The European Rubber Journal reports that Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber) has confirmed the upcoming launch of a new carbon black production facility at its Tianjin site in China, with operations expected to begin by the end of the year. Part of a larger ¥2 billion (€250 million) investment, the plant will have an 85 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) capacity, producing both hard and soft carbon black grades. The facility will include two 30ktpa lines for hard-grade carbon black and a 25ktpa line for soft-grade carbon black.

This carbon black initiative is part of the broader "tire renovation" project following ZC Rubber’s 2022 acquisition of Tianjin United Tire & Rubber International Co. (TUTRIC), which produces the Tianli tire brand. Alongside carbon black production, ZC Rubber’s expansion plan for the site includes 111.4ktpa capacity in all-steel engineering radial, industrial, and agricultural tires, with additional future capacity for 114.8ktpa.

The project aims to modernize and expand the facility’s capabilities, with the phased plan also involving a reduction of 16.5ktpa in bias engineering tire production to make way for the new capacities. Further details on the carbon black production will be available later this year.

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