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Soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and daily hygiene products.
Why it matters · Contamination recalls can pull familiar hygiene brands from retail without easy alternatives.
13
Inputs
64
Companies
43
Facilities
10
Source countries
How it's made
Oleochemical Feedstock Processing
Palm kernel oil and coconut oil refined to fatty alcohols and fatty acids — the carbon backbone for anionic and nonionic surfactants.
Surfactant Synthesis (Ethoxylation / Sulfation)
Fatty alcohols react with ethylene oxide (ethoxylation) then sulfur trioxide (sulfation) and caustic neutralization to produce SLES, SLS, and betaines.
Active Ingredient Manufacturing
Parallel synthesis streams: fluoride salts (NaF, SMFP) for toothpaste actives; aluminum-zirconium complex for antiperspirants; dimethicone polymerization for conditioning.
Fragrance Compounding
Proprietary aroma chemical blends assembled by fragrance houses; captive molecules synthesized in-house and licensed to personal care brands.
Formulation / Blending
Actives, surfactants, conditioners, preservatives, and rheology modifiers (Carbopol) combined in heated jacketed vessels with continuous quality monitoring.
Fill & Finish / Packaging
Formulations dosed into HDPE/PET bottles, laminated tubes, or aerosol cans; capped, labeled, and coded for shelf-life tracking.
Quality Testing & Distribution
Micro/preservative challenge testing, viscosity, pH, and stability testing before release; palletized and distributed to retail DC network.
What it's made of
13 raw inputs feed personal care and hygiene. Inputs flagged with ● are critical, without them, production halts.
chemical
●agricultural
●chemical
●chemical
●chemical
●chemical
●chemical
manufactured
●chemical
manufactured
chemical
manufactured
chemical
Where it comes from
Weighted share of upstream inputs sourced from each country.
| Country | Weighted share | Inputs supplied to personal care and hygiene |
|---|---|---|
| USUnited States | 32% | Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex (Antiperspirant Active) · Carbopol / Cross-linked Polyacrylic Acid · Fluoride Actives (NaF / SMFP) for Toothpaste +3 |
| CNChina | 26% | Candle Wax (Paraffin/Soy/Palm) · High-Speed Brushless Digital Motor (Cordless Vacuum) · Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex (Antiperspirant Active) +9 |
| CHSwitzerland | 23% | High-Speed Brushless Digital Motor (Cordless Vacuum) · Fragrance Compounds (Fine Fragrance) |
| MYMalaysia | 20% | Candle Wax (Paraffin/Soy/Palm) · Fluoride Actives (NaF / SMFP) for Toothpaste · Palm Kernel / Coconut Fatty Alcohols +1 |
| TWTaiwan | 14% | Candle Wax (Paraffin/Soy/Palm) · High-Speed Brushless Digital Motor (Cordless Vacuum) · Fluoride Actives (NaF / SMFP) for Toothpaste +2 |
| ZASouth Africa | 13% | Candle Wax (Paraffin/Soy/Palm) · Palm Kernel / Coconut Fatty Alcohols |
| DEGermany | 12% | Candle Wax (Paraffin/Soy/Palm) · High-Speed Brushless Digital Motor (Cordless Vacuum) · Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex (Antiperspirant Active) +7 |
| IDIndonesia | 12% | High-Speed Brushless Digital Motor (Cordless Vacuum) · Palm Kernel / Coconut Fatty Alcohols · Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Surfactant +1 |
| KRSouth Korea | 12% | High-Speed Brushless Digital Motor (Cordless Vacuum) · HDPE / PET Plastic Packaging (Personal Care) · Propylene Glycol Humectant (Personal Care Grade) +2 |
| MXMexico | 10% | High-Speed Brushless Digital Motor (Cordless Vacuum) · Fluoride Actives (NaF / SMFP) for Toothpaste · Fragrance Compounds (Fine Fragrance) +2 |
Shipped finished
Countries that ship finished personal care and hygiene directly to the U.S., distinct from the upstream raw inputs above.
| Country | U.S. imports | Share of U.S. imports |
|---|---|---|
| MXMexico | $1.1B | 20% |
| CNChina | $1.0B | 20% |
| CACanada | $694M | 13% |
| PHPhilippines | $365M | 7% |
| ITItaly | $252M | 5% |
| KRSouth Korea (Republic of Korea) | $243M | 5% |
| ESSpain | $142M | 3% |
| VNVietnam | $140M | 3% |
| COColombia | $131M | 3% |
| IDIndonesia | $116M | 2% |
Who makes it
64 companies in this supply chain, sorted by market share.
