ERMAN specialty chemical company Lanxess yesterday broke ground for its largest leather chemical plant in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, to meet rising demand in China.

The US$40 million plant, the largest of its kind in Asia, will come on stream in the first half of 2013 with an initial annual capacity of 50,000 tons. The company said it helps customers turn simple animal skins into luxurious, high-value leather that meet the demands of auto upholstery, furniture and fashion industries.