China’s Keer Group has unveiled plans to set up the company’s first textile plant in the US, creating more than 500 jobs over the next five years.

The 230,000sq ft manufacturing facility in Lancaster County, South Carolina, will make industrial cotton yarn, with the ground-breaking at the site set for early February next year.

The company’s first venture outside China, the $218m plant is expected to create a total of 501 jobs, with recruitment starting during the second half of 2014.

“During our search, South Carolina quickly rose to the top of our list,” said Zhu Shan Qing, Keer Group chairman.

“We chose to locate our first US facility in South Carolina for a number of reasons, which include the state’s workforce, proximity to cotton producers and access to the port.”

Yarn produced at the new facility will be exported to China through the port of Charleston.