Arnhem, the Netherlands, November 28, 2006 - Akzo Nobel’s Pulp and Paper Chemicals business, Eka Chemicals, has doubled its presence in China, following the official opening of a new site in Guangzhou.
The facility - which will produce high-quality paper chemicals for the rapidly expanding Chinese paper industry - is not only a key investment in one of the company’s main growth platforms for Chemicals, but also represents the latest milestone in Akzo Nobel’s growth strategy for China.
“Growth in emerging markets is fundamental to our strategic plan,” explains Leif Darner, the Akzo Nobel board member responsible for Chemicals. “This investment in one of our core activities forms part of the overall growth plan for the pulp and paper chemicals business, which already operates a Chinese facility in Suzhou.”
Jan Svärd, Pulp and Paper Chemicals General Manager adds: “The demand for paper and board in China is among the highest in the world, with the paper industry in Southern China having expanded rapidly over the last five years. With this trend expected to continue, we need to ensure that we remain a leading supplier in the market.”
He went on to explain that an additional benefit of the new Guangzhou facility is its strategic location close to the Pearl River Delta port area. “The new site will enable us to achieve a cost-leadership position because our major raw materials will be sourced locally and our major customers are all located within a short distance of the location. We will also have a strong platform for export to other countries in the Asia Pacific region.”
Headquartered in Sweden, Eka Chemicals is a global leader in bleaching technology and paper chemistry, with manufacturing sites located all over the world.
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Note for the editor
Akzo Nobel is a Global Fortune 500 company and is listed on both the Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ stock exchanges. It is also included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and FTSE4Good Index. Based in the Netherlands, we are a multi-cultural organization, serving customers throughout the world with human and animal healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. We employ more than 62,000 people and conduct our activities in four segments − human and animal health, coatings and chemicals − subdivided into 13 business units, with operating subsidiaries in more than 80 countries. Consolidated revenues for 2005 totaled EUR 13 billion. The financial results for the full year will be published on February 15, 2007.
Internet: www.akzonobel.com
Eka Chemicals, with its 2,900 employees in 30 countries, is a business unit within Akzo Nobel. Turnover in 2005 amounted to EUR 889 million. Eka Chemicals is a leading supplier of bleaching chemicals, paper chemicals and systems to the pulp and paper industry throughout the world, and supplies specialty chemicals to, among others, the pharmaceuticals industry, water treatment and electronics industry.
www.eka.com
Not for publication – for more information
Akzo Nobel nv
Corporate Media Relations, tel. +31 26 366 43 43
Contact: Heleen van de Lustgraaf
Eka Chemicals China Co. Ltd.
+68 512 6258 22 76
Ross Howat, General manager
Eka Chemicals AB, Sweden
+46 31 58 71 79
Erik Widén, Communications Manager
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