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68-542: The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan (formerly Brunei Town), is located 16 miles (26 km) upriver from Muara Port , near the mouth of the Brunei River . The municipal port at Bandar Seri Begawan accommodates only small wooden coastal vessels, with a maximum length of 80 feet (24 m) and a gross registered tonnage of 50 tonnes (49 long tons; 55 short tons), operating within the Brunei Bay area. The port features

136-498: A 730-foot reinforced concrete wharf with 4.9–5.8 metres (16–19 ft) depths beside, a 76-foot-wide wharf apron , a 124-foot passenger pier with a 63-foot-wide apron, and three transit godowns . This wharf serves as a key transportation hub connecting Brunei with neighbouring areas such as Temburong District , Limbang , Lawas , and Labuan . Brunei's short, straightforward coastline enhances safety and limits unauthorised crossings, while traditional penambang ( water taxi ) serve as

204-499: A cost of $ 3,311,835. The final phase, with $ 1.1 million allocated for amenities like benches, kiosks, and waste management systems, was dedicated to enhancing public infrastructure for the comfort and safety of visitors. The former Royal Customs and Excise Building, safeguarded under the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Act by 2006 due to its historical significance, is now a heritage site. Revived in 2012 after extensive renovations,

272-565: A golden fountain monument to honour of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's 60th birthday, built in Bandar Seri Begawan in 2006. Located where the Immigration Post Control once stood, Cendera Kenangan Kekal offers a commanding view of Kampong Ayer, Brunei's historic water hamlet. As a token of gratitude and respect for the sultan, the people of Brunei–Muara District erected this monument. Adanan Yusuf presided over

340-595: A new venture in Papua New Guinea , New Britain Palm Oil. In India, Harrisons had 32 estates, mainly tea but some rubber, by 1960. From then there were further acquisitions but a focus on amalgamations created the larger entity of Malayalam Plantations. Despite the disruption caused by the Malayan Emergency , Harrisons' agency companies continued to acquire additional estates. As with India, there

408-734: A place on the local stamps. Darby was also chairman of the China Borneo Timber Company and instrumental in founding the British Borneo Timber Company (later Sabah Timber) in 1920 with Harrisons owning a third of the shares. Harrisons was now in the timber business and British Borneo was given a monopoly on timber production for not less than 25 years. The second new plantation activity was palm oil. In 1926 Harrisons bought Rambong Sialing estate in Sumatra followed by several more small estates, then

476-516: A primary means of transport, linking coastal settlements along the river. The harbour at Kampong Ayer , historically known as Labuhan Kapal , has long been central to Brunei's trade activities. Based on Francisco de Sande 's notes from the Spanish naval commander's voyage during the Castilian War in 1578, there is a record of this strategic port serving as a trade hub for the centre of

544-479: A result, the government decided to construct a deep-water port in Muara . This decision culminated in the official opening of Muara Port by Queen Elizabeth II on 21 February 1972, marking the end of the old trade port and beginning a new era for the introduction of commercial goods. Despite the shift to Muara Port, the original dock continued to be used by local traders, such as the padians and water taxis, until

612-469: A year later. The Harrisons & Crosfield name was changed to Elementis and the policy was to concentrate on specialty chemicals. The purchase of American Rheox in 1998 for $ 465m was one of the largest chemical acquisitions. Elementis now stood as the world's largest producer of chromium chemicals; Elementis Pigments the world's second largest producer of synthetic iron oxide pigments and the Rheox business

680-502: Is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index . Its predecessor business, Harrisons & Crosfield , was formed in 1844 as a tea merchant and traded under that name for 150 years. It became one of the leading British firms in the south-east Asia plantations industry before it gradually divested its interests in the post-colonial era. Diversification initially concentrated on chemicals, timber and builders’ merchants and animal foodstuffs. Eventually,

748-506: Is a museum and art gallery, inaugurated by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on 23 October 2022. It has four exhibition halls, three of which are dedicated to the history, present state, and prospects of the nation's oil and gas industry. The fourth is a temporary art gallery that supports the local creative sector. Along with local art exhibits, visitors may discover Brunei's oil and gas history, present, and future through interactive displays and augmented reality experiences. The Mercu Dirgahayu 60 ,

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816-599: Is that, to take a year at random, there were 79 of them in 1935. Harrisons & Crosfield handled too many agencies to detail separately. The first venture was the purchase of the small Hopton tea estate in Ceylon; Hopton in turn was one of four estates consolidated into the Lunuva Tea Company in 1907. In India , a Calcutta branch was opened in 1900 promoting the export of tea to North America . Extensive purchases of land were made in southern India leading to

