Kemira announce R&D investment in Brazil

In building on the plans reported in a recent blog, Kemira has announced that it will open a technological centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new R&D centre is expected to start up in 2009. 

Kemira reported a turnover of EUR 100 mio in the region in 2007 - a 67% increase on the previous year - so the region is important for their business and justifies having one of the 5 strategically-placed technical centres.  As part of the justification for the location, Kemira stated that it expects the chemicals for pulp bleaching in Latin America to increase by 5.7% per annum from a USD 275 mio in 2007 to USD 385 mio in 2012 m - this of course depends on whose market data you use and when it was compiled.  Pulp is not the only growth area as South America also realises the potential in moving up the value chain and producing more paper and board.

This announcement is part of Kemira's plan to establish 5 significant global technical centres and consolidate its activities in the key regions, rather than have the 17 dispersed R&D sites they have today.