LABIX, Thaioil’s Subsidiary, Joins Hands with Unilever to Supply the Main Detergent Compound.

     Singapore: Mr. Atikom Terbsiri (3rd left of 1st standing row), Chief Executive Officer and President of Thai Oil Company Limited has recently witnessed a Unilever Purchasing Agreement (UPA) signed by Mr. Suchart Monyanont (far left sitting ), Managing Director of LABIX Company Limited (LABIX, as LAB manufacturer), and Mr. Juan Carlos Parada (middle sitting ), Vice President Procurement, Global Chemicals of Unilever Asia Private Limited (Unilever, as Buyer) and Mr. Taku Morimoto (far right sitting), Executive Managing Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui, as Supplier). The UPA has also been witnessed by management members of 3 companies, which provides basic condition of sales and purchase of Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB). The signing ceremony was held at Hibiscus room, Shangri La Hotel, Singapore.
     Mr. Atikom Terbsiri, Chief Executive Officer and President of Thai Oil Company Limited said “The signing of UPA for a part of the output from LABIX is marked as our stepping stone for business relationship among Unilever, LABIX, and Mitsui. This collaboration will strengthen detergent supply chain and contribute stable detergent supply in South East Asia, a region where robust demand growth is expected.”
     LABIX is owned 75% by Thai Paraxylene Co., Ltd., a wholly own subsidiary of Thaioil, and 25% by Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The construction of the LAB manufacturing plant began in August 2013 and its commercial operations began on 25 February 2016, making it the first LAB production facility in Thailand. The facility is considered as the first and only fully integrated LAB facility in South East Asia (SEA) with a capacity of 100,000 tons a year.
     The LAB manufacturing plant is located in Thaioil refinery complex in Chonburi province, which is 105 kilometers from Unilever plant at Minburi Thailand, and shortly accessible to other Unilever plants in SEA countries as well by bulk vessel or flexi bag container. The location is ideal for minimizing logistics cost, and strategically advantageous for all parties.
     Unilever is one of the detergent manufactures having strong presence in the world, and we aim to develop a long term partnership with Unilever. In addition to Mitsui’s strong distribution network, support from customers is essential for LABIX growth.
     Mr. Atikom added “One of Thaioil’s strategies is to focus on the growth project especially those related to our core business of oil refinery. This is not only to enhance our product portfolio values but also to mitigate the impact of the oil price volatility.”