OREANDA-NEWS. June 29, 2011. Keyuan Petrochemicals, Inc. (Nasdaq: KEYP) ("Keyuan or the "Company"), a leading merchant manufacturer of various petrochemical products in China, today announced that KEYP and Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company Limited "Hangzhou Zhongce") have formally agreed to jointly develop commercial applications for Solution Polymerization Styrene Butadiene Rubber ("SSBR").

"This agreement is another example of our ongoing commitment to develop new products using our innovative technologies," began Chungfeng Tao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Keyuan. "Hangzhou Zhongce is a proven leader in tire production with strong R&D capabilities. Sales of car tires worldwide were USD 140 billion in 2010(1), which is the largest user of SSBR today, especially for high gear radials. By engaging early in this technology, we expect to gain an advantage by developing commercial applications for SSBR in new markets and capitalizing on a significant growth opportunity."

Tires using SSBR are safer, more fuel efficient and have a lower environmental impact than existing products(2). The EU is encouraging the use of more environmentally friendly tires by enforcing stricter labeling requirements starting in November 2012(3). China is still in the early stage of applying SSBR into tire production, but the market prospect is promising.

Keyuan is working with researchers from Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company Limited to develop SSBR over the next several years. The Companies will share the rights to products and technologies developed from this cooperation. Upon successful development of SSBR, Keyuan will be able to produce this new product using the same facility of SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene) that is currently under construction.