884-687: The Berjanuari boat race, with the active participation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah , underscores the wharf's historical and cultural significance. It was officially renamed Dermaga Diraja Bandar Seri Begawan on 1 January 2013, following a royal decree from Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah . In the same year, during the Brunei Regatta, the Sultan signed the BSB Royal Wharf Plaque, further emphasising

952-544: The Belt and Road Initiative 's Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor (BGEC) was signed between Brunei and China . The Muara Port Company is a joint ventured company between Darussalam Assets Sdn Bhd and Beibu Gulf Holding formed on 15 February 2017, and later on 18 July 2018 the Muara Container Terminal was acquired by the company. On 26 March 2019, Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose (F236) arrived at

1020-736: The archipelago . In the 17th century , Kampong Ayer became known for its traditional floating market activity called padian , where women, identifiable by their distinctive large semicircular hats called saraung bini , rowed through the village in sampans . They traded goods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, and kuih , sourced from inland residents and fishermen. Certain areas, including Kampong Lurong Sikuna , were also key berthing locations for British ships, locally known as " schooners ." By 1906, British Resident McArthur introduced administrative reforms, including regulated duties for ships trading in Brunei. Customs Department's records reveal that

1088-571: The Bandar Seri Begawan Development Master Plan 2011. The redevelopment, with a total budget of B$ 5.6 million, was completed in three phases under the 2007–2012 National Development Plan . The first phase, which focused on strengthening the mooring structure, began on 9 August 2008 and ended on 13 November 2009, costing $ 1,160,113.79. The second phase, which included landscaping, engineering, and mechanical work, ran from 14 November 2009 to 13 November 2010 at

1156-562: The Information Department, was demolished. The Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department then took control of the Royal Customs and Excise Wharf property, converting it into a public parking lot. In 1998, Bandar Seri Begawan underwent significant redevelopment, transforming its historic waterfront by adding a large shopping centre and an underground car park, reflecting the country's efforts to balance modernisation with

1224-631: The Muara Port Expansion Project was attended by the Chinese Ambassador Yu Hong , Minister of Finance and Economy and Minister of Transport and InfoCommunications . On 30 January 2021, the French Navy frigate Vendémiaire (F 734) made a three-day visit to Brunei, and later on 27 July, HMS Defender (D36) became the first Royal Navy ship to visit Brunei since 2019. Plans were made to expand

1292-564: The Rubber Plantations Investment Trust which was also floated. In the midst of all its company flotations, Harrisons & Crosfield had its own reorganization. Retirement and withdrawal of capital by partners was a constraint and the expansion of Harrisons trading required more capital. In 1908 the partnership was converted to a company and was floated on the Stock Exchange. However, the public issue

1360-493: The UK. In 1969 Sabah had been told that its logging concession would lapse in 1982. From then on Sabah Timber began a series of small acquisitions of timber merchants in the UK. The third arm of the diversification came in 1985 with the purchase of Pauls, a leading producer of malting and animal feedstuffs. That was augmented by the acquisition of Associated British Maltsters for £14m in 1987. By 1986, chemicals and industrials became

1428-418: The agency would provide all the administration, technical, financial and commercial expertise but the capital would be raised externally. Frequently, the capital came from a London Stock Exchange flotation, with the agency acting as secretary. The agency might subscribe for only a few per cent of the capital but it exercised effective control. An indication of the profusion of these quoted plantation companies

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1496-437: The biggest earner for the first time. The stated strategy was to concentrate on the three main areas – chemicals, timber and building supplies and food & agriculture alongside the retained plantations. This strategy was pursued vigorously until 1994, described as “a year of change”. In chemicals, £34m was spent on buying Pfizer 's iron oxide business in 1990. Durham was now the second-largest iron oxide pigment business in

1564-470: The builders’ supplies business in Ireland and the consumer foods business raised £282m. Although the intention then was for investment to concentrate on chemicals and timber & building supplies while retaining malting, the non-chemicals businesses did not remain for long. In 1997 the timber and foods divisions were sold for £458m and £400m was returned to shareholders. The remaining food business were sold

1632-472: The disposal of the specialty rubber, international pigments and the surfactants businesses. A further change in emphasis to the Elementis business came with the move into personal care with the acquisition of Fancor, one of North America's largest lanolin and lanolin derivatives suppliers. This was a prelude to a more substantial acquisition when in 2017 Elementis nearly trebled its personal care business with

