Asia Pacific Region

Albemarle's Dalian location operates as a shared services center in support of Albemarle's Asia Pacific-based businesses and functions. One of Albemarle's Centers of Excellence, or "ACE", the Dalian site is a flexible platform that is cost-effective and efficient resource that enhances our competitive position and our ability to support sustained growth in the Asia-Pacific region. ACE is a critical component of Albemarle Corporation's overall business strategy.

We have been a pioneer in India for over 20 years, starting with the supply of laboratory and pilot quantities to major organic synthesis projects. The company recently introduced several successful new products onto the Indian market.

Today, all major producers of active pharmaceutical ingredients, as well as numerous generic drug manufacturers are supplied in particular with the groups specialties and cesium compounds and Albemarle works closely together with research departments as well as the CROs (Contract Research Organization).

The pharmaceutical sector in India has been growing rapidly and has gained strong global market presence in cardio-vascular treatment drugs, as well as medicines for HIV treatment. This market should continue to grow, as more active ingredients come off patent and the recognized competitive edge of the Indian pharmaceutical industry is also of essential benefit for lowering the cost, as driven by NGOs.

A full range of lithium, cesium and special metal products is offered under the brand name Albemarle in China including warehousing, sales and marketing.

The product line includes: inorganic lithium salts, butyllithium and other organic lithium compounds, grignards (organo magnesium), lithium hydrides, lithium amides, lithium alkoxides, cesium and rubidium compounds and metal powders such as zirconium and titanium etc.

The company was founded in 1996 as a fully-owned subsidiary. The construction of a butyllithium production facility was completed in 1999. The plant is located south of Taichung Harbour in Chang Hua Industrial Coastal Park. The facility is a dedicated unit for the production of both normal and secondary butyllithium. Its production capacity allows Albemarle to serve the Asian market effectively. The company can supply butyllithium in all quantities and all forms of packaging, from small volumes for the pilot plant to large quantities in tank containers.

All concentrations of n-butyllithium in different solutions are available, from the diluted product in the 10% range up to the concentrate (90%). The Taiwanese plant's two-hectare site is large enough to allow for future expansion or the erection of new production units to supply material resources to the region's markets on a long-term basis.