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Ecover buys Californian company Method
FOCUS personal care products will grow by 12.5% in 2012, compared with 12.4% in 2011. It also estimates that Unilever’s market share was 4.1% in 2011, compared with 15.9% for the market leader in the region, Procter and Gamble. While no specific information on the turnover from its Chinese operations was disclosed, Unilever expects that the economic slowdown in China will have no major impact on its turnover as it is less vulnerable to fluctuations in consumer confidence than suppliers of luxury articles. Original Source: Het Financieele Dagblad, 13 Sep 2012, (Website: http://www.fd.nl/) (in Dutch) © Het Financieele Dagblad 2012
Croda posts robust 2Q 2012 and record interim results Croda reported strong interim results with its sales volumes and profits in 2Q 2012 higher than 1Q 2012 levels, despite reduced European trading days. Sales for 1H 2012 were £572.9 M, up 2.4% on 1H 2011. Operating profit was up 6.7% to £133.7 M, while profit before tax for continuing operations increased by 6.3% to £132.6 M. Net profit was £90 M in 1H 2012 compared with £86 M the previous year. The company reports that strong demand in North America in most business areas offset softer European trading conditions and adverse currency translation. It made further progress in Asia and Latin America in focusing on higher-margin differentiated products, it says. The results across all areas of Consumer Care improved, with return on sales increasing to 31.1%. The sector achieved sales of £310.5 M in 1H 2012, up 5.8% year on year, with growth in all business areas. Margins increased due to price rises in Europe during 2Q 2012 and a morefavourable sales mix, resulting in a 9.9% increase in 1H operating profit to £96.7 M. Croda says its ‘resilient track record of growth’ rests on its consistent ability to bring ‘innovative, high-margin products’ to market and expand its presence in emerging markets. Original Source: Croda International Plc, Cowick Hall, Snaith, Goole, DN14 9AA, UK, tel: +44 1405 860551, fax: +44 1405 861767, website: http://www.croda.com (24 Jul 2012) © 2012 Croda International Plc
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COMPANY NEWS New Ecolab facility in Taicang to help enhance Chinese food safety and public health Ecolab Inc has opened a manufacturing plant and distribution centre in Taicang, China, as part of an expanding company presence within the country. The facility is Ecolab’s third-largest in the world and the company’s largest in the Asia Pacific region. The plant has the capacity to produce 150,000 tons of product annually. Initially, the facility will have 55 employees, and by 2017 more than 350 employees will work at the facility. The Taicang plant will be capable of producing all of the Ecolab products sold in China; a complete portfolio of cleaning, sanitation, food safety and infection prevention solutions for customers in a wide range of growing industries, including: food and beverage production; food retail; hospitality; healthcare; and dairy, meat and poultry processing. The facility operates using features that reduce energy and water consumption while minimizing waste production. All process wastewater will be treated for re-use on site. Ecolab has invested $150 M in Chinese markets since 2008. In addition to the new Taicang plant, it currently operates five other plants in China, in Nanjing, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Taiwan. Original Source: Ecolab, website: http://www.ecolab.com/ (14 Aug 2012) © Ecolab 2012
Toyo India wins contract to build BASF’s Dahej project BASF India Ltd has awarded Toyo Engineering India Ltd an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contract (EPC) to handle the construction, on a turnkey basis, of its new multi-business chemical production site at Dahej in Gujarat Province, on the west coast of India [Focus on Surfactants, Jun 2012]. The site will be an integrated hub for polyurethane production and will include manufacturing plants for care chemicals and polymer dispersions
for coatings and paper. The care chemicals facility will produce surfactants largely for home and personal care. The facility is anticipated to be operational in 2014 and will employ 250 personnel. BASF India Ltd plans to invest Rup 10,000 M (c €143 M) to set up the greenfield project at Dahej. The investment will be entirely funded by debt from fellow group firm BASF Coordination Centre NV. The debt will be in the form of external commercial borrowings. In addition to the Dahej site, BASF also operates a 200-acre manufacturing facility in Mangalore. The parent company has identified India as a key driver for its export growth in South Asia. The opening of export opportunities to Pakistan has strengthened its exports of performance chemicals to South Asian markets. BASF India posted a net profit of Rup 1,000 M on an operating profit of Rup 35,160 M in 2011-2012 as against a net profit of Rup 1,180 M on an operating income of Rup 30,640 M in 2010-2011. Original Source: APCJ, Asia Pacific Coatings Journal, Aug/Sep 2012, 25 (4), 4 (Website: http://www.asiapacificcoatingsjournal.com/) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2012. Original Source: Coatings World, Aug 2012, 17 (8), 43 (Website: http://www.coatingsworld.com/) © Rodman Publishing 2012. Original Source: Business Line, 25 Aug 2012, 19 (238), 3 & 1 Sep 2012, 19 (245), 3 (Website: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/) © The Hindu Business Line 2012
Ecover buys Californian company Method The Belgian ecological detergents firm Ecover has acquired the US company Method. This will expand Ecover’s position on the US market, which has previously only accounted for 10% of turnover. Method’s products are already distributed in France through Auchan, Cora and Carrefour. The two brands and teams will continue to operate separately but will pool their research and development resources. Ecover will manufacture Method’s products at its Belgian and French units using more upbeat packaging. The acquisition creates the world’s largest ‘green cleaning’ company, with combined sales of $200 M and around 300 staff, Ecover says. Original Source: La Tribune, 8 Sep 2012, (Website: http://www.latribune.fr) (in French) © LaTribune.fr 2012