Specialty chemicals; near-monopoly on Carbopol cross-linked polyacrylic acid gelling agents.
Supplies these inputs
Carbopol / Cross-linked Polyacrylic Acid
Replaceability
Substitutability 10% · 18 mo to replace
Business segments
Originator (Reheis) of activated aluminum chlorohydrate; leading maker of aluminum and aluminum-zirconium antiperspirant actives.
Supplies these inputs
Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex (Antiperspirant Active)
Replaceability
Substitutability 35% · 12 mo to replace
Business segments
American materials science company (NYSE: DOW, HQ Midland MI); one of 5 named dominant US IPA producers. Historical data shows Dow held ~12% of the IPA market from its Texas City, TX facility (906 million lb / 411,000 MT capacity as of ~2003). Dow's IPA operations are part of its Performance Monomers & Solvents business. Dow announced $250M expansion of its Louisiana IPA plant in Q4 2023. Dow's Freeport TX site is the largest chemical production complex in the Western Hemisphere — same campus produces IPA alongside ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, epoxy, and dozens of other chemicals. Dow is the #2 IPA producer in the US. Dow also makes high-purity electronic-grade IPA for semiconductor applications through its purification technology.
Supplies these inputs
Dimethicone / Cosmetic Silicone Polymers
Replaceability
Substitutability 45% · 12 mo to replace
Business segments
China's largest fluorochemicals conglomerate; headquartered in Hangzhou; primary production base in Quzhou, Zhejiang Province. Also has bases in Ningbo, Zhoushan, Zhuji (Zhejiang) and Jiangsu. Export arm: Xiamen Juda Chemical & Equipment Co. (Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian — focused on fluorinated chemical exports including HFC-227ea). Product lines include HFC-227ea (fire suppression grade) among seven major fluorinated chemical series. FDA DMF, UL, CE, DOT, KGS, ASME, ISO, OHSAS certified. 2012: signed cooperation agreement with Honeywell in Quzhou for HFC-125 production to feed Honeywell's R-410A blends — confirming Juhua's role as supply partner for major Western companies. China's largest fluorochemicals production base and primary source of cost-competitive HFC-227ea for Asian and global markets. State-owned enterprise (Zhejiang Juhua Group Corporation).
Supplies these inputs
Fluoride Actives (NaF / SMFP) for Toothpaste
Replaceability
Substitutability 35% · 9 mo to replace
Business segments
Dow Inc. (Midland, Michigan; NYSE: DOW; ~$45B revenue) operates Dow Silicones — formerly Dow Corning Corporation, a 1943 joint venture between Dow Chemical and Corning Inc. Dow acquired Corning's 50% stake in 2016 for $4.8B, making Dow Silicones a wholly owned subsidiary. Dow Silicones is the world's largest single silicone producer with approximately 25-30% of the global silicone market. The Midland, Michigan campus (the original Dow Chemical / Dow Corning headquarters) is the founding site of commercial silicone chemistry in the Western world, producing methylchlorosilane intermediates via the Müller-Rochow process since the 1940s. Personal care grade dimethicone (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) — sold under the XIAMETER and DOW CORNING brand names with viscosities ranging from 5 cSt (light fluid) to 1,000,000 cSt (gum) — is manufactured at Midland MI and at the Carrollton, Kentucky plant. Dow Silicones' XIAMETER brand is the commodity-grade silicone platform that supplies high-volume dimethicone to major personal care manufacturers including Unilever, Procter & Gamble, L'Oréal, and Henkel.
