JOHOR BAHRU, Malaysia, SHANGHAI and HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China Daily:
For Li Haiping, chairman and CEO of Rianlon Corp, selling to the world is not enough to make a company truly global.
"If research, production and delivery remain concentrated in China while our customers are around the world, it is difficult to become a truly global company," Li said in North China's Tianjin.
After carefully comparing possible sites, Rianlon Corp settled on Johor, Malaysia, for a project that it said will change how the company operates around the world.
The Tianjin-based fine chemicals maker broke ground in January on a research and manufacturing base in Johor, the southernmost state of Malaysia. The project — worth about $300 million — is Rianlon's first major integrated facility outside of China, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.
Its research center and production lines are scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027, and the project is meant to place research, manufacturing and delivery closer to overseas customers while training a local team to run the operations.
Why Johor
Stability was the first criterion in Rianlon's search for a site. The company looked at Malaysia's political and social environment, the consistency of its policies and whether local authorities could implement those policies effectively.
Johor then offered an additional advantage: a place within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, with access to the strengths of both Malaysia and Singapore.
The two countries established the zone in January 2025 to support investment and make it easier for goods and people to move across the border. It covers manufacturing, logistics, education, energy and other sectors.
The location connects Rianlon's operations in China with Southeast Asian and global markets. By placing research, production and decision-making in Johor, the company aims to respond faster to customers, shorten delivery times and develop a model for future overseas expansion.
The decision received support at Malaysia's federal and state levels. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Li in Tianjin in September 2025. Ibrahim said the factory and research center were expected to create highly skilled job opportunities for Malaysians.
Beyond China
Rianlon was founded in Tianjin in 2003. The company focuses on technologies that help extend the service life of polymers. Its products include antioxidants, light stabilizers and customized blends used in plastics, rubber, coatings, fibers and adhesives. The company has since expanded into lubricant additives, electronic materials and life sciences.
Rianlon expects its global supply chains to remain important while regional networks grow stronger. For a supplier serving several markets, relying on one country for research, production and delivery can create delays and other risks.
"This is not simply an overseas factory, and it is not a short-term response to tariffs or competition," said Li. "It is a long-term base for research, manufacturing and global delivery."
The company plans to place a research center, a manufacturing center and a delivery center at the Johor base. Products developed there will be aimed at international markets rather than just serving as an outlet for capacity from China.
The Malaysian Investment Development Authority describes the project as an integrated research and manufacturing facility. It said the investment fits Malaysia's plan to build capabilities in advanced materials and green chemistry.
Talent pipeline
Advanced chemistry and biotechnology depend on more than equipment. They need chemists, engineers and managers who understand both the technology and the market where it will be used.
The company plans to operate the Johor base primarily with local employees instead of relying on a large, permanent team sent from China. Internal rules, daily management and company culture will also have to fit Malaysian laws and local working practices.
Local recruitment will be backed by university partnerships. Rianlon has long-standing ties with Tianjin University, where Li once taught and many members of its early and current management teams studied.
In March, the company donated 900,000 yuan ($132,550) to establish a scholarship for Malaysian students at the university. The program is intended to support students with technical knowledge, international experience and the ability to work across cultures.
Rianlon offers internship and job opportunities to Malaysian students, helping them gain practical experience and prepare for future technical and management roles at the Johor base. The company also expects a Tianjin University alumni association to be established in Malaysia at a later stage. The network would bring together Malaysian students at the university and graduates now working in Malaysia, fostering China-Malaysia exchanges in science, technology and talent development.
"Globalization does not mean losing our Chinese roots," Li said. "It means becoming part of the local community, following international rules and creating value together."
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Rianlon takes its global ambitions to Malaysia
Rianlon takes its global ambitions to Malaysia
