#Textile chemistry

2016-10-27

Huntsman enters into strategic partnership with Jihua Group

(L-R) Mr Shao Bojin, Chairman of Jihua Group and Mr Rohit Aggarwal, President of Huntsman Textile Effects (c) 2016 Huntsman Textile Effects

The Textile Effects division of Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) and Jihua Group, based in Zhejiang Province, China, today signed an agreement for a strategic partnership. Under the agreement, the two companies will cooperate in a wide range of areas to jointly capitalize on the growing need for dye and chemical solutions for China’s textile sector. The partnership will help the two companies speed up their supply chains to react more quickly to customers’ demand and increase cost efficiency for customers.

The forming of the strategic partnership marks a further step forward for the existing cooperation between the two companies. In August, Huntsman Textile Effects, a major innovator with more than 700 patents, announced it had granted a sole licence to Jihua for manufacturing, sales and marketing of Huntsman’s patented reactive Super Black dyes in China. With the agreement, Huntsman and Jihua are now selling the Super Black products under their respective tradenames. In addition, Huntsman also awarded Jihua Group the right to sub-license its patented Super Black dyes in China.

The strategic alliance will help further strengthen the two companies’ capabilities of serving their customers in China and speed up their expansion in the country while raising standards for the whole industry. Investment in China’s textile industry grew 1.6 times year-on-year in the first six months of this year to RMB 13.1 billion, pointing to a marked expansion by textile manufacturers, according to China National Textile Apparel Council (CNTAC). This is also expected to result in growing need for chemical solutions.

“We are very pleased to have broadened our cooperation with Jihua Group into a strategic partnership,” said Rohit Aggarwal, President of Huntsman Textile Effects, at the signing ceremony. “This strategic alliance will allow us to create greater cost and operational efficiencies and we can react quicker and be more nimble to our customers in China. Huntsman is now even better positioned to capture the emerging mark opportunities in China. The alliance will also help to pave the way for us to enter into further discussions with Jihua Group to broaden our cooperation to include other reactive dyes and intermediates in the future,” continued Mr Aggarwal.

“Jihua Group has emerged as one of the leading players in the domestic chemical industry in the past years. We are equally honoured to partner with such a global leader as Huntsman to pool and complement our resources and strength so as to jointly tap into the Chinese market, which promises huge opportunities,” said Mr. Shao Bojin, Chairman of Jihua Group.

Huntsman Textile Effects is the leading global provider of high quality dyes and chemicals to the textile and related industries, with six primary manufacturing facilities around the world, including a plant in Panyu, Guangdong Province. Huntsman Textile Effects also operates two formulation distribution centers in Panyu and Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, as well an R&D center in Panyu. Jihua Group is one of the top 500 Chinese private companies and a market leader in China for the manufacture of dyes and intermediates with state-of-the-art facilities. Headquartered in Hangzhou, China, the company owns and operates an intermediate production facility in Jiangsu China. Zhejiang Jihua Group is one of the top 500 Chinese private enterprises and its products are marketed to almost 86 countries globally.

Huntsman and Steitz Secura deliver breakthrough in sustainable safety footwear

Huntsman, in collaboration with Steitz Secura, has developed a breakthrough polyurethane (PU) solution that can help improve the circularity of safety footwear. Together, the two companies have created a DALTOPED® polyurethane midsole system that can incorporate recycled content without compromising performance – setting a new benchmark in protective footwear production.

Huntsman secures bluesign® APPROVED status for IROGRAN® TPU products

Global chemical company Huntsman has secured bluesign® approval for ten of its IROGRAN® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) products, which are used extensively across the textile and apparel industry. The materials in question are part of Huntsman’s IROGRAN® film and sheet portfolio, and can be used to enhance the production, performance, and comfort of stitchless, seamless garments including underwear, sportswear, and outdoor and waterproof clothing.

A flagship for chemical production: BASF inaugurates world-scale Verbund site in China

BASF today (March 26, 2026) celebrated the official inauguration of its newly built, world-scale Verbund site in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province in southern China. Covering an area of around four square kilometers, it is more than a major BASF project in the chemical growth market of China. “Zhanjiang shows what the future of chemistry looks like: efficient, digital and sustainable by design. The site showcases a smart integrated Verbund structure on an industrial scale,” said Dr. Markus Kamieth, CEO of BASF, at the ceremony attended by representatives from government, customers, business partners and employees.

Hof University develops sustainable textile coating for the fashion of tomorrow from mushrooms

Clothing is often treated as disposable: T-shirts for events, general merchandise, or short-term campaigns frequently end up in the trash after only a few uses. This is particularly problematic given that their production still largely relies on fossil-based materials. This is precisely where a new research project at Hof University of Applied Sciences comes in.

Jeanologia urges industry to accelerate PP Spray phase-out following ZDHC Watchlist update

Potassium permanganate has officially entered the Chemical Watchlist of the ZDHC Foundation, signaling increased scrutiny and potential phase-out of one of the most hazardous chemicals still used in denim finishing. The inclusion confirms an industry shift that Jeanologia anticipated more than a decade ago.

LineONE – Smart performance, smart investment at Techtextil 2026

At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt (April 21–24, Hall 12, Booth C79), AUTEFA Solutions will present its LineONE concepts for cost-efficient nonwoven production. As a full-line supplier for nonwoven production lines, AUTEFA Solutions covers the entire process chain – from fibre opening through to web bonding. With its LineONE line concepts, the company combines proven technologies into well-balanced, cost-efficient turnkey solutions. These concepts are designed for capacity expansions, modernisation projects and new production lines, offering robust design and high flexibility for applications such as filtration, geotextiles and automotive.

EU and Australia strengthen relations with Security and Defence Partnership and Trade Agreement

The EU and Australia have today announced the adoption of a groundbreaking Security and Defence Partnership. They have also concluded negotiations for an ambitious and balanced free trade agreement (FTA) and agreed to launch formal negotiations for the association of Australia to Horizon Europe, the world's largest funding programme for research and innovation. With these steps, the EU and Australia are delivering mutually beneficial outcomes and further reinforcing their already close relations in a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

DuPont introduces Tyvek® APX™ 400 protective coverall, setting a new benchmark for extreme breathability

DuPont (NYSE:DD) announced the launch of the Tyvek® APX™ 400 protective coverall, the first in a new generation of extremely breathable disposable chemical protection garments. Manufactured using DuPont™ Tyvek® APX™ groundbreaking fabric, the new garment combines 360° protection and durability with extreme breathability, taking worker comfort and safety to a whole new level.