Supplies these inputs
Dimethicone / Cosmetic Silicone Polymers
Replaceability
Substitutability 35% · 12 mo to replace
Business segments
Givaudan SA (Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland; SWX: GIVN; ~CHF 6.9B revenue FY2023; market cap ~CHF 45B) is the world's largest fragrance and flavor company, with a fragrance market share estimated at approximately 20-25% of the global fine fragrance, consumer products fragrance, and active beauty segments combined. Givaudan's Fragrance & Beauty division (~47% of total revenue) creates proprietary fragrance compounds and aroma chemicals for personal care (shampoo, body wash, deodorant), household products (laundry, fabric softeners, surface cleaners), and fine perfumery (designer and niche fragrance). Givaudan has executed a sustained acquisition strategy including Frutarom naturals (overridden by IFF deal), Naturex botanicals (€1.5B, 2018), Ungerer (2019), DDW caramel colors (2021), and multiple smaller specialty ingredient companies. The Givaudan Fragrance Research Center in Dübendorf, Switzerland conducts core aroma chemical R&D. Givaudan was spun off from Roche Holding AG in 2000; before Roche, it was part of Firmenich competitor Roure-Bertrand Dupont. Givaudan supplies fragrance compounds to Procter & Gamble, Unilever, L'Oreal, Estée Lauder, and virtually every major consumer goods company.
Supplies these inputs
Fragrance Compounds (Fine Fragrance)
Replaceability
Substitutability 30% · 24 mo to replace
Business segments
Leading global producer of zircon and titanium minerals from mineral-sand mining; also rare-earths refining.
Supplies these inputs
Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex (Antiperspirant Active)
Replaceability
Substitutability 45% · 12 mo to replace
Business segments
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (Tokyo; TSE: 4063; ~¥2.3 trillion revenue) is Japan's second-largest EUV photoresist supplier, holding approximately 20-25% of the EUV photoresist market through its SEPR (Shin-Etsu Polymer Resist) product line. Primary EUV resist production at Niigata and Gunma facilities in Japan. The same parent company is the world's largest polyvinyl chloride (PVC) producer, the world's largest silicon wafer producer (through Shin-Etsu Silicones/SEH), and a major hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) pharmaceutical excipient manufacturer. Shin-Etsu's photoresist was among the materials covered by Japan's July 2019 export controls targeting South Korea, as fluorinated polyimide — a resist ancillary material — was one of the three restricted chemicals.
Supplies these inputs
Dimethicone / Cosmetic Silicone Polymers
Replaceability
Substitutability 45% · 12 mo to replace
Business segments
World's largest flavor and fragrance company; ~CHF 7.2B revenue. Gives its name to flavoring — the flavor science behind processed meat seasonings, sauces, and food products globally. Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing division creates custom spice-based flavor profiles for processed meat, poultry, and seafood applications, supplying global food manufacturers. Notable: same company creates both fine fragrance formulas (for luxury perfumes like Calvin Klein Eternity, Dior J'adore) AND the flavor systems in processed food. The science of 'what smells good' and 'what tastes good' is the same sensory science, practiced by the same company for perfumery and food simultaneously.
Supplies these inputs
Fragrance Compounds (Fine Fragrance)
Replaceability
Substitutability 30% · 12 mo to replace
Business segments
Specialty inorganics maker; aluminum chlorohydrate and antiperspirant actives.
Supplies these inputs
Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex (Antiperspirant Active)
Replaceability
Substitutability 55% · 9 mo to replace
Business segments
Wacker Chemie AG (Munich, Bavaria, Germany; XETRA: WCH; ~€6B revenue; majority-owned by Dr. Alexander Wacker Familiengesellschaft family trust, ~50.3% stake) is the world's second-largest silicone producer with approximately 20-25% global silicone market share. Wacker's BELSIL brand personal care silicones (BELSIL DM dimethicone fluids, BELSIL CM cyclomethicone, BELSIL PDM dimethicone copolymers) are major ingredients in hair conditioners, shampoos, and skin lotions globally. Wacker's Burghausen, Bavaria facility is the world's largest single integrated silicone production site — a 500-hectare campus on the Salzach River employing ~6,000 people where Wacker produces silicon metal, methylchlorosilanes, silicone polymers, and downstream personal care silicone grades within a single Verbund complex. The same Burghausen campus also produces hyperpure polysilicon for solar panels and semiconductors — Wacker Polysilicon is the world's second-largest polysilicon producer. Wacker's second major silicone site is Nünchritz, Saxony (formerly East Germany), which produces silicone intermediates and specialty grades. In 2024, Wacker announced restructuring including headcount reductions driven by Chinese silicone competition and solar market pricing pressure.
