Clariant strengthens presence in Nafta

The Clariant specialty chemicals complex at Muttenz near Basel Keystone

The specialty chemicals company, Clariant, based near Basel, has acquired the Christianson company of Mexico, strengthening its performance chemicals business in the NAFTA region.

A Clariant statement said the acquisition was part of the company’s strategy to increasingly replace standard products with higher-margin specialties and to strengthen its presence in key markets.

Both parties agreed to keep the purchase price confidential.

Christianson, with 120 employees and annual sales of SFr30 million, is one of Mexico’s largest producers of surface active substances (surfactants).

These products have a wide variety of uses, from crop protection, to cosmetics, to raw materials for detergents. They also have applications in textiles and leather, the oil industry and mining. A substantial part of Christianson’s production is exported to the United States and the rest of Latin America.

Clariant is a leading global fine and specialty chemicals company with about 32,000 employees and annual sales of SFr10 billion.

swissinfo

www.clariant.com