Degussa Sanzheng to build plant

The Chinese company Degussa Sanzheng Fine Chemicals (Yingkou) is building a manufacturing plant at Chongqing Industrial Park in western China. The plant will manufacture cyanuric chloride, a component of some herbicides. Degussa Sanzheng is a joint venture between German fine chemicals company Evonik Industries (the chemicals business of which was known as Degussa until September 12th 2007) and Chinese company Yingkou Sanzheng Fine Chemicals (Agrow No 481, p 2). Evonik has a 65% stake in the joint venture.

The plant, which is being constructed with an investment of Euro 24 million ($35.3 million), is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. It will have 280 employees and will double the company's existing capacity in China to 60,000 tonnes. The joint venture had sales of Euro 46 million in 2006. The company views China as an attractive proposition. "From 2009, one of the focuses of our cyanuric chloride business will lie in the China region," says Evonik executive board member Dr Klaus Engel. Evonik also produces cyanuric chloride at the German sites in Wesseling and Munchsmunster.