A new joint venture company to supply speciality chemicals and associated expertise throughout Brazil has been created by chemicals solutions business Surfachem Group Ltd .

The new venture, Surfachem Brasil Ltda, based in Guarulhos, São Paulo, has been created by Surfachem Group Ltd, which has bases in Leeds and Huddersfield, and Vitrine Química Ltda. (Brazil) to supply and distribute specialty chemicals to Brazil’s personal care, household care and Institutional and industrial care markets.

In the new venture Vitrine Química Ltda. (Brazil) (Vitrine) will transfer all of its activities, management and staff to the new venture and will manage all of Surfachem’s activities in Brazil.

Surfachem, a 2M Holdings Limited Company (UK), has launched the joint venture because it sees Brazil, which has a fast-expanding economy forecast to be the fifth largest in the world by 2050, as the next stage in its global expansion strategy to complement its existing position in the UK and Europe.

Surfachem managing director, Dr Richard Smith, says: “We have been evaluating the potential of the Brazilian market during the past few years and have looked at a number of opportunities.

"We are very pleased to be starting work with our new colleagues and partners from Vitrine as we feel our values and business philosophies are mutually beneficial.

“Surfachem Brasil Ltda provides the platform from which to develop a regional presence in Brazil and to provide our customers and supply partners with exceptional service and support.”

Vitrine Química’s business director, Vanderlei Lima, says: "The first time we met Surfachem, we knew that the company would be the right partner for us, adding know-how in marketing intelligence, global sourcing knowledge and global marketing capabilities. We also share a passion and desire to deliver excellence for our customers.

Vitrine Química’s research and development director, Dr Ricardo Pedro, adds: "This development is exactly what is required to fulfill the needs of our market.

"Vitrine brings deep customer relationships to this partnership and the technical skills required to support our market with its distinct requirements.

Surfachem, which was founded in 1981, is a major distributor of surfactants and specialty chemicals to the personal care, household care and institutional and industrial care markets and also supplies APIs and excipients to the pharma, veterinary, food and feed sectors.

The company has global sales of more than $85 million and employs more than 100 people in the UK, Poland, Scandinavia and China.