Clariant management team together with local government officials, key customers and partners at the joint groundbreaking ceremony.

Clariant announces new investments to enhance Chinese ethoxylation plant

Press Release

02 Nov 2023

Expansion of existing production capacity for personal and home care, as well as industrial applications
Investment will form a new global hub for Clariant's healthcare business

MUTTENZ, December 15, 2022 - Clariant is set to expand its Care Chemicals facility in Daya Bay, Huizhou, China, to boost its support for pharmaceutical, personal care, home care, and industrial application customers.

The CHF 80 million investment will see capacity increases for existing products as well as the introduction of new products by the end of 2024. By successfully obtaining the drug GMP certificate, the Clariant Daya Bay manufacturing site has become the first API manufacturer in China with certified polyethylene glycol Polyglykol 3350. The site will also become a new global hub for Clariant’s healthcare business support, speeding up the supply of high-quality ingredients for life-changing medicines.

“The successful production and registration of the pharmaceutical grade of PEGs are great examples of how resilient and dedicated Clariant is to growing in our strategic dedicated business segment and supporting our customers,” said Zhigang Miao, Head of Industrial Applications, Clariant Care Chemical.

Clariant will also expand existing production capacity for its Ethylene Oxide Derivatives (EODs) and a broader chemical portfolio at Daya Bay. As a result, it will step up its production of more sustainable ingredients that can help customers advance their environmental targets and create differentiated, more sustainable solutions to meet sector demands. The EcoTain®-labelled, plant-based Hostapon® mild surfactant for example supports Personal Care brands and formulators in developing milder, cleaner beauty in applications such as solid beauty bars, body washes and cream-type shampoos.

“The many market segments we serve from Daya Bay are evolving to reflect changing sustainability targets and end-product performance needs, and we want to bring our own innovation and expertise closer to these customers to help drive their developments forward,” comments Christian Vang, Head of Clariant Care Chemicals. “Daya Bay was home to Clariant’s first ethoxylation plant in Asia and, with these investments, we will advance this location to an integrated Multi-Purpose Plant / Ethylene Oxide Derivatives site, with good proximity to key manufacturing locations. This underlines our commitment to bringing greater chemistry to the region to support our customers’ success.”

The investment by the Care Chemicals Business to enhance the Chinese ethoxylation plant follows several recent investments by Clariant at Daya Bay. In October 2022, Clariant announced it is adding a second production line at its future Additives plant for halogen-free flame retardants, currently being constructed at the site. The new plant’s first line is due to open mid-2023 with the second line coming on stream during 2024.