“This strategic partnership is a key step in our development in the dynamic surfactants market in the CIS and Eastern Europe,” said Christophe Clemente, Rhodia Novecare’s vice president Europe.
“This alliance will reinforce our leading position worldwide in specialty surfactants and is fully aligned with our growth strategy. It demonstrates our commitment to become the preferred partner of our customers as they expand in fast growing countries,” added Emmanuel Butstraen, president of Rhodia Novecare.
The surfactants sector is growing at more than 6 per cent per year and the evolution of consumer demand for more sophisticated and segmented products, such as shampoos, conditioners, and shower gels, is driving volume growth of specialty surfactants in the CIS region.
Surfactants are molecules that reduce surface tension and can bring properties such as detergency, emulsification, foaming, wetting and softening. They are used as performance ingredients in formulations for a large number of personal care applications.
50:50 split
Global supplier of specialty surfactants Rhodia, will provide its expertise in surfactant technologies, its knowledge of formulations and market applications and its customer network, including global key accounts with a strong presence in this region.
According to the agreement, Sibur, which is a petrochemical company in Russia, will contribute its raw materials, production and logistics capabilities.
“Collaboration with Rhodia is in line with our strategy of expanding into carefully chosen specialty chemical business segments”, concluded Dmitry Konov, CEO of Sibur.
It is expected that the new joint venture will site a local production in Russia at Dzerzhinsk, near Sibur’s petrochemicals operations, 400km east of Moscow, and is expected to be operational in 2013.
“Sibur and Rhodia have strong complementary activities and expertise. The association with a worldwide leader in specialty surfactants will allow us to provide value added products to meet the fast growing demand for more sophisticated and complex solutions”, commented Sergey Merzlyakov, head of the Plastics and Organic Synthesis business unit of Sibur.