Lion Elastomers to Expand Port Neches Facility for NBR Manufacturing

New NBR production will support domestic and export markets for nitrile rubber.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 9:08am

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Lion Elastomers, a leading manufacturer of elastomeric polymers, announced plans to expand its emulsion-based facility in Port Neches, Texas to begin producing NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber). This new undertaking will allow the company to meet growing domestic and international demand for nitrile rubber, while leveraging its existing large integrated emulsion rubber platform at the Port Neches site.

Why it matters

The expansion into NBR production will broaden Lion Elastomers' product offerings and allow it to better serve its existing customer base of EPDM and SBR users, as well as provide a strong domestic supply of nitrile rubber, which is currently mostly imported into the United States.

The details

The new NBR manufacturing capabilities will target major markets including flooring/mats, custom compounding, auto and industrial hose, gaskets and seals, and PVC modification. Lion Elastomers is targeting commercial production to begin in September 2026, with plans to subsequently add further expansion and diversification of its product offerings.

  • Lion Elastomers is targeting commercial NBR production to begin in September 2026.
  • The company plans to add further expansion and diversity of NBR offerings after the initial launch.

The players

Lion Elastomers

A premier manufacturer of elastomeric polymers with a legacy as one of the first synthetic rubber producers in the world for SBR and EPDM.

Kho Irani

The President and CEO of Lion Elastomers.

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What they’re saying

“NBR will expand the value that Lion Elastomers can bring to existing Royalene EPDM and SBR customers as well as provide a strong domestic supplier for this material which is mostly imported into the USA”

— Kho Irani, President and CEO

What’s next

Lion Elastomers is targeting commercial production of NBR to begin in September 2026, with plans to subsequently add further expansion and diversification of its product offerings.

The takeaway

This expansion by Lion Elastomers will help strengthen the domestic supply of nitrile rubber in the United States, reducing reliance on imports and providing more options for customers in key industries like flooring, automotive, and industrial manufacturing.