Clariant reaffirms that its future will be decided in China during China Petroleum & Chemical International conference

Shanghai, September 13, 2016 – Clariant, a world-leader in specialty chemicals, participates in the China Petroleum and Chemical International Conference (CPCIC) in Shanghai from Sep 12 to Sep 14. Hariolf Kottmann, Clariant CEO, together with Christian Kohlpaintner, Member of Clariant’s Executive Committee, and Jan Kreibaum, President of Clariant Greater China and Korea jointly hosted a press conference today in which innovation and strategic framework with particular local focus were highlighted as key competitiveness for Clariant to get ahead of the competition in China under the New Normal.

The CPCIC is the most influential event held for the Petrochemical industry in China, with key industry leaders from trade, government, media and NGO attending. This year’s event focuses on the theme of “New Normal, New Drivers, New Competitiveness”. Over 1,500 industry representatives will attend the three-day event to discuss the issue of finding new ways to create new competitiveness under the New Normal in China’s economy, which has set a new scene of moderate but sustainable economic growth for the country in the medium-to-long term since 2012.

Clariant’s future continues to be decided in China
In the press conference, Hariolf Kottmann shared his insights on the outlook of the Chinese chemical industry. Nowadays, China accounts for 40 percent of the 3.8 trillion USD chemicals market in global.

“Even under the ‘new normal’, China will remain the main growth engine and contribute about 60 percent of the absolute global growth in the chemical industry until 2020. Thus, Clariant’s future continues to be decided in China,” said Hariolf Kottmann. “We expect an increasing consumer demand and a shift towards R&D. To seize the opportunities we have to focus on local innovation, local footprint and partnerships.”

Innovation is the core competitiveness to win in China
Clariant believes that innovation is the main driver of China’s economy under the New Normal and is the core competitiveness to win in China.

Clariant has established technical development centers in 6 cities with around 140 staff for R&D and application development to support customers in various industries. Besides, Clariant is taking actions to further strengthen its local R&D capabilities in China by upgrading technical service centers, building new Regional R&D center at its One Clariant Campus and establishing broader collaboration with outsider innovators through the Open Innovation platform.

Clariant will continue to leverage its comprehensive global innovation network and local R&D footprint to foster sustainable innovations and support the upgrade of chemical industry in China.

To become the China Insider based on 5Locals strategic framework
Clariant is dedicated to becoming the China Insider by implementing strategies based on its 5Locals strategic framework, which is comprised of the elements of local insight, local competitiveness, local empowerment, local innovation and local partnership. Under the 5Locals strategic framework, Clariant is increasing its investments in China, in addition to expanding and empowering the Chinese workforce to help it succeed under the transforming Chinese economy.