AkzoNobel's Specialty Chemicals business recently broke ground on a new alkoxylation facility in Ningbo, China, bringing the company's total investment in the strategic multi-site to more than €400 million.

As well as contributing to AkzoNobel's position as one of the leading surfactant producers in China, the new facility also creates a more sustainable footprint in the region and will enable the company to better serve its customers.

"Our investment in this new plant is further proof of our ongoing commitment to China, which is one of our most strategically important markets. The new facility also gives added momentum to our organic growth ambitions, as well as enabling us to continue expanding our manufacturing footprint in Asia,” said Werner Fuhrmann, Executive Committee member responsible for Specialty Chemicals.

According to Graeme Armstrong, Managing Director of AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry: “The new alkoxylation facility in Ningbo will allow us to better serve our customers in the region, which is one of our top priorities. It also provides us with the opportunity to meet the increasing demands of the market while operating production locally, which will result in less need for transportation, shorter turnaround times and a lower carbon footprint.”

The Ningbo multi-site covers around 50 hectares and accommodates production for chelates, ethylene amines, ethylene oxide, organic peroxides and Bermocoll cellulose derivatives. Surface Chemistry's latest investment will increase annual capacity by nearly 18,000 tons, mainly catering for domestic demand in China.