A Committed Partner in the Greater China Region

Evonik regards China as one of the most important growth regions. Our target is to achieve total sales of €2 billion in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the medium term. To achieve this target the company started a regional growth initiative in the end of 2008, which establishes and implements the growth strategy and supporting measures for the region. We aim to participate in the major growth markets in China by offering localized products and solutions. To support the business growth, we are also intensifying our efforts in fundamental research in China and building up local management capabilities.

Evonik started its business in China in as early as the 1930s by opening a representative office in Shanghai. In November 2002, Evonik Degussa (China) Co., Ltd. was established in Beijing as the umbrella company for the Group’s chemicals activities in the region. It has provided the resources and competencies required to support the profitable growth of our businesses in China. We have systematically extended our presence in the Greater China region since then. Evonik now has a total of 20 companies and 16 production sites in the region.

The Evonik Group employs around 4,000 employees in the Greater China Region and they generated consolidated sales of over €856 million in 2009.

Multi-User-Site-China: A production base for multiple business units

To facilitate the establishment of new business activities in China, in 2004 we embarked on the construction of a multi-user site (MUSC) in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP). At MUSC, we operate production plants for specialty polymers and high-quality system solutions for the Chinese coatings industry. The large integrated production complex for specialty polymers (methacrylates and polymethylmethacrylates/PMMA) at this site has already come into service in November 2009. With a total investment of around €250 million, this is currently Evonik’s largest investment project in China and the second largest ever undertaken in the Chemicals Business Area.

Innovation is the Key

As a specialty chemicals producer, we focus on innovation and proximity to customers in the Greater China region as elsewhere. The centerpiece is our research and development (R&D) center in Shanghai, which costs over €20 million to build. Extended just three years after its opening in 2004, the R&D center in Shanghai is increasingly becoming a hub in our global R&D network.

Winning Talents

We need a wide range of skilled staff for our growth. Wherever possible, Evonik aims to fill key positions with highly qualified local managers and offer them attractive career opportunities in the Group. In December 2009 the international publishing company CRF singled out Evonik as one of "China's Top Employers 2010", which is already the third time that Evonik China received this award.