bringing its total capacity to 790,000 MTPA. The company is simultaneously pursuing multiple expansion tracks, including a brownfield expansion of 30,000 tonnes in Tamil Nadu and a second phase expansion of 60,000 tonnes, accompanied by a 12 MW green power project.

In the speciality chemicals domain, PCBL is making significant strides. The company has launched ECOZENTM6000, a new product grade based on recycled materials, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability. 
The company has also been certified with International Sustainability and Carbon Plus (ISCC) certification, underscoring its dedication to responsible production and circular economy principles.

The company is particularly bullish about its export markets, especially in Europe and North America. Despite current geopolitical challenges stemming from restrictions on Russian Carbon Black exports, PCBL sees this as an opportunity to expand its market presence. The company has increased its international sales volumes, with western market contributions rising from 7-8 percent historically to approximately 35 percent currently.

The specialty Carbon Black segment shows promising growth, with projected full-year sales volume expected to reach 63,000-64,000 tonnes, compared to 57,000 tonnes last year. “Management anticipates gradual margin improvements in this segment over the next 2-4 years as they move up the value chain,” said Gupta.

A particularly exciting development is the company’s nano-silica project. PCBL is currently establishing a pilot plant for sampling, with plans to develop a 2,000-tonne commercial facility. “Now, this 2,000 tons, based on our back of the envelope calculation, should give us somewhere around INR1,700-1,800 crores kind of a top line and roughly about INR800-900 crores kind of EBITDA,” said Gupta.

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ARLANXEO, a leading performance elastomers company, has officially opened its new Therban hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) production facility in Changzhou, China. This advanced plant, dedicated to producing the Therban brand, is designed to meet rising demand across vital industries including new energy, automotive, aerospace and next-generation battery technologies, where materials must endure extreme operational conditions.

Strategically positioned within ARLANXEO’s existing Changzhou complex, which also houses an EPDM plant and a Regional Technology Centre, the new installation strengthens the company’s integrated approach from innovation to manufacturing. It forms a crucial part of a global production network that includes sites in United States and Germany, establishing Changzhou as a central hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

The facility boasts an annual design capacity of 5,000 tonnes, with the first phase of 2,500 tonnes having successfully commenced operations in October 2025. It was completed with an exemplary safety record, achieving over 1.1 million incident-free work hours throughout its construction and commissioning, which was concluded within 13 months.

Engineered for high efficiency and environmental responsibility, the plant incorporates state-of-the-art finishing technology for consistent product quality. A key feature is an advanced thermal oxidation system that recovers energy and cuts carbon emissions in core processes by approximately 80 percent compared to traditional methods. Furthermore, the facility employs a closed-loop design that eliminates routine process wastewater discharge, supporting ARLANXEO’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The inauguration was marked by a ceremony attended by senior leadership from ARLANXEO and its shareholder committee, alongside representatives from key customers, local authorities and community partners. This expansion significantly enhances ARLANXEO’s ability to supply reliable, high-performance elastomer solutions to its regional customer base.

Dr Faisal Al Faqeer, ARLANXEO Shareholders’ Committee Chairman and Aramco Senior Vice President of In-Kingdom Liquids to Chemicals Development, said, “China is important in supporting Aramco’s downstream growth. ARLANXEO’s new Therban® HNBR plant is the most recent demonstration of Aramco’s downstream expansion strategy of portfolio diversification and integration, underscoring our confidence in China’s innovation and manufacturing strength. We look forward to deepening our cooperation and further contributing to China’s high-quality and sustainable growth.”

Stephan van Santbrink, CEO, ARLANXEO, said, “Today’s inauguration marks an important milestone for ARLANXEO and a strong demonstration of our long-term commitment to China. We sincerely thank the Changzhou government, Aramco and all stakeholders for their trust and continued support. With the new HNBR plant now fully operational, we are further integrating our local production and R&D capabilities to strengthen the resilience of our global supply network. By delivering locally produced, high-quality rubber products, we will continue to collaborate with our customers and accelerate application innovation, creating greater economic and social value across our value chain.”

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Taiwan-based performance materials company CHIMEI has secured a distinguished A rating in the CDP Climate Change assessment for the second consecutive year, positioning it within the leading four percent of global organisations evaluated in 2025. This recognition from the prominent environmental disclosure platform underscores the company’s sustained excellence across critical areas such as climate governance, comprehensive risk management and transparent emissions reporting. CHIMEI’s performance demonstrates tangible progress in lowering product emissions intensity, driving self-managed reduction projects and rigorously measuring greenhouse gas outputs in accordance with international standards.

