Chemical maker FMC opens Shanghai R&D center

American chemical maker FMC Corp has opened a new research and development center in Shanghai as part of its strategy to expand in Asia.

"FMC has grown dramatically in recent years," Pierre Brondeau, president, CEO and chairman of FMC, said today at an opening event for the Asia Innovation Center in Zhangjiang High-tech Park. "An important element of our strategy has been a greater focus and investment in Asia, where our products and technologies have tremendous opportunities."

The company makes agricultural products to increase crop yields, ingredients to enhance food texture and stability and lithium products to improve battery performance.

Agriculture is one key growth area for FMC in China as the central government's desire to develop a modern agricultural industry could boost demand for chemical products that improve crop yields with no harm to the environment, said Gordon Xu, president of FMC China.