PARIS – Rhodia and SIBUR have signed a letter of intent to create a joint venture in specialty surfactants. The alliance will focus on creating a leader in the CIS market. Rhodia will provide its expertise in surfactant technologies, its knowledge of formulations and market applications, and its customer network, including global key accounts with a strong presence in this region. SIBUR, a leading petrochemical company in Russia, will contribute its raw materials, production and logistics capabilities. The new 50:50 joint venture will site local production in Russia at Dzerzhinsk, near SIBUR’s petrochemicals operations. It is expected to be operational in 2013.

Additionally, Rhodia is stepping up its worldwide hydroquinone production capacity by 20 percent, especially in the Rhodia Zhenjiang unit in China, between now and 2012.