Nikko Chemicals, Japan based major cosmetic ingredients supplier, is going to build a new nonionic surfactant plant, focusing on ethoxylated surfactants as cosmetic ingredients, on Jurong Island in Singapore. This project is co-funded with Nihon Surfactant Kogyo, a surfactant manufacturer, which along with Nikko, is a member of Nikkol Group (a group of 7 companies established to provide total technical supports and tailor-made solutions for cosmetics and toiletries business).
The construction started on December 17, 2007 and plant completion is expected in November 2008 followed by full-scale operation in 2009. This reportedly is the first time a Japanese firm has made large-scale production of ethoxylated surfactants. The initial investment for the plant amounts to approximately US$27 million. It occupies 1.2 achres of land in Seraya district, Jurong Island.
Nikko Chemicals is aiming to provide high-quality products based on its technological expertise in colloid science to the world markets at globally competitive prices by utilizing palm oil and other plant-derived oils, abundantly available in the area surrounding Singapore.
“Because of its advantageous location as a global business hub, its well-developed logistics and its network of Free Trade Agreement with many countries, Singapore is an attractive destination of investment. In addition, Singapore government actively encourages foreign personal-care/consumer chemical companies to the area, we, therefore, have decided to build new plant there. Our Singapore plant is expected to become a production base that provides the market around the world with high-quality products at globally competitive prices,” noted Shigeru Sekine, president of Nikko Chemicals.
The production is anticipated to be 3,000 tons per year the first two years, and will be expanded to 5,000 tons per year. In the future, on top of the cosmetics and toiletries ingredients, the company plans to manufacture food additives, pharmaceutical materials and raw materials for general industries. It also plans to eventually manufacture pharmaceutical materials conforming to the Japanese, US and European Pharmacopoeias at the Singapore plant.
