Welspun breaks ground on $100 million, 175 job expansion at LR Port

by Roby Brock ([email protected]) 280 views 

Welspun World Chairman Mr. B.K. Goenka on stage with dignitaries at the 2024 Little Rock Port groundbreaking.

Welspun Tubular LLC on Thursday (Dec. 12) held the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of its High Frequency Induction Welded (HFIW) pipe manufacturing facility in Little Rock.

The expansion at the company’s Little Rock Port Authority campus represents a $100 million investment to expand and upgrade the company’s line pipe portfolio in the U.S.

Welspun Tubular LLC is a subsidiary of Welspun Corp Ltd., one of top three manufacturers of large diameter line pipes globally. According to officials, the Little Rock expansion will produce more pipes for the oil and gas sector, but also for the growing ammonia and hydrogen energy and chemical sectors.

The expansion is expected to add an additional 175 jobs in central Arkansas. The upgrade is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026.

The India-based conglomerate launched its manufacturing presence in Arkansas in 2007. Since that time, Welspun has expanded at the Port of Little Rock multiple times, investing $382 million.

“We are glad to be in Little Rock to announce the expansion of our plant here which we set up back in 2007, and have successfully maintained a relationship with Arkansas region and its people. This capacity expansion will not just benefit our ongoing operations and cater to Welspun’s ethos of customer centricity, but also add to the job market to aid the local population residing here,” said Welspun World Chairman B.K. Goenka, who was in attendance at the groundbreaking.

He noted that while the pipe manufacturing business was booming for his company, he also was seeing a rising demand in the company’s textile sector, which employs 25,000 in India. He said 60% of Welspun’s textile business comes from the U.S. including Walmart, his firm’s biggest customer.

He hinted that Welspun will be looking to locate a textile manufacturing facility in the U.S. to meet rising demand.

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission helped close the latest deal for the pipe plant expansion with a recent trip to India, according to Gov. Sarah Sanders.

“The Port of Little Rock is quickly becoming the center of economic development for our region – and today’s groundbreaking is only going to continue that,” said Sanders. “I applaud the team that landed this announcement and will continue my administration’s work to make Arkansas a low-tax, pro-business state that welcomes companies like Welspun Tubular with open arms.”

“Arkansas is a pro-business state that encourages companies to expand, and Welspun Tubular is a great example of a company that has grown in our state,” said Arkansas Department of Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald. “Welspun Tubular’s groundbreaking today is another milestone for the company’s success in the Natural State and for Arkansas’ continued economic growth.”