Akzo Nobel opens new surfactants production facility in Singapore

Akzo Nobel opens new surfactants production facility in Singapore Arnhem, the Netherlands / Singapore, March 18, 2004 - Akzo Nobel's Surface Chemistry business today opened its new facility for the production of surfactants on Jurong Island, Singapore. The plant will support growing demand for Surface Chemistry's product line of quaternary ammonium compounds and specialty surfactants. "The opening of the Jurong Island plant is a strategically important step for our surfactants business. The Asia-Pacific market is the fastest growing region in the world and continues to be an area of great interest for Akzo Nobel," said Dag Strömqvist, Member of the Akzo Nobel Board of Management. "To establish a regional production facility for cationic surfactants in Singapore is in line with our strategy of strengthening our leading positions in specialty chemicals." Frank Sherman, General Manager of Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry, added: "The opening of this plant, along with the investment we have made in the Jurong Island ethoxylation plant and existing facilities in Malaysia and Japan, demonstrates our continued commitment to serving our customers in Asia." John Taylor, Surface Chemistry's General Manager in Asia, said: "Our new surfactants plant will allow us to meet the growing demands from our Asian customers with improved and localized service, thereby capitalizing on the presence of our regional headquarters and application lab, based in Singapore." "Our fatty acids business in Malaysia - a joint venture with Lam Soon - has experienced continual growth for over 10 years. We recently expanded the fractionation capacity to meet our customers' needs. In Japan, we have increased the industrial surfactants capacity in LACO - our Japanese joint venture with Lion Corporation." Main products from the site will initially target applications such as hair conditioners and fabric care with industrial applications to follow. - - - Note for the editor Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, serves customers throughout the world with healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. Consolidated sales for 2003 totaled EUR 13 billion. The Company currently employs approximately 64,500 people in more than 80 countries. Financial results for the first quarter will be published on April 20, 2004. Surface Chemistry, a business unit of Akzo Nobel, operates in 50 countries, employing 2,400 people. The business unit is headquartered in Stenungsund, Sweden, with regional headquarters in Chicago, United States and Singapore. A leading supplier of fatty amine based surfactants, vegetable fatty acids, expandable plastic microspheres and rheology modifiers. Surface Chemistry services a wide range of industries, including detergent, agro, petroleum, asphalt and the paint and building industry. Internet: www.akzonobel.com; www.responseonline.com Not for publication - for more information Akzo Nobel N.V. John Jennings, Manager Corporate Communications, tel. +31 26 366 4343 Safe Harbor Statement* This press release may contain statements which address such key issues as Akzo Nobel's growth strategy, future financial results, market positions, product development, pharmaceutical products in the pipeline, and product approvals. Such statements should be carefully considered and it should be understood that many factors could cause forecasted and actual results to differ from these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, developments in raw material and personnel costs, pensions, physical and environmental risks, legal issues, and legislative, fiscal, and other regulatory measures. Stated competitive positions are based on management estimates supported by information provided by specialized external agencies. For a more complete discussion of the risk factors affecting our business please refer to our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of which can be found on the Company's website. * Pursuant to the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/03/18/20040318BIT20020/wkr0006.pdf Pdf av pressmeddelande