Stepan Buys Sulfonation Plant

Stepan Company, through its subsidiary in Brazil, has completed the purchase of the sulfonation production facility in Bahia, Brazil from Procter & Gamble do Brazil S.A. The facility is located in the northeast region of Brazil and has 30,000 metric tons of capacity. According to F. Quinn Stepan Jr., president and CEO of Stepan Company, the acquisition is synergistic with Stepan's existing Vespasiano, Brazil plant and provides an opportunity to serve the growing northeast of Brazil

“This acquisition expands Stepan's capabilities in Brazil,” he noted. “Brazil is the world's fifth most populous country and has a growing middle class. As the country's usage of laundry products transitions from soap bars to powders to liquids, surfactant use expands.”

Stepan noted that surfactants used in functional applications, including the large Brazilian agricultural industry, are also increasing.