#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.

SANITIZED and RUDOLF join forces to extend textile performance and wearability

Long-lasting performance textiles require solutions that address a wide range of consumer expectations, from lasting freshness and comfort to reliable protection against the elements. SANITIZED and RUDOLF are highlighting their latest innovations, demonstrating how specialized textile technologies can support the functional durability and wearability of modern apparel.

Nicca names Archroma exclusive ZELAN™ distributor, extending a decade-long legacy

Archroma and Nicca Chemical are collaborating to support the continued growth of ZELAN™ non-fluorinated durable water repellents (DWRs) across the global textile industry. The announcement follows Nicca’s acquisition of the ZELAN™ business from The Chemours Company in March 2026 and extends Archroma’s decade-long legacy with the ZELAN™ brand.

BW Converting, Archroma and Monforts to highlight precision spray finishing at IGATEX Pakistan 2026

BW Converting, Archroma and Monforts will participate in IGATEX Pakistan 2026, held Oct. 15–18 at the Expo Centre Lahore, at Al-Ameen Trading Corporation’s stand F-2-09 in Hall 2. Together, the companies will highlight precision spray-finishing technology, textile chemistry expertise and application-development support to help Pakistan’s textile manufacturers evaluate opportunities to improve finishing performance and production efficiency.

Circ and Huafon partner to scale textile-to-textile recycling in China

Circ® and Huafon, a leading spandex producer in China, are partnering to build and scale a new multi-phase textile-to-textile recycling site in China, expanding Circ's global pathway to industrial scale. The project will be located within Huafon's industrial footprint and will use Circ's technology to process polycotton textile waste and recycle both inputs, recovering recycled PTA, recycled MEG and recycled cellulosic pulp for use in new textiles. The site will be developed in phases, with Phase 1 designed for approximately 200 metric tons of textile waste per day and additional capacity planned.

FET highlights advances in fibre spinning technology at Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress

Fibre Extrusion Technology Limited (FET) presented its latest developments in fibre spinning technology at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress in Austria in September 2026. In a presentation entitled “Spinning a good yarn”, Dr Jonny Hunter examined recent technological developments and challenges facing the fibre industry, highlighting the company's expanding range of specialised fibre extrusion and spinning systems.

Vietnam’s market evolution creates new sourcing opportunities at VIATT 2027

As Vietnam’s textile industry continues to upgrade and scale, new opportunities are emerging for suppliers of advanced raw materials, design-led fabrics, production technologies, and sustainability solutions. The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will return 24 – 26 February 2027, presenting a cross-sector platform – spanning apparel, home and technical categories – for overseas companies to connect with manufacturers, brands, sourcing offices, retailers, and industry buyers from Vietnam, ASEAN, and beyond.

Textile performance for the global market: Heimtextil 2027 connects interior design, quality and global sourcing

With the new premium segment Carpets & Rugs Excellence, the Comfort & Connect area and the Heimtextil Trends 27/28, Heimtextil 2027 is sharpening its offering for a market under pressure. Today, textile products need to prove their quality, functionality and long-term value. From 12 to 15 January 2027, the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles and textile design showcases relevant innovations across the entire value chain: from fibres and yarns to designs by international studios and emerging talent, through to finished collections, functional contract textiles and complete interior solutions.