Supplies these inputs
Dimethicone / Cosmetic Silicone Polymers
Replaceability
Substitutability 35% · 12 mo to replace
Business segments
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen Germany; DAX: BAS; ~€69B revenue) is the world's largest chemical company and a major buyer, processor, and re-supplier of C12/C14 fatty acids through its Care Chemicals division. BASF does not produce palm kernel oil-derived fatty acids at the primary cracking stage, but it processes fatty acid streams into finished personal care and cosmetic ingredients — including fatty acid alkanolamides (cocamide MEA, lauramide DEA), sodium laurate soap bases, and other derivatives. BASF also acts as a strategic procurer of fatty acids from Malaysian and Indonesian producers (KLK OLEO, Wilmar, Emery) for conversion at its Ludwigshafen Verbund complex. BASF's acquisition of Cognis in 2010 (€3.1B) brought it the Cognis fatty acid and surfactant businesses including European oleochemical processing capacity. BASF's Care Chemicals segment supplies personal care ingredient distributors and direct-to-manufacturer across Europe, North America, and Asia. While BASF is not a primary C12/C14 fatty acid producer, its conversion capacity and market intermediation role give it ~5-8% effective share of the European C12/C14 fatty acid market.
Supplies these inputs
Palm Kernel / Coconut Fatty Alcohols · Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Surfactant
Replaceability
Substitutability 55% · 3 mo to replace
Business segments
Baiyin Non-Ferrous Group is a large Chinese state-affiliated enterprise headquartered in Baiyin City, Gansu Province — China's primary fluorspar-mining and fluoride-processing region. Baiyin operates integrated fluorspar mining, HF production, and downstream fluoride compound manufacturing (NaF, MFP, aluminum fluoride, ammonium bifluoride). Gansu Province hosts some of China's highest-grade fluorspar (acidspar) deposits, giving Baiyin a low-cost feedstock advantage. Baiyin fluoride compounds are exported globally, including to consumer goods manufacturers seeking lower-cost fluoride actives. China overall produces ~60-65% of global fluoride compounds by volume, with Gansu and Hunan provinces as the primary production centres.
Supplies these inputs
Fluoride Actives (NaF / SMFP) for Toothpaste
Replaceability
Substitutability 45% · 3 mo to replace
Business segments
F&F major (~20% global share); Nouryon acquisition brought enzymes and surfactant inputs.
Supplies these inputs
Fragrance Compounds (Fine Fragrance)
Replaceability
Substitutability 30% · 12 mo to replace
Business segments
World-leading viscose specialty fibre maker; the most important supplier of viscose fibre to the global tampon industry (~90,000 t/yr capacity). Filed for insolvency October 2024.
Supplies these inputs
Viscose Staple Fibre for Nonwoven / Wet Wipes (1.2–2.8 dtex)
Replaceability
Substitutability 40% · 6 mo to replace
Business segments
Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (Bursa Malaysia: KLK; Lee Loy Seng family founding; ~$5B revenue) is Malaysia's largest integrated oleochemical company through its KLK OLEO division — widely regarded as the world's largest oleochemical manufacturer. KLK OLEO produces C12 (lauric) and C14 (myristic) fatty acids from palm kernel oil hydrolysis at plants in Pasir Gudang (Johor), Klang (Selangor), Germany, Netherlands, and China. The hydrolysis process (Colgate-Emery fat splitting) cleaves the glycerol backbone from PKO triglycerides to release free fatty acids; subsequent distillation and fractionation yields the C12/C14 stream used in soap, shampoo, and cosmetic formulations. KLK's vertical integration — from oil palm plantation (~250,000 ha in Malaysia/Indonesia) through PKO milling and refining to fatty acid and fatty alcohol production — gives it unmatched feedstock cost control. KLK OLEO's Pasir Gudang complex is one of the world's largest oleochemical parks, producing fatty acids, fatty alcohols, methyl esters, glycerol, and specialty oleochemicals. Estimated global market share of C12/C14 fatty acids: ~18-22%.
