March 10, 2008

DSM invests in China's bio-materials plant

DSM announced to participate in a US$20-million financing round in Tianjin Green Bio-Science, to build China's largest manufacturing plant for Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in the Tianjin Economic Development Area.

In response to the growing market need for eco-friendly solutions, PHA offers a new biorenewable polymer platform for a broad range of applications from automotive to biomedical and electronics.

DSM and TGBS intend to work together to create new business in bio-based performance materials.

The company has earmarked up to EUR200 million (US$308 million) for venturing investments until 2012.

China is one of the core regions in the global investment strategy of DSM Venturing.

Weiming Jiang, DSM China presicent, noted of the transition from petroleum-based materials to bio-based materials as a major global trend. He said that his company is positioned to facilitate this transition.

The plant's construction will commence in the second quarter of 2008, and is expected to start production in early 2009.

It will have an annual production capacity of 10,000 tonnes of PHA.