1700-463: The domestic market while Lampard opened offices around the world to handle the export business and to develop local trade. Lampard visited Russia in 1895 to establish a tea trade there and immediately sailed for Ceylon to organize the export of tea to what would prove to be its largest market. He then opened a branch in Columbo under the name of Crosfield Lampard setting Harrisons & Crosfield on

1768-618: The end of 1987. Throughout the 1980s and into the late 1990s, it also functioned as a bustling market for vegetables and seafood. Until January 1997, passengers from Labuan and Lawas underwent immigration checks at a checkpoint located at the right corner of the pier, prior to the opening of the Marine Department's Serasa Ferry Terminal in Muara. In the late 1990s, the Government Rest House, which had previously housed

1836-478: The firm concentrated only on chemicals and changed its name to Elementis. The Harrisons & Crosfield partnership was formed in 1844 between Daniel and Smith Harrison and Joseph Crosfield to trade in tea and coffee , which was to be the core of the business until the end of the nineteenth century. Daniel, born in 1795, was the senior having been trading in Liverpool since the 1820s. His brother Smith Harrison

1904-481: The first customs office was established at Kampong Pekan Lama , previously known as Kampong Bakut China, a commercial hub on a sandbank in the heart of Kampong Ayer. While early records mention a jetty built near the residency, named Bubungan Dua Belas , the first substantial customs wharf likely emerged in 1908 when the Public Works Department allocated funds for a customs house and wharf near

1972-426: The formation of Allied Sumatra Plantations in 1926. The purchase of some large estates in 1928 meant that palm oil became a major activity for Harrisons. In a move which took Harrisons further into industrial processes, Wilkinson Process Rubber was formed in 1926 to develop the process patented in 1923 by Bernard Wilkinson. The low temperature vulcanization process allowed the fresh liquid rubber to be compounded on

2040-897: The formation of the East India Tea and Produce Company, the Malayalam Rubber and Produce Company and the Meppadi Wynaad Tea Company. The turn of the century saw the development of the rubber plantation, natural rubber previously being tapped in the wild in South America. The Straits Plantations Ltd (operating in the then Straits Settlements ) transferred to the Harrisons & Crosfield agency in 1902 but later companies were formed by Harrisons to buy smaller estates and group them into larger company structures. The Pataling Rubber Estates Syndicate

2108-561: The foundation-laying ceremony, and the building was finished by May 2007. Its design creates a distinctive landmark along the capital's shoreline with a tall bent column that forms the Arabic numeral 60 when illuminated at night. Citations Bibliography Muara Port The Muara Port ( Malay : Pelabuhan Muara ), also known as Muara Harbour , is a seaport operated by the Muara Port Company (MPC) Sdn Bhd, under

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2176-472: The gathering points of padians and pengalus . By 1910, the customs house was connected by telephone to the residency, and by 1916, repairs to the customs wharf and shed had begun. A new customs house store and wharf were completed in 1919, while the old customs house was converted into a marketplace . The wharf's jetty was fully operational by 1922, hosting significant visitors such as the Prince of Wales , who

2244-414: The greatest challenges came from the post-war decolonization and the gradual desire of the newly independent countries to control their own raw materials. This was exacerbated by insurgency in both Malaysia and Indonesia . Despite this, and the earlier determination not to be too reliant on one region, Harrisons continued to find opportunities for growth in south east Asia. One of the undoubted successes

2312-506: The latter two prongs were sold leaving the specialty chemicals company that is now Elementis. The corporate building block that became the chemical division was Durham Chemicals and in 1947 Harrisons formed a joint venture with Durham in Canada to build a zinc oxide manufacturing facility. Zinc oxide has extensive uses but an important one was in the vulcanization of rubber, which was the initial attraction for Harrisons. Another joint company

2380-556: The loss of the Russian market in 1917 caused a collapse in Ceylon tea exports. There was a recognition that Harrisons had over expanded before the War. In 1921 it acted as agents for as many as 52 plantation companies in Malaya, Sumatra, Ceylon, southern India, Java and Borneo ; a period of consolidation followed. The 1930 recession proved even more severe and the rubber estates lost money in

2448-477: The mainland using barges. By 1958, the decision was made to build a deep-water port at Muara rather than continue dredging the river. In 1968, the distance between the wharf and the main road was improved and extended, contributing to the port's growth. However, by the 1960s, it became clear that the Brunei River could no longer accommodate large, heavy ships in the long term due to technical limitations. As