Supplies these inputs
Palm Kernel / Coconut Fatty Alcohols
Replaceability
Substitutability 45% · 6 mo to replace
Business segments
Mexican diversified industrial company (BMV: ORBIA, HQ Mexico City; ~$8.5B revenue); Koura division (formerly Mexichem Fluor) is the world's largest fluorspar and HF producer by volume, with fluorspar mines in Mexico (San Luis Potosi state) and HF production plants in Mexico (Pajaritos, Veracruz), the UK (Runcorn), and elsewhere. Mexico's fluorspar reserves (acid-grade fluorite, CaF2) — among the world's largest, concentrated in San Luis Potosi and Durango states — feed Koura's HF production, making it uniquely vertically integrated from mine to HF. Mexico is the world's largest fluorspar exporter (~25% of global supply), and Koura controls a significant fraction of that production. Orbia is also a major PVC pipe (Amanco brand) and precision irrigation company — a diversified conglomerate where HF chemistry sits alongside water infrastructure.
Supplies these inputs
Fluoride Actives (NaF / SMFP) for Toothpaste
Replaceability
Substitutability 35% · 9 mo to replace
Business segments
Wilmar International Limited (Singapore Exchange: WIL; ~$67B revenue; Robert Kuok co-founded; Archer-Daniels-Midland holds ~23% stake) is the world's largest agribusiness and palm oil processor. Wilmar's Oleochemicals segment produces fatty acids (including C12/C14 lauric and myristic acids), fatty alcohols, glycerol, and biodiesel at major facilities in Malaysia (Johor, Selangor), Indonesia, and China. Wilmar's feedstock advantage is unmatched: as the world's largest palm kernel oil refiner and trader, Wilmar sources PKO at near-spot pricing from its plantation operations and from third-party suppliers where it holds dominant purchasing power. Wilmar's fatty acid output is sold to surfactant manufacturers (Galaxy Surfactants, Stepan), soap makers, and personal care ingredient producers globally. Wilmar's scale gives it the ability to swing C12/C14 fatty acid supply globally — when Wilmar redirects PKO to biodiesel (which competes with oleochemicals for the same feedstock), fatty acid prices spike. Estimated global C12/C14 fatty acid market share: ~15-18%.
Supplies these inputs
Palm Kernel / Coconut Fatty Alcohols
Replaceability
Substitutability 40% · 5 mo to replace
Business segments
Where it's made
43 facilities producing inputs that feed personal care and hygiene.
BASF SE · Rhineland-Palatinate · chemical-plant
BASF's headquarters Verbund complex in Ludwigshafen is the largest contiguous chemical complex in the world (~10 km²; ~200 production plants; 30,000+ employees on site). The Care Chemicals division produces SLES (Texapon N 70) here via falling-film SO3 sulfonation of ethoxylated fatty alcohols. Fatty alcohols are supplied from BASF's own production or from Wilmar/KLK OLEO. The Verbund integration means ethylene oxide (for ethoxylation) is piped from BASF's own crackers — a structural cost and supply advantage over standalone surfactant plants. Source: https://www.basf.com/global/en/who-we-are/organization/locations/europe/german-sites/ludwigshafen.html
BASF SE · Rhineland-Palatinate · headquarters
World's largest integrated chemical complex (Verbund concept); corporate HQ; produces specialty chemicals, MDI, and specialty pharma APIs alongside commodity chemicals.
