(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Berkshire Hathaway’s Lubrizol Corporation, a global leader in specialty chemicals, is reinforcing its commitment to growth in India with a series of noteworthy projects spanning its portfolio. With an investment exceeding $150 million, Lubrizol is embarking on groundbreaking initiatives that include the construction of India’s largest CPVC resin plant in Vilayat, Gujarat, doubling the capacity of its site in Dahej, Gujarat, establishing a grease lab in Navi Mumbai, and facilitating substantial job growth and innovation within the country.
Lubrizol takes immense pride in announcing its continued dedication to India. Through a multi-year plan, the company will make substantial investments that contribute to clean drinking water, enhanced transportation accessibility, job creation, and sustainable innovation for India’s growing population.
Lubrizol’s involvement in India dates back to 1966 when it began local manufacturing of chemical additives supporting transportation and industrial markets. Over the years, the company’s presence and contributions in India have significantly expanded, offering tailor-made products and solutions for a wide range of industries.
The company’s employee base in India has consistently grown to meet both regional and global requirements. It anticipates generating 4,000 direct and indirect jobs through various new investment ventures:
1. Enabling the World’s Largest CPVC Resin Production with Grasim Industries Limited: Lubrizol introduced CPVC to the Indian market in 2001, presenting a significant economic opportunity for the region. Today, India stands as one of the largest consumers of CPVC, primarily in the form of plumbing pipe and fittings. The growing demand for clean water in residential and commercial buildings is poised to drive further expansion. Lubrizol, in partnership with Grasim Industries Limited, a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, will commence the first phase of a state-of-the-art CPVC resin plant with a capacity of 100,000 metric tons in Vilayat. This groundbreaking project will establish the largest single-site CPVC resin production globally, supplying Lubrizol’s renowned brands like FlowGuard® Plus, Corzan®, and BlazeMaster®.
2. Providing Access to Clean Drinking Water by Doubling CPVC Capacity and Establishing R&D Capabilities in Dahej, Gujarat: Lubrizol plans to double its existing CPVC compound capacity at Dahej, Gujarat, from 70,000 to 140,000 metric tons. Additionally, the company intends to establish a local R&D center, marking its second global research facility after North America. With this investment, Lubrizol becomes the sole company in India with end-to-end CPVC capabilities, well-positioned to serve the needs of local Indian customers. The expanded capacity will also cater to neighboring high-growth markets such as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
3. Supporting Transportation and Industrial Customers Worldwide with the Mumbai India Grease Lab and Turbhe Expansion: Lubrizol is firmly committed to supplying high-performance, cost-effective industrial grease-thickening solutions to grease manufacturers globally. Earlier this year, the company unveiled a new grease lab in Navi Mumbai, India, dedicated to testing and developing calcium sulfonate greases with significant potential in the industrial grease market. Since 2020, Lubrizol’s Additives business has introduced over 35 new blends for transportation and industrial applications localized in India. The company has also expanded its production site in Turbhe, incorporating a new storage facility and filtration capabilities.
4. Meeting the Personal Care and Home Care Needs of a Growing Middle Class, with a Focus on Sustainability: As the middle class in India continues to expand, there is an increasing demand for beauty and home care products within the region. As a leading provider of solutions for the beauty and home care industries, Lubrizol is committed to innovative, sustainable solutions that unlock opportunities for its partners in India. For instance, the use of detergent bars for cleaning dishes and laundry is a common practice in India. However, these bars can become soft and ineffective if they remain wet for too long, resulting in inconsistent cleaning and significant waste. To address this, Lubrizol’s Home Care team established a Center of Excellence for laundry bars in Mumbai. This initiative helped a global home care leader achieve its sustainability goals while streamlining processes, earning Lubrizol a sustainability award from the customer earlier this year.
In addition to these significant projects, Lubrizol plans to continue investing in Centers of Excellence capabilities to capitalize on the growth opportunities within the region. These initiatives reflect Lubrizol’s steadfast commitment to India’s development and its unwavering dedication to driving innovation, sustainability, and economic progress.
© 2023 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.