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Croda posts robust 2Q 2012 and record interim results Croda reported strong interim results with its sales volumes and profits in 2Q 2012 higher than 1Q 2012 levels, despite reduced European trading days. Sales for 1H 2012 were £572.9 M, up 2.4% on 1H 2011. Operating profit was up 6.7% to £133.7 M, while profit before tax for continuing operations increased by 6.3% to £132.6 M. Net profit was £90 M in 1H 2012 compared with £86 M the previous year. The company reports that strong demand in North America in most business areas offset softer European trading conditions and adverse currency translation. It made further progress in Asia and Latin America in focusing on higher-margin differentiated products, it says. The results across all areas of Consumer Care improved, with return on sales increasing to 31.1%. The sector achieved sales of £310.5 M in 1H 2012, up 5.8% year on year, with growth in all business areas. Margins increased due to price rises in Europe during 2Q 2012 and a morefavourable sales mix, resulting in a 9.9% increase in 1H operating profit to £96.7 M. Croda says its ‘resilient track record of growth’ rests on its consistent ability to bring ‘innovative, high-margin products’ to market and expand its presence in emerging markets. Original Source: Croda International Plc, Cowick Hall, Snaith, Goole, DN14 9AA, UK, tel: +44 1405 860551, fax: +44 1405 861767, website: http://www.croda.com (24 Jul 2012) © 2012 Croda International Plc
NOVEMBER 2012
ON
S U R FA C TA N T S
COMPANY NEWS New Ecolab facility in Taicang to help enhance Chinese food safety and public health Ecolab Inc has opened a manufacturing plant and distribution centre in Taicang, China, as part of an expanding company presence within the country. The facility is Ecolab’s third-largest in the world and the company’s largest in the Asia Pacific region. The plant has the capacity to produce 150,000 tons of product annually. Initially, the facility will have 55 employees, and by 2017 more than 350 employees will work at the facility. The Taicang plant will be capable of producing all of the Ecolab products sold in China; a complete portfolio of cleaning, sanitation, food safety and infection prevention solutions for customers in a wide range of growing industries, including: food and beverage production; food retail; hospitality; healthcare; and dairy, meat and poultry processing. The facility operates using features that reduce energy and water consumption while minimizing waste production. All process wastewater will be treated for re-use on site. Ecolab has invested $150 M in Chinese markets since 2008. In addition to the new Taicang plant, it currently operates five other plants in China, in Nanjing, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Taiwan. Original Source: Ecolab, website: http://www.ecolab.com/ (14 Aug 2012) © Ecolab 2012
Toyo India wins contract to build BASF’s Dahej project BASF India Ltd has awarded Toyo Engineering India Ltd an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contract (EPC) to handle the construction, on a turnkey basis, of its new multi-business chemical production site at Dahej in Gujarat Province, on the west coast of India [Focus on Surfactants, Jun 2012]. The site will be an integrated hub for polyurethane production and will include manufacturing plants for care chemicals and polymer dispersions
for coatings and paper. The care chemicals facility will produce surfactants largely for home and personal care. The facility is anticipated to be operational in 2014 and will employ 250 personnel. BASF India Ltd plans to invest Rup 10,000 M (c €143 M) to set up the greenfield project at Dahej. The investment will be entirely funded by debt from fellow group firm BASF Coordination Centre NV. The debt will be in the form of external commercial borrowings. In addition to the Dahej site, BASF also operates a 200-acre manufacturing facility in Mangalore. The parent company has identified India as a key driver for its export growth in South Asia. The opening of export opportunities to Pakistan has strengthened its exports of performance chemicals to South Asian markets. BASF India posted a net profit of Rup 1,000 M on an operating profit of Rup 35,160 M in 2011-2012 as against a net profit of Rup 1,180 M on an operating income of Rup 30,640 M in 2010-2011. Original Source: APCJ, Asia Pacific Coatings Journal, Aug/Sep 2012, 25 (4), 4 (Website: http://www.asiapacificcoatingsjournal.com/) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2012. Original Source: Coatings World, Aug 2012, 17 (8), 43 (Website: http://www.coatingsworld.com/) © Rodman Publishing 2012. Original Source: Business Line, 25 Aug 2012, 19 (238), 3 & 1 Sep 2012, 19 (245), 3 (Website: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/) © The Hindu Business Line 2012
Ecover buys Californian company Method The Belgian ecological detergents firm Ecover has acquired the US company Method. This will expand Ecover’s position on the US market, which has previously only accounted for 10% of turnover. Method’s products are already distributed in France through Auchan, Cora and Carrefour. The two brands and teams will continue to operate separately but will pool their research and development resources. Ecover will manufacture Method’s products at its Belgian and French units using more upbeat packaging. The acquisition creates the world’s largest ‘green cleaning’ company, with combined sales of $200 M and around 300 staff, Ecover says. Original Source: La Tribune, 8 Sep 2012, (Website: http://www.latribune.fr) (in French) © LaTribune.fr 2012
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