UK speciality chemicals maker Croda has inaugurated a greenfield manufacturing facility in Dahej, India, strengthening its ability to serve fast-growing markets in Asia.
Located in Gujarat, the facility benefits from strong logistics connectivity and is designed to serve both domestic customers and selected export markets.
It will support demand across Croda’s Consumer Care, Life Sciences and Industrial Specialties sectors.
The new site represents a significant investment in India and will enhance Croda’s supply capabilities, improve responsiveness to customer demand and support future growth in high-value sectors.
Built around the theme ‘Built Green. Built Smart. Built for the Future’, the Dahej site has sustainability embedded from the outset.
It has been designed to significantly reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions, enabled by renewable electricity and fuel sources.
Additional features include Zero Liquid Discharge systems that are expected to become operational later in the year, the use of RSPO-certified oleochemicals and alignment with Extended Producer Responsibility plastic recycling requirements.
The site has also been developed with advanced operating systems, robust quality infrastructure, and high safety standards to enable reliable, efficient manufacturing. During construction, the project achieved over five million safe working hours, reflecting Croda’s ‘Safety First Always’ culture.
In addition, the facility supports Croda’s commitment to inclusion, with 100% women-led packaging operations and an ambition to achieve 30% female representation at the site.
Croda CEO Steve Foots (pictured, centre) said: “This investment in Dahej is a clear demonstration of Croda’s commitment to the Indian market. The site combines strong sustainability credentials with high safety and operational standards, positioning us to better serve customers in India and beyond.
“We see significant long-term growth potential in the region and this facility provides a strong platform to support that ambition.”
Murali Duvvuri, Croda India managing director, added: “India is a strategically important market for Croda, and this investment brings us closer to our customers while strengthening local manufacturing capability.
“The Dahej site enables us to deliver high-quality, sustainable solutions with greater speed, reliability and flexibility, supporting our customers’ growth and innovation needs.”