Baiyin Non-Ferrous Group · Gansu Province · manufacturing
Baiyin City, Gansu Province, China — Baiyin Non-Ferrous Group integrated fluorspar processing and fluoride compound manufacturing site. Mines acidspar (acid-grade fluorspar, >97% CaF2) from nearby Gansu deposits, processes to HF, and further converts to NaF, MFP, aluminum fluoride, and ammonium bifluoride. China's Gansu Province is one of the two major fluorspar and fluoride-compound production regions (alongside Hunan Province). Low-cost feedstock integration gives Baiyin a structural export price advantage. Source: https://www.bynf.com/en/
Dow Inc. (Dow Silicones) · Michigan · chemical plant
Dow Chemical / Dow Corning's Midland, Michigan campus is the founding site of commercial silicone chemistry in the Western world. Dow Corning was established here in 1943 as a joint venture between Dow Chemical (headquartered in Midland) and Corning Glass Works. The Midland campus produces methylchlorosilane intermediates via the Müller-Rochow process (silicon metal + methyl chloride + copper catalyst → dimethyldichlorosilane), downstream polydimethylsiloxane polymers including personal care dimethicone fluids, and specialty silicone products. The campus spans approximately 2,000 acres and is one of the most historically significant chemical manufacturing sites in the United States. Source: https://www.dow.com/en-us/about-dow/our-history.html
Elkem Silicones (Elkem ASA) · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · chemical plant
Elkem Silicones' primary European manufacturing site in Genay, near Lyon (Métropole de Lyon, Ain department). Formerly Bluestar Silicones' main French production base, now Elkem Silicones after the 2018 acquisition. Produces silicone polymers, personal care dimethicone grades, and specialty silicone elastomers. Lyon has been a center of the French chemical industry (Rhodia, Arkema) historically. Source: https://www.elkem.com/silicones/about-elkem-silicones/
Emery Oleochemicals Group · Johor · chemical-plant
Emery Oleochemicals' flagship production facility at Kluang, Johor Malaysia — one of the largest dedicated oleochemical complexes in Malaysia. Kluang processes palm kernel oil and palm stearin through high-pressure continuous fat splitting (Colgate-Emery process) and fractional distillation to produce the full C12-C18 natural fatty acid range including lauric (C12) and myristic (C14) acids. The Kluang facility also produces fatty alcohols, glycerol (co-product of hydrolysis), and specialty oleochemical derivatives. Emery's PETRONAS Chemicals co-ownership gives the Kluang facility preferential access to Malaysian infrastructure and logistics networks. The Kluang location (inland Johor) is approximately 100 km north of the Pasir Gudang port zone — slightly less advantaged logistically than coastal Pasir Gudang plants. Source: https://www.emeryoleo.com/our-plants/
Evonik Industries AG · North Rhine-Westphalia · chemical-plant
Evonik's Goldschmidt Essen site is the historical center of Evonik's surfactant and specialty chemical operations — dating to the Deutsche Goldschmidt AG merger absorbed into what became Evonik. The Essen site produces SLES and related anionic and amphoteric surfactants for the Consumer Specialties division. The Essen-Goldschmidt complex is where Evonik's surfactant R&D and scale-up operations are also based. Source: https://www.evonik.com/en/company/sites-and-offices/essen.html
Evonik Industries AG · North Rhine-Westphalia · chemical-plant
Largest Evonik site; ethoxylation, surfactant production, specialty chemicals.
Evonik Industries AG · North Rhine-Westphalia · chemical-plant
Evonik's Wesseling site near Cologne is the primary production location for Viscomate brand carbomer-equivalent polyacrylic acid polymers — the Evonik line positioned as alternatives to Lubrizol Carbopol for pharmaceutical and personal care applications. Wesseling is a large integrated Evonik chemical complex. Source: Evonik Care Solutions product documentation.
Dow Chemical · Texas · chemical_plant
Dow's Freeport, Texas campus — the largest chemical production complex in the Western Hemisphere — produces isopropyl alcohol alongside dozens of other petrochemicals. Dow announced $250M expansion of its Louisiana IPA plant in Q4 2023 (exact Louisiana facility TBD). Historical data shows Dow had ~411,000 MT IPA capacity in the US. Source: https://corporate.dow.com/en-us/locations/freeport.html
Galaxy Surfactants Ltd. · Maharashtra · chemical-plant
Galaxy Surfactants' primary and largest manufacturing facility at Tarapur Maharashtra India (Boisar MIDC, Thane district; ~75 km north of Mumbai). This is one of the largest dedicated surfactant manufacturing sites in Asia outside of multinational Verbund complexes. Produces the full Galaxy product range including SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate), SLES variants, cocamidopropyl betaine, and specialty care surfactants. The Tarapur site is vertically integrated: fatty alcohol ethoxylation and sulfonation in a single complex. Galaxy disclosed in its FY2024 annual report that Unilever and P&G together represent >40% of revenue. Source: https://www.galaxysurfactants.com/investor-relations/annual-report/
Givaudan SA · Geneva · headquarters
Givaudan's global headquarters and primary fragrance creation campus at Chemin de la Parfumerie 5, Vernier, Geneva. Houses world-class perfumer development center, fragrance evaluation labs, and executive leadership. Givaudan's Dübendorf Research Center (Canton Zurich) adjacent handles aroma chemistry R&D. Source: https://www.givaudan.com/company/who-we-are/our-locations
Givaudan SA · Geneva · manufacturing
Global HQ and major fragrance compounding center; captive aroma chemical synthesis.
