AkzoNobel officially opens Imperatriz Chemical Island in Brazil

AkzoNobel's new €80 million Imperatriz Chemical Island in Brazil is now operational and has started supplying the Suzano Maranhão Pulp Mill in northern Brazil.

Operated by the company's Pulp and Performance Chemicals business, the state-of-the-art Imperatriz facility represents AkzoNobel's second major investment in the Brazilian Pulp Industry within a two-year time frame. It will supply, store and handle all chemicals for the 1.5 million tons per year Suzano mill under an agreement which runs for the next 15 years.

"AkzoNobel is proud to be involved in this prestigious project, we strive to provide innovative and sustainable solutions that meet our customers' operational needs," said Werner Fuhrmann, the member of the Executive Committee responsible for Specialty Chemicals. "This investment strengthens our leading position in Bleaching Chemicals", added Niek Stapel, Managing Director, AkzoNobel Pulp and Performance Chemicals. "Being our fourth Chemical Island in this region, it emphasizes our long-term commitment to this increasingly important market."

As well as providing long-term employment for around 65 people, the Imperatriz plant will play an important role in ensuring a sustainable eucalyptus pulp supply to the global marketplace.

Volnei Hilbert, Industrial Manager at Suzano Papel e Celulose Maranhão commented: "We are working with AkzoNobel since our plant start-up; they have met our expectations and we look forward to developing our strategic partnership in the future."

AkzoNobel has a well-established pulp and paper chemicals operation in Brazil, where the company already operates the Chemical Island concept at three pulp mills, served by the Eunápolis, Jupiá and Três Lagoas sites respectively. The company also operates production units in Jacareí, Jundiaí, and Rio de Janeiro.

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AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. We supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and are passionate about developing sustainable answers for our customers. Our portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International and Eka. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we are consistently ranked as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability. With operations in more than 80 countries, our 50,000 people around the world are committed to delivering leading products and technologies to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing world.

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