Bayer recently announced plans to significantly expand its capacities for the production of high-grade materials in China by 2016, with investments of approximately €1 billion (~ $1,395 billion) planned at its Shanghai site.

Capacities for the polyurethane raw material MDI are planned to be more than doubled to 1 million metric tons a year and for high-performance polycarbonate to 500,000 t/y. In addition, the company intends to significantly strengthen its research and development activities there. Moreover, the headquarters of the Polycarbonates Business Unit will be relocated from the main Leverkusen site to Shanghai, thus allowing greater proximity to the booming polycarbonates market in Asia.

“The expansion of our capacities in China is an important step in strengthening our presence in the emerging economies,” said Marijn Dekkers, Ph.D., Management Board chairman. “We want to increase group sales in Greater China to around €5 billion (~ $6.9 billion) by 2015. MaterialScience is expected to contribute at least half of this amount.”

“The strong economic growth in China and in the whole region offers us outstanding opportunities, and we want to make the most of them,” said Patrick Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience. “For us, it is strategically important to have the necessary capacities in the Asia/Pacific region to meet constantly rising demand.”

For additional details, visit www.bayer.com.