India's Himadri Company Expands Carbon Black Production Amid EU Ban on Russian Imports

　　"Rubber Journal Asia" reported that as the European Union is about to ban the import of Russian carbon black, India's Himadri Company plans to expand its carbon black production capacity to meet the growing demand in Europe. The Kolkata-based specialty chemicals manufacturing giant decided to invest 2.2 billion Indian rupees (approximately RMB 192 million) in an existing factory in West Bengal to expand. The expansion project is located in Singur town in Hooghly district of West Bengal and is expected to be completed and put into operation in the next 18 months. The company said that the additional annual production capacity of 70,000 tons will increase its special carbon black production capacity to 130,000 tons, and its total production capacity will reach 250,000 tons.

　　Anurag Chowdhury, CEO of Himadri, said: "We expect demand for specialty carbon black to rise significantly, especially with the EU's imminent ban on imports of Russian carbon black. High-margin specialty carbon black The gradual increase in the proportion will undoubtedly improve our profitability and make our product structure more diversified." He also pointed out that export volume currently accounts for 25% of total turnover and is expected to increase to 35% in the next three years.

　　Himadri currently has seven manufacturing plants in the Indian states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The company stated that the capacity utilization rate in the 2023-2024 fiscal year is 92%, and the demand for its products is huge. Upon completion of the expansion project, the company will become one of the world's largest producers of specialty carbon blacks at a single site.

　　Considering the excellent conductivity of carbon black in lithium-ion batteries, Himadri focuses on the field of special carbon black in the energy storage field. The company has launched and promoted a series of high-performance special carbon blacks, which are suitable for subdivided application fields such as plastics, fibers, coatings, and inks.