Inner Mongolia Zhonggao Chemical, a subsidiary of Zhejiang Zhongshan Chemical Industry Group, has received official approval to move forward with the expansion of its chlorantraniliprole intermediate project. The company’s proposed 3,000-ton-per-year production upgrade of ETHYL 3-BROMO-1-(3-CHLOROPYRIDIN-2-YL)-1H-PYRAZOLE-5-CARBOXYLATE—commonly known as K acid—has successfully passed both expert technical review and environmental impact assessment (EIA) by the local government.
This latest expansion builds upon the company’s earlier 1,500-ton-per-year K acid capacity increase completed in 2024. Zhonggao Chemical now plans to upgrade the existing production line through technical transformation, including the installation of new high-efficiency equipment within the current facility.
The project is situated in Bayin’aobao Industrial Park, within the Alxa High-Tech Industrial Development Zone of Inner Mongolia, and is designed to optimize existing infrastructure rather than create a new plant. With a total investment of RMB 230 million, including RMB 3.5 million allocated for environmental protection, the project will not only double annual K acid capacity to 3,000 tons, but also enable the production of by-products such as anhydrous ethanol, sulfaguanidine, and sodium chloride.
According to China Informatics, this expansion reflects Zhonggao Chemical’s commitment to technological innovation, process optimization, and green manufacturing. The strategic move also aligns with Zhongshan Group’s broader ambitions to strengthen its footprint in the global chlorantraniliprole supply chain—a highly competitive market driven by demand for post-patent insecticides and resistance management solutions.
The enhanced production capacity will not only reinforce Zhonggao Chemical’s market leadership in key active ingredient intermediates, but is also expected to drive new revenue growth, support supply chain stability, and create employment opportunities in the local region.
With environmental compliance in place and construction approvals secured, Zhonggao Chemical is expected to begin full-scale construction and equipment installation by mid-2025, targeting operational readiness in early 2026.
