UK high-performance polymers producer Victrex (Thornton Cleveleys; www.victrex.com) is to build a new PEEK polymer manufacturing plant in Liaoning / China in partnership with Chinese speciality chemicals producer Yingkou Xingfu Chemical. Victrex said the plant is expected to start up in early 2022 and will eventually be capable of producing up to 1,500 t/y.

The polymers producer said it will hold a 75% stake in the JV and its share of the investment will be GBP 32m (EUR 37.5m). It will hold the 75% stake via its subsidiary Victrex Hong Kong, with the parent company assuming leadership once the plant is operational. The project is subject to conditions including finalising land purchase and permit applications.

Victrex said output from the new plant will complement its portfolio of PEEK and PAEK grades, in anticipation of a range of significant long-term growth opportunities across several end markets in China. The investment is also in line with China’s “Made in China 2025” initiative, where specifying domestically produced PEEK in certain applications is expected to gain momentum, it added.