TSRC Planning India, Vietnam Rubber Facilities

With a view to maximise the opportunities present in emerging nations, Taiwan based SBR (styrene butadiene rubber) and BR (polybutadiene rubber) manufacturer TSRC Corporation plans to establish facilities in India and Vietnam. TSRC president W.H. Tu said the company is considering setting up factories in these two countries as both possess a booming automotive industry but lack an upstream raw material supply of SBR and BR. In addition, TSRC is also studying the feasibility of establishing a plant in the Middle East due to regional advantage of low-price raw materials for the production of SBR and BR.

Spot prices for SBR and BR have exceeded US$2,900 per tonne, and Tu anticipates these high prices will continue throughout the third quarter of this year. The company reports it has received clear signs that steady orders will continue until the end of this year, without displaying a slowdown in the worldwide SBR and BR market.