Evonik expands global HTPB production through strategic investments in Germany and Asia to meet rising demand and strengthen supply reliability.
Evonik is advancing its long-term growth strategy by significantly enhancing its global production capabilities for hydroxyl-terminated polybutadienes (HTPB), a critical material used across a wide range of high-performance applications. Building on a series of substantial investments made over the past two years, the company is reinforcing its manufacturing footprint to better serve increasing worldwide demand while improving supply reliability for customers.
In 2024, Evonik successfully expanded HTPB production capacity at its Marl site in Germany, a key hub for the company’s specialty chemicals operations. This expansion marked an important milestone in strengthening Evonik’s position in the polybutadienes market. The following year, in 2025, the company further broadened its global reach by commissioning a dedicated production facility in Shanghai, China, for POLYVEST® ST-E 60 polybutadienes. This move significantly improved Evonik’s ability to support customers in the Asian market with local manufacturing and shorter supply chains.
Encouraged by sustained growth in demand across industries such as coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, and advanced composite applications, Evonik is now moving ahead with the next phase of capacity expansion. Construction activities are currently underway to substantially increase output at its existing German production site. This new capacity is expected to come on stream in the second quarter of 2027, further strengthening Evonik’s supply capabilities in Europe and beyond.
At the same time, Evonik has initiated the engineering phase for an additional new production facility in the Asian region. This forward-looking step reflects the company’s strategic assessment of market dynamics and its intention to remain close to customers in high-growth regions. By expanding production in Asia, Evonik aims to enhance flexibility, reduce logistics complexity, and improve responsiveness to evolving customer requirements.
According to Dr. Jürgen Herwig, Head of Evonik’s polybutadienes business, the location for the new Asian plant was chosen deliberately to maximize operational efficiencies. He explained that the selected site offers strong opportunities to leverage synergies with Evonik’s existing assets, enabling optimized production processes and integrated value chains.
Dr. Anna Maria Ickert, Head of Evonik Coating & Adhesive Resins, emphasized that these investments underscore the company’s long-standing commitment to its customers. She noted that expanding production capacity and regional presence allows Evonik to meet growing global demand more effectively while ensuring a reliable, high-quality supply of materials. Enhanced proximity to customers also supports closer collaboration and faster response times.
Overall, these strategic expansions highlight Evonik’s dedication to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. By strengthening its global manufacturing infrastructure for HTPB, the company is positioning itself to deliver consistent, high-performance solutions while reinforcing its role as a trusted partner to customers worldwide.
