Russian petrochemicals firm Sibur and China-based Sinopec have entered into a joint venture to produce butadiene nitrile rubber in Russia. Sinopec will have a 25.1% stake in the Russian rubber plant, which will have a capacity of up to 56,000 tonnes/year. A final decision on the establishment of the joint venture is expected by end-2012.
Early this year, Sibur entered into a joint venture with Indian conglomerate Reliance to produce 100,000 tonnes of butyl rubber in India, where the current demand of 75,000 tonnes/year is being met by imports. Reliance will own 74.9% of the joint venture firm that will invest US$450 million to construct the facility, which will be commissioned by 2014.
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