Degussa doubles carbon black capacity at Brazil plant.

Degussa has doubled its production plant capacity for carbon black in Paulinia, Brazil, to 1000,000 tons. With the expansion capacity, Degussa is augmenting its position as the world's second largest manufacturer of carbon black with approximately 1.4 million tons per year.

"Carbon black is one of the strategic growth areas that we are expanding," said Klaus Engel, chairman of the board at Degussa. "We have invested a total of 65 million [euro] in Brazil."

Brazil is a core market for the advanced fillers and pigments business unit, which is responsible within Degussa for global business with rubber additives and carbon black pigments. In the Brazilian market, approximately 90% of the demand for carbon black comes from the tire and technical rubber industry, and 10% is used as pigment in plastics, dyes, enamels and print inks.