HAIKOU, China—Hainan Rubber is planning to invest $20.5 million in a new plant for green, deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR).
The investment was approved Dec. 19 by the company board, according to a Hainan Rubber statement issued that same day. Deproteinization can help to remove the allergy risks posed by standard NR latex products, it said.
Located in Changjiang, the plant's planned capacity includes 15,000 metric tons per year of concentrated latex, 3,000 tons of deproteinised constant-viscosity natural rubber annually, and 5,000 tons per year of wet constant-viscosity rubber. It also will make 10,000 tons of dry constant-viscosity rubber and 1,000 tons of unsmoked sheets each year.
Construction of the factory should be completed in October, followed by two months of testing and one year of trial runs before coming on stream.
The project is expected to bring in $3.1 million annual net profit on about $38 million in revenue when in full operation, Hainan said.
The project, the company said, will help raise Hainan Rubber's "market share in high-quality natural rubber."
Hainan has, however, indicated that fluctuations in natural rubber prices could affect the feasibility of the project.