segment earnings were also affectedby an unfavourable sales mix.

Surfactant gross profit fell 7% in2Q 2013 to $48.3 M; European andLatin American surfactant profits wereboth higher, but earnings werereduced in North America due to theuse of higher cost raw materials inconsumer products. Stepan expectscontinued volume growth forconsumer product and agriculturalsurfactants for the remainder of 2013.

The companies’ results as a wholesuggest that surfactant-relatedmarkets have largely stabilizedfollowing the turbulence of the globalrecession, with lacklustreperformance in some sectors andregions offset by strong growth inothers. The consumer product sectorsappear to be doing well generally forall the reporting companies. And thedividends from a strong foothold inemerging markets are abundantlyclear; Henkel and Unilever nowgarner 45% and 50% of their salesrespectively in emerging markets.

Caroline Edser

RAWMATERIALS

Global LAB market expected to reach$8.2 bn by 2018

Transparency Market Research haslaunched a new market report titledLinear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) Marketfor Heavy-Duty Laundry Liquids,Laundry Powders, Light-Duty DishWashing Liquids, Industrial Cleanersand Household Cleaners - GlobalIndustry Analysis, Size, Share,Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2012-2018. According to the report, theglobal LAB market was valued at $6.2bn in 2011 and is expected to reach$8.2 bn by 2018, growing at a CAGRof 4.3% from 2012 to 2018. In termsof volume, the global consumption ofLAB is expected to reach 4,043,300tonnes by 2018. The major portion ofglobal LAB production is employed forthe production of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) surfactants. Thereport analyses the LAB market byapplication segment and region. Italso profiles the major players:

CEPSA, Unggul Indah Cahaya,Jintung Petrochemicals, Sasol,Huntsman, Fushun Petrochemicals,ISU Chemical, Reliance, ChevronPhillips, Deten and Honeywell.

Original Source: Transparency Market Research,2013. Found on PR Newswire, 30 Jul 2013, (Website:http://www.prnewswire.com)

Vadodara LAB plant shutdown tightenssupply

A technical problem at Indian Oil’s120,000 tonnes/y linear alkylbenzene(LAB) plant in Vadodara in the state ofGujarat doubled a planned turnaroundin July to a month. As a result of thedelayed restart, the supply of LAB inthe Indian market was severelytightened. Spot export availability inJuly 2013 was almost nil.

Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 29 Jul-11Aug 2013, 284 (3), (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2013

Research sequences oil palm genomeand identifies gene critical for yield ofpalm oil

A multinational team of scientists fromthe Malaysian Palm Oil Board(MPOB) and Orion Genomicsannounced the publication of twopapers in the journal Nature outliningthe genome sequencing of the oilpalm plant and the identification of asingle gene, called Shell, that isresponsible for increasing the plant’syield of oil by 30%. The research wassponsored by the MPOB. The fruitand seeds of the oil palm are thesource of nearly half of the supply ofedible vegetable oil worldwide, andalso yield important raw materials forindustrial oleochemicals. In addition,they provide one of the mostpromising sources of biofuel.

Original Source: Orion Genomics, 2013. Found on PRNewswire, 24 Jul 2013, (Website:http://www.prnewswire.com)

SURFACTANTSKalichem Italia reveals Fruttoside

Olivoil Fruttoside from Kalichem Italiais a mild surfactant from a mixture oflipidic chains derived from olive andcoconut oils, as well as pentose sugarfructose and oat amino acids. The

material is suitable for hair and skinconditioning products.

Original Source: SPC, Soap, Perfumery andCosmetics, Apr 2013, 86 (4), 123 (Website:http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/) © HPCi MediaLtd 2013

ASSOCIATEDPRODUCTS

Multiple benefits for cosmetics withSymSave H

Symrise has launched SymSave H, amultifunctional ingredient for cosmeticproducts. It combines antioxidant,soothing, emulsion-stabilizing andpreservative-boosting properties,which makes it the ideal componentfor all types of skin and hair careformulations. SymSave H helpsenhance the efficacy of a wide rangeof preservatives and protect a wholerange of formulations. The ingredientalso offers an affordable solution forchemists to formulate milder cosmeticproducts that are well-protected. Inaddition, SymSave H is a nature-identical ingredient that isFEMA/GRAS-listed. It showsexcellent stability at high and low pHlevels and temperatures.

Original Source: Symrise, website:http://www.symrise.com/en/ (26 Jul 2013) © Symrise2013

Service with a smile: multifunctionalcosmetics products

During the 2013 NYSCC Supplier’sDay held at Edison, NJ, USA, severalcosmetics companies introduced andpromoted new products with newingredients that offer multiple benefitsand commercial applications. Lubrizolpromoted Carbopol Ultrez 30 polymer,a new rheology modifier equippedwith high thickening and viscosityefficiency, good electrolyte perform-ance and a wide pH range. Gelestlaunched SiQube Q1850 (INCI:polysilsesquioxane steardimoniumchloride), a multifunctional, water-soluble cleansing agent. Dow Corningpromoted the 5200 Formulation Aidfor improved hair shine and thesilicones CE-8411 and HMW 2220 forhair repair. HallStar company B&Tintroduced Olivem VS Feel, asecondary emulsifier created tosustain and structure o/w systems.

2 OCTOBER 2013

F O C U S O N S U R F A C T A N T S