Innospec Completes Acquisition of European Surfactant Business of Huntsman

Innospec Inc. has accomplished the European Surfactant Business of Huntsman Corporation

United States: Innospec Inc., a United States based specialty chemicals manufacturer has completed the acquisition of Huntsman’s European surfactants business. The acquisition deal closed at USD200 million. Post-acquisition, Innospec Inc. would have control over the surfactant manufacturing facilities of Huntsman located in France, Italy, and Spain. After the completion of acquisition, the European surfactant business of Huntsman would be incorporated in the performance chemicals division of Innospec.

TechSci Research depicts that the buyout of Huntman’s European surfactant business by Innospec Inc. would widen the surfactant product portfolio of Innospec and would aid the latter in increasing its penetration in the Europe surfactant market. Additionally, surfactants industry is one of the leading demand generator for oleochemicals and the merger & acquisition in the surfactant industry would have impact on the oleochemicals chemicals industry across the globe. United States being the major oleochemicals producer & exporter would have the opportunity to cater the rapidly growing demand for oleochemicals from developing Asia-Pacific economies such as India, as India lacks the quality manufacturing of oleochemicals.

According to the recently published report by TechSci Research, “India Oleochemicals Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2020”, the oleochemicals market in India is projected to witness growth at a CAGR of over 5% during 2015 - 2020. Easy access to raw materials, cost effectiveness and growing inclination towards greener chemicals are the major factors fueling market growth. Oleochemicals are segmented into four categories- fatty acids, glycerin, fatty alcohols, and others. In 2014, fatty acids dominated oleochemicals market in India, accounting for the largest volume share, followed by glycerin, fatty alcohols and others, respectively. The oleochemicals market in India consists of a large number of global as well as domestic manufacturers.