Chinese firm to build $218mn textile plant in S Carolina

17 Dec '13

2 min read

Chinese textile firm Keer Group has announced an investment of US$ 218 million for the establishment of its very first manufacturing facility outside of China in Lancaster County of the US state of South Carolina.

According to a statement issued by the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the company’s US$ 218 million textile manufacturing plant is expected to create 501 jobs within five years in the county.

The Chinese textile firm would construct a 230,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the county to produce industrial cotton yarn. The construction of the manufacturing plant is expected to begin in early February 2014.

Zhu Shan Qing, chairman of the Keer Group, said the company chose South Carolina as the location for its first facility outside of China for a number of reasons, including the state’s workforce, proximity to cotton producers and access to the port.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said the Keer Group’s commitment is a strong testament of South Carolina’s pro-business environment and capable and ready workforce.

Larry McCullough, chairman of Lancaster County Council, said the Keer project is one of the single largest investments in the history of Lancaster County and the 501 jobs would provide a much needed boost to the local economy of the county.

The state’s logistics capabilities was an important driver of the company’s decision, and yarn produced in Keer’s facility will be exported in containers to China via the Port of Charleston.

Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority, said the South Carolina Ports Authority would be pleased to fulfill the Keer Group’s export needs through the Port of Charleston’s eight direct service routes to China.

Established in 1995, Keer Group based in the Zhejiang province of China is engaged in the development and manufacturing of high-quality yarn. The company has a production capacity of 56,000 tons of high-quality yarn annually.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

More Textiles News - United States Of America...