The Lanxess chemicals group has inaugurated a plant for producing hydrazine hydrate in Weifang, in the Chinese province of Shandong.

Hydrazine hydrate is a key component for the pharmaceuticals industry, crop protection and chemical synthesis, for example in the production of a blowing agent for foaming plastics. Plastic foams are processed into a wide range of consumer goods such as shoes, furniture and cars.

With an initial capacity of 12,000 metric tons a year, the new plant is one of the largest of its kind in the world and complies with the latest US standards in environmental protection and occupational safety. While demand for hydrazine hydrate worldwide is on the downturn, for a number of years China has experienced double-digit growth rates in this sector. Lanxess now employs approximately 700 staff in China.