Central to the company’s strategy is its ‘Clean & Green’ vision, which directs a thorough low-carbon transformation. This commitment is operationalised through internal carbon pricing, optimised manufacturing processes and a shift towards renewable energy. CHIMEI further ensures accountability by obtaining third-party verification for the carbon footprints of its entire product range. The pursuit of sustainability extends beyond its own facilities, as the company actively promotes the use of sustainable materials and fosters collaborative decarbonisation efforts throughout its value chain.

Looking forward, CHIMEI is dedicated to engaging with customers, suppliers and partners to advance shared climate objectives, including its ambitious 2050 net-zero target. By continuously investing in innovative technologies and eco-friendly solutions, CHIMEI aims to be a catalyst for industry-wide change, supporting the transition toward a more resilient and low-carbon future for all.

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Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value bio-based chemicals derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has achieved International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS for its manufacturing facility in Panama City, Florida, United States. This independent certification tracks sustainable materials via a mass balance approach. The achievement allows Kraton to issue a formal ISCC PLUS Sustainability Declaration with shipments of its biobased polyterpene resins, providing its customers with the documentation needed to validate the renewable content in their own products.

The Panama City site becomes the company’s fourth production plant to gain this certification, building upon a commitment that started with the certification of its Sandarne, Sweden, facility in 2021. By securing these certifications across its network, Kraton strengthens its leadership in supplying circular and renewable solutions. This effort supports broader industry shifts, as customers can now more seamlessly integrate verified, sustainable materials into their supply chains and end products.

Ultimately, the company’s pursuit of such certifications aligns with a larger transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy, demonstrating how specialised chemical producers can enable tangible environmental progress through verified chain-of-custody systems.

Lana Culbert, Kraton Pine Chemicals VP of Marketing, said, “Our SYLVARES™ and SYLVATRAXX™ brands feature a portfolio of high-performance polyterpene resins. They are widely recognised for their use in adhesives and tyre applications, yet their versatility extends to other industries, like agriculture, with more opportunities ahead. While we can measure bio-based content of our pine chemicals using Carbon-14 analysis, certifying our Panama City facility under ISCC PLUS strengthens supply chain transparency, supporting the growth of the circular economy.”

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Solvay has inaugurated its new bio-circular silica facility at its plant in Livorno, Italy, a strategic investment that underscores Italy’s industrial leadership in green innovation. The facility directly anticipates evolving EU sustainability rules for tyres and supports the ambitious environmental goals of Solvay’s customers. By establishing this operation, Solvay positions itself as a proactive partner in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and upcoming product regulations.

The site manufactures highly dispersible silica using an innovative process that transforms rice husk ash, an agricultural byproduct, into a valuable bio-based raw material. This method creates a local circular economy, benefits the agricultural sector, and reduces associated CO₂ emissions by 35 percent compared to conventional production.

This initiative is a cornerstone of Solvay's global strategy to transition all its silica production to certified circular raw materials by 2026. While the Livorno site is the first to use rice husk ash, other global plants will utilise different local waste streams. For the tyre industry, adopting this circular silica already enables tyres to contain up to 15 percent recycled or renewable content, providing significant progress towards the sector’s 2030 material targets.

Beyond compliance, the silica produced is essential for developing energy-efficient tyres that lower rolling resistance, thereby reducing fuel consumption and extending electric vehicle range. The Livorno facility thus reinforces Solvay's market leadership in sustainable silica and highlights Italy’s vital role in the company’s broader portfolio of green investments, including projects in green hydrogen and circular soda ash.

Philippe Kehren, CEO, Solvay, said, “By acting now, Solvay is helping tyre manufacturers prepare for future EU requirements and meet their own sustainability goals. Livorno is a tangible example of how we turn circular economy principles into industrial reality, enabling progress for generations.”

Jana Striezel, Head of Purchasing at Continental Tyres, said, "Solvay has managed to transform an agricultural byproduct into a high-performance material on an industrial scale. We are looking forward to integrating more and more rice husk ash silica as a recycled material in our tyre production and are very satisfied with its performance. We are keen on innovative, renewable and recycled materials because they support our ambitious sustainability roadmap.”

An Nuyttens, President of Solvay’s Silica business, said, “Livorno sets a benchmark for circular innovation in Europe and beyond. Our goal is clear: wherever Solvay produces silica, we will integrate circular materials to reduce environmental impact and support our customers’ sustainability objectives.”

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