Honeywell International — Fluorine Products · Louisiana · manufacturing
Geismar, Louisiana (Ascension Parish) — Honeywell's primary North American hydrofluoric acid production complex, approximately 1,500 acres. One of the largest HF plants in North America, with annual capacity in the hundreds of thousands of tonnes. Produces both anhydrous and aqueous HF; downstream fluoride specialties including high-purity NaF. Listed on EPA Risk Management Plan database as a major HF hazardous chemical site. Dual-use: HF from this site feeds oral care NaF, semiconductor wafer etching chemicals, and refrigerant fluorochemical precursors. Source: https://www.epa.gov/rmp/risk-management-plan-rmp-online
ICF — Industrias Químicas del Flúor · Catalonia · manufacturing
Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain — ICF primary fluoride compound manufacturing site. Produces sodium fluoride (NaF), sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP/SMFP), potassium fluoride, and aluminum fluoride. Tarragona is Spain's principal petrochemical manufacturing cluster. ICF's MFP production makes this one of the few EU-origin sources of this compound for European oral care brands. Source: https://www.icf.es/en/products/
IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances) · New Jersey · manufacturing
IFF's primary US fragrance manufacturing facility in Hazlet, Monmouth County NJ. Produces fragrance compounds for consumer products (laundry, fabric care, personal wash) and fine fragrance bases. One of IFF's longest-operating facilities in North America. Source: https://www.iff.com/our-company/our-locations
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) · New Jersey · manufacturing
Major IFF fragrance manufacturing and creative center for North American personal care market.
IOI Corporation Berhad · Selangor · chemical-plant
IOI Oleo's Bukit Raja Industrial Park facility in Klang, Selangor is a major oleochemical production complex producing fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and specialty oleochemicals from palm kernel oil feedstock. The Klang facility is the primary Malaysian C12/C14 fatty acid production site for IOI's domestic and export supply chains. IOI's Klang complex is connected to the Port Klang (Westport/Northport) logistics infrastructure — the primary container and bulk liquid terminal for Malaysian oleochemical exports to Europe, North America, and Northeast Asia. IOI Oleo also operates a Pasir Gudang facility in Johor. Source: https://www.ioichem.com/oleochemical
Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK) · Johor · chemical-plant
KLK OLEO's primary fatty acid and fatty alcohol manufacturing complex in Pasir Gudang Industrial Zone, Johor Bahru. The Pasir Gudang complex is one of the largest integrated oleochemical parks in the world — KLK OLEO operates multiple plants here producing fatty acids (C12-C18 stream), fatty alcohols (C12/C14/C16/C18), methyl esters, glycerol, and specialty oleochemical derivatives. C12 (lauric acid) and C14 (myristic acid) are fractionated from the palm kernel oil fatty acid stream by distillation. The Pasir Gudang industrial zone is uniquely concentrated: KLK OLEO, IOI Oleo, Emery, and Stepan all operate plants within this ~5 km² industrial zone — creating a geographic concentration of global oleochemical production unmatched anywhere else on earth. Source: https://klkoleo.klk.com.my/about-us/our-plants/
Kao Corporation · Wakayama Prefecture · chemical-plant
Kao Corporation's Wakayama plant is the primary Japanese production site for fatty alcohol-derived surfactants including SLES (Emal brand). The Wakayama complex is vertically integrated: palm kernel oil and coconut oil are processed to fatty alcohols, then ethoxylated and sulfonated to produce SLES. Wakayama is one of Kao's oldest and largest chemical manufacturing sites. Kao's fatty alcohol self-supply from Wakayama makes it structurally independent of third-party fatty alcohol suppliers (Wilmar, KLK) — a meaningful supply security advantage. Source: https://www.kao.com/global/en/about/facilities/manufacturing/
Kelheim Fibres GmbH · Bavaria · factory
~90,000 t/yr viscose specialty fibre; 2018 spinning-area fire; sole major site.
