15 November, 2024 13:58:00 IST 
Korea's DL Chemical has announced the completion and commencement of commercial operations at its new 'Cariflex' plant on Jurong Island, Singapore.
The plant, constructed with an investment of 480 billion won ($342-mn), spans a 61,000㎡ site within the Jurong Island chemical complex. This facility is now the world's largest polyisoprene latex plant, a critical material for manufacturing surgical gloves.
The Cariflex business, acquired by DL Chemical from US-based Kraton in 2020 for 620 billion won ($441-mn), is said to be the only company globally that manufactures anionic catalyst-based synthetic rubber and latex, known for its superior purity and transparency. In 2021, DL Chemical went on to fully acquire Kraton.
DL Chemical plans to use the Singapore facility as a base for expanding its medical materials business and further investments. Discussions are already underway to enhance and expand production facilities, ensuring that DL Chemical can meet the increasing market needs.
"Through the commercial operation of the new Cariflex plant in Singapore, we have achieved 'global number one' in the medical materials market. We will further accelerate the transition to a high-value specialty business structure," the company stated.
This move aligns with DL Chemical's broader strategy to transition from commodity chemicals to specialised, high-margin products.
