Welspun announces $100 million expansion at LR Port, will add 175 new jobs

Welspun Tubular LLC announced Thursday (Oct. 31) an investment of $100 million in Little Rock to expand and upgrade its U.S. pipe portfolio. The expansion will add 175 new jobs to the company’s plant at the Little Rock Port Authority.

A groundbreaking will be held in the coming weeks, according to a news release.

Welspun Tubular LLC is a subsidiary of Welspun Corp Ltd., one of the leading manufacturers of large diameter line pipes globally.

“This investment will enable us to further expand our leadership position in the oil and gas segment in North American market by enriching our product portfolio. Our outlook for the USA market remains extremely positive,” said Vipul Mathur, Welspun Corp. managing director and CEO.

The expanded facility will broaden Welspun’s product portfolio to include pipe sizes up to 24-inch outside diameter and 0.750-inch wall thickness with grades up to X80 for a capacity of 350 KMTPA.

The upgrade is expected to be completed by December 2025 with production to commence in the first quarter of 2026.

“We are excited to make this expansion in Arkansas and add additional high skilled, high wage jobs to the region,” said Gerard Mosley, Welspun Tubular CEO.

“Welspun Tubular’s $100 million investment helps solidify the Port of Little Rock’s role as a manufacturing hub for Central Arkansas’ economy. Our access to river, rail and road, combined with low taxes and pro-business leadership, help get projects like this done quickly,” said Gov. Sarah Sanders.

Economic development officials said the combination of river, rail and roads was significant in landing the expansion project. Welspun located in central Arkansas in 2007 when Gov. Mike Beebe helped recruit them to the region.

“Foreign direct investment is a key part of our economic development strategy in Arkansas, and it has paid off today with a significant investment from Welspun Tubular,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “Thank you to the leadership team at Welspun for your investment and your confidence in Arkansas, we look forward to seeing your continued growth at the Port of Little Rock.”

“The chamber maintains a decades-long relationship with Welspun, dating back to the work it took to land the company’s first investment in 2007,” said Jay Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “Welspun and its executives have become more than colleagues, they have become friends, and we thank them for this latest announcement, a significant investment that will impact hundreds of lives across our region.”

Earlier this week, Little Rock and state leaders announced that Luxembourg-based Faymonville Group will build a trailer manufacturing facility on a 54-acre site at the Port of Little Rock. The facility is expected to employ 500 people when fully operational.

Chesshir will be a guest on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics to discuss both announcements.