China-based yarn spinner Keer Group is investing $218 million to establish its U.S. operations, which will be named Keer America Corp., in Indian Land, S.C. The investment includes construction of a 230,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and the creation of 501 jobs over the next five years.
"We chose to locate our first U.S. facility in South Carolina for a number of reasons, which include the state's workforce, proximity to cotton producers and access to the port," said Zhu Shan Qing, chairman, Keer Group. "We look forward to a successful partnership with the state and the local community as we get this facility up and running during the next year."
Construction on the facility is expected to begin in February 2014. Keer will produce industrial cotton yarn there using cotton grown in the region, and will export the yarn to China via the Port of Charleston.
"The South Carolina Ports Authority is pleased to fulfill the Keer Group's export needs through the Port of Charleston's eight direct service routes to China," said Jim Newsome, president and CEO, South Carolina Ports Authority. "The Southeast region, and South Carolina in particular, continues to see export growth driven by manufacturing, and Keer's major investment signals its potential to soon become one of our state's largest exporters."
Keer Group plans to begin hiring for the 501 positions during the second half of 2014, and production at the facility is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2015.
