Braskem taps Univar to distribute PIBs in the Nordics, France, Italy and Turkey

Braskem, one of the world’s leading producers and suppliers of polyisobutylenes (PIBs), has selected Univar BV to serve as its distributor of PIBs in the Nordics, France, Italy and Turkey. In order to further its marketplace growth, Braskem was in need of large-scale distribution capabilities.

Created in August 2002 by the merger of six companies from the Odebrecht Group and the Mariani Group, today Braskem is the largest petrochemical company in the Americas and the world’s leading biopolymer producer. Braskem produces polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins, as well as basic petrochemicals such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene, chlorine, benzene, toluene, etc.

Univar BV is a subsidiary of Univar Inc., a global chemical and ingredient distributor and provider of value-added services.

The agreement is an extension of Univar’s lubricants, adhesives and cosmetics portfolio featuring a combination of products and services designed to meet increasing customer demand. Managed by Univar’s industrial specialties group, the offering includes access to technical experts focused on helping customers innovate and grow by introducing new and improved product formulations.

“We are very excited by this new partnership with Braskem, which combines the strength of one of the world’s larger PIB producers with Univar’s strong distribution network and deep industry and customer knowledge,” said Philippe Seurin, industrial specialties director of Univar EMEA.

“Braskem is happy to appoint Univar as our PIBs distributor in France, Italy, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland,” said Rutger de Mos, EMEA specialties manager of Braskem Netherlands BV. “We trust Univar to be the right partner to increase our market share in these countries.”

Univar operates hundreds of distribution facilities throughout North America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Univar delivers tailored customer solutions through a broad product and services portfolio sustained by one of the most extensive industry distribution networks in the world.