Chemical company Lanxess is expanding to Turkey with a new subsidiary – Kimya Ticaret. The company said that the country’s geographical location between east and west is an important growth driver for the company.

Lanxess generated sales in Turkey in 2011 of some EUR125 million, nearly triple the amount achieved in 2009. And the company anticipates that the Turkish economy will grow between 4% to 5% a year between 2013 and 2016, faster than western Europe.

Automotive is one of the most important sectors in Turkey, expected to grow by 8.5% in 2013 and then 3.5% per year from 2014 to 2016, says Lanxess. Construction, with expected growth rates of 4% to 5%, is also an area of focus.

Strengthening its presence in Asia, Rosti has established a subsidiary, Rosti Integrated Manufacturing Solutions (IMS), located in Senai in southern Malaysia.

Indian firm Jain Irrigation Systems will invest US$375 million over the next few years to build sustainable agriculture that will improve income of small farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.

BOPP producer Taghleef Industries has acquired Applied Extrusion Technologies (AET), a US-based manufacturer of specialised BOPP films.

Sabic has shipped its first consignment of ethanolamines and ethoxylates from its manufacturing plant in Jubail, Saudi Kayan, making Saudi Arabia

Rome-based Assobioplastiche and Bangkok-based Thai Bioplastics Industry Association have formed a five-year agreement to carry out R&D of bioplastics.

US-based specialised polymer materials provider PolyOne announced the opening of its innovation centre in Shanghai, China.