Lubrizol Corporation · Ohio · manufacturing
Lubrizol Corporation primary headquarters and specialty chemicals research campus in Wickliffe, Lake County, Ohio. This campus is the nerve center for Lubrizol's CPVC technology program including FlowGuard Gold and BlazeMaster compound development, quality control, and technical licensing. Lubrizol's Wickliffe campus is where CPVC chlorination chemistry, compound formulation, and pipe system certification testing are conducted. CPVC compound is manufactured at multiple Lubrizol sites and compounded by Avient (Avon Lake). Source: https://www.lubrizol.com/cpvc
Mane Group (Mane SA) · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur · manufacturing
Mane Group's Laboratoire Monique Rémy (LMR) naturals processing facility in the Grasse region of southern France. LMR processes natural botanical extracts including rose absolute, jasmine absolute, violet leaf, and iris — some of the most expensive fragrance raw materials in the world. Rose absolute from this region (Centifolia rose, Grasse) commands $10,000-15,000/kg — the most expensive commonly used fragrance ingredient. The Grasse region has been the center of French fine fragrance since the 17th century. Source: https://www.lmrnatural.com
Orbia Advance Corporation (Mexichem Fluor) · Cheshire · manufacturing
Runcorn, Cheshire, England — former ICI/Ineos Fluor site, now operated by Mexichem Fluor (Orbia Fluor segment). One of the largest HF production facilities in Europe; also produces sodium fluoride and downstream fluoride compounds for industrial and personal care markets. Site processes imported fluorspar (primarily from China and Mexico). Critical EU/UK supplier for oral-care-grade NaF. Source: https://www.orbia.com/our-businesses/fluor/
Momentive Performance Materials Inc. · New York · chemical plant
Momentive's Waterford, New York facility is one of the oldest continuous silicone manufacturing sites in the world — opened by General Electric in 1947, making it nearly as old as Dow Corning's Midland campus. The plant produces dimethicone fluids, amodimethicone, and silicone intermediates for personal care, industrial, and electronics applications. Waterford is approximately 15 miles north of Albany NY on the Hudson River. The plant represents the 'GE silicone heritage' lineage — independent of the Dow/Wacker/Shin-Etsu chemistry traditions. Source: https://www.momentive.com/en-US/about/locations/
Musim Mas Group · Riau, Sumatra · refinery
Integrated palm kernel oil refinery and oleochemical production; fatty alcohols for surfactant chain.
Nouryon · Västra Götaland · chemical-plant
Ethylene oxide and ethoxylation; key surfactant intermediate production for Northern Europe.
Orbia / Koura Global · Cheshire · chemical-plant
UK fluorspar → HF → fluorochemicals plant; upstream of pharmaceutical-grade fluoride actives for toothpaste.
Prayon Group · Engis, Liège Province · manufacturing
Prayon corporate headquarters and primary production site. Founded 1882. Produces purified phosphoric acids, food-grade phosphate salts (STPP, SHMP), and fluorine products. The Prayon wet-process for phosphoric acid — which generates >50% of the world's merchant-grade phosphoric acid — was developed and is licensed from this facility. Engis is on the Meuse River in the Liège industrial valley.
SNF Group (SNF Floerger) · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · chemical-plant
SNF Group's headquarters and primary European production site in Andrezieux-Boutheon, Loire, France. Produces polyacrylamide and polyacrylate polymers for water treatment, oil field, mining, and specialty personal care/pharma applications. World's largest single polyacrylamide production complex. Source: SNF Group corporate website.
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