Swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant continues to expand its footprint in Asia with the purchase of a new site in Indonesia, on the Java Integrated Industrial & Port Estate Gresik (JIIPE) in Surabaya. In a first step, Clariant will build a bleaching earth plant for its Functional Minerals business unit, which supplies specialty products based on Bentonite absorbent clay. A timescale for the project was not disclosed. The company said other business units may follow to invest at the park to form a multi-purpose industrial site.

JIIPE is the country’s first fully integrated industrial estate with a deep-sea port, proximity to Juanda International Airport and road connections to major cities in East Java. Clariant said East Java is fast becoming one of the most important chemical industry hubs in Indonesia, and JIIPE has good connections with container and bulk port facilities for both local and international deliveries. The Swiss company already operates at six locations in Indonesia, namely Tangerang, Cimapag, Cileungsi, Cikampek, Medan and Duri.