Cariflex Pte. Ltd. (Cariflex), the global market leader in polyisoprene rubber latex for medical-end markets and wholly owned subsidiary of DL Chemical Co., Ltd. (DL Chemical), officially inaugurated its new polyisoprene latex plant at Jurong Island, Singapore today. With an investment of US$355 million, the plant is the largest of its kind globally and will significantly expand Cariflex’s production capacity to meet growing demand for high-quality synthetic latex used in medical and protective applications.
The inauguration ceremony was officiated by Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. It was attended by several distinguished guests, including H.E. Hong Jin Wook, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr Kim Jong Hyun, Chief Executive Officer of DL Chemical, Mr Ryu Sang Woo, Chief Executive Officer of Cariflex, Mr Prakash Kolluri, Member of the Cariflex Board of Directors and President of the Polymer Business at Kraton, Mr Lim Wey-Len, Executive Vice President of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), and Ms Christine Wong, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Cluster Group at JTC.
Strengthening Cariflex’s Manufacturing Network
Supported by EDB and JTC, the Singapore facility plays a key role in Cariflex’s ability to serve Southeast Asia, home to critical manufacturing sites for surgical gloves and condoms. Spanning 6.1 hectares, this plant supports growing demand in these markets as well as others such as non-surgical medical gloves, adhesives, and laminates, further broadening the company’s diversification. Over the past two decades, Cariflex has expanded its manufacturing capacity in Brazil and previously, Japan, including a US$50 million expansion of its Paulinia facility in 2021.