Arkema Triples Transparent Polyamide Capacity in Singapore: a Bet on Virtual Reality Growth or a Move to Strengthen Supply Resilience?

A new production facility with an investment of USD 20 million has significantly increased global transparent polyamide capacity, reflecting a strategic move by the French chemical group to deepen its presence in Asia.

In January 2026, French chemical group Arkema announced that its new Rilsan® Clear transparent polyamide production unit in Singapore has been fully commissioned. With an investment of approximately USD 20 million, the project has tripled Arkema’s global capacity for this material and positioned the company as the largest producer of transparent polyamides in Asia. Laurent Tellier, Senior Vice President of Arkema’s High Performance Additives business, described the expansion as “a key step in building a localized and competitive supply system.”

The new unit is located at Arkema’s Singapore manufacturing site and was first announced in July 2025. It is one of the group’s priority growth projects supporting its specialty materials strategic roadmap. Designed with a strong focus on operational excellence and high reliability, the facility aims to meet rapidly growing demand for sustainable, high-performance transparent materials across several key markets. Since announcing plans in 2017 to develop the Singapore site into the world’s largest integrated platform for bio-based monomers and polymers, Arkema has continued to increase its investment there, viewing Singapore as a critical pillar of its global strategy.

The additional capacity targets fast-growing and technically demanding markets. Arkema has identified AR/VR devices and smart consumer electronics as core application areas for Rilsan® Clear. The global augmented reality (AR) hardware and software market is experiencing rapid expansion, reaching USD 37.4 billion in 2024 and projected to grow to USD 198.17 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 20.8% from 2026 to 2033. AR glasses, one of the fastest-growing hardware segments, impose stringent material requirements, including low weight, high optical transparency, impact resistance, and flexibility.

Rilsan® Clear transparent polyamide is designed to meet these requirements. The material combines low density, excellent transparency, flexibility, and chemical resistance, and can be fully recycled through Arkema’s Virtucycle® program, aligning with the consumer electronics industry’s increasing focus on sustainability.

Arkema has also expanded its portfolio with bio-based transparent polyamides under the Rilsan® Clear Rnew® range. Its flagship grades, G850 and G820, contain approximately 45% and 62% bio-based carbon content, respectively. This product line supports future adoption of bio-based and circular materials in consumer electronics and helps establish long-term technological differentiation and supply assurance.

By locating capacity close to regional customers and strengthening localized supply capabilities, Arkema’s Singapore investment is clearly aligned with Asia’s role as a global manufacturing hub. Against the backdrop of increasing supply chain regionalization, placing high-value material production in a well-connected and logistically efficient location such as Singapore helps reduce exposure to potential supply disruptions and enhances overall supply resilience.

With this expansion, Arkema has reinforced its leading position in the Asian transparent polyamide market. Beyond AR/VR applications, the material is used in eyewear, industrial filtration, medical devices, and high-end household appliances. For Asian customers—particularly eyewear manufacturers, consumer electronics brands, and medical device companies in China—the Singapore facility provides more stable, responsive, and cost-competitive access to high-performance materials, strengthening collaboration between Arkema and downstream partners.

The production lines at Arkema’s Singapore site are now fully operational, with transparent polyamides being distributed across Asia through an efficient supply network. These materials are expected to support advanced technologies and high-end manufacturing applications, contributing to ongoing trends toward lightweight design and sustainability across multiple industries.