2516-425: The path to what would be its dominant activity for nearly a century: tropical plantations of tea, followed by rubber , timber and palm oil . Harrison & Crosfield was one of a number of British firms that controlled plantations across south-east Asia through the agency system. The development of a plantation required committing substantial capital for a period of years before the first crops matured. Typically,

2584-602: The port by 2023, in which it will increase the quay length and capacity from 280,000 TEUs to 500,000. There are several designated areas and facilities within the port: Harrisons %26 Crosfield Elementis plc is one of the UK 's largest speciality chemicals and personal care businesses, with extensive operations in the United States, Europe and Asia. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and

2652-778: The port might not have been in use due to the decline in cargo volume. The Port Authority bought two quay cranes in 1996. In 2000, a joint venture was made with the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) , and later on 23 June 2003 United States Navy warships USS Vincennes (CG-49) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) were berthed at the port during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). Once again during CARAT 2005, USS Safeguard (T-ARS-50) , USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60) and USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60) were present at Muara Port. In 2011, there has been regional competition between Bintulu Port and Muara Port. In 2013, three inland container depots have been upgraded, and in 2014,

2720-578: The port to conduct exercises, and later from 27 until 30 September, the People's Liberation Army Navy training ship Qi Jiguang was berthed at the port during a goodwill visit. The MPC signed an agreement with the Brunei government to build and acquire the largest fishing complex in Brunei on 22 December 2020, thus enhancing the Brunei–China relations . On 5 June 2021, the pre-commencement ceremony of

2788-506: The preservation of its cultural, religious, and environmental heritage. The Bandar Seri Begawan Waterfront Construction Project, launched by the Brunei government to boost the tourism sector and support the Wawasan Brunei 2035 initiative, began in 2008. The project, located across from Kampong Ayer on the site of the former Royal Customs and Excise Building, was part of the Bandar Seri Begawan and Gadong Improvement Area Plan 1988 and

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2856-591: The purchase of SummitReheis for $ 362m; based in the US and Germany it specialized in anti-perspirant additives. This was followed in 2018 by the creation of a new division by the $ 600m acquisition of Mondo Minerals, described as the “second largest producer of premium talc based additives in the world”. Following this acquisition, the group's main divisions were then described as personal care; coatings; talc; chromium; and energy. During 2020 and 2021 Elementis rejected three offers from U.S. rival Minerals Technologies (MTX), and

2924-580: The purchase of the Dillons Chemical Company of Canada in 1938. The traditional estates were not neglected and a significant purchase was made in 1925 - the Prang Besar rubber estate near Kuala Lumpur. This estate led the research into improved planting and breeding and its techniques were applied to other Harrisons estates. The challenges were partly economic as natural rubber faced increasing competition from synthetics. However,

2992-432: The purchases of Wodburys timber business in the US in 1988, followed in the UK by Southern-Evans for £85m in 1988 and Crossley Builders Merchants for £113m in 1990. This gave 255 Harcros branches in the UK and 315 worldwide. Pauls was expanded in 1992 with the £67m acquisition of Unilever's animal food business, British Oil and Cake Mills, creating BOCM Pauls . 1994 was deemed a year of change. The sale of London Sumatra,

3060-473: The same time Malayalam Plantations merged with Harrison & Crossfield's other interests to form Harrisons Malayalam . London Sumatra was sold in 1994 and the Papua New Guinea company followed in 1996. The post-war diversification started with chemicals and went on to include timber and builders’ merchants; and malting and animal foodstuffs to make a three-pronged industrial company. Eventually,

3128-529: The spot and it was marketed under the name of Linatex. A factory was built in Selangor , partly owned by Harrisons, which also acted as Secretary and sole European agent. From the late 1920s the provision of industrial supplies to the plantations widened the agency business and in particular took Harrisons into chemicals in North America. There were a series of acquisitions in the late 1930s culminating in

3196-622: The supervision of the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam . The port also contributed to the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) . The port's strategic location allows access to the Oceania , Indian Ocean , Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean . The port lies 28 km from the capital of Brunei , Bandar Seri Begawan and it

3264-526: The tree years 1930 to 1932. Despite the difficult trading conditions, opportunities were pursued, taking the Group into timber, palm oil and chemicals. One of the strategic purchases took place at the end of the War when Harrisons bought Darby & Co, a trading business in North Borneo with a blue-chip list of international agencies. Walter Darby, the founder, was a man whose local prominence earned him

3332-489: The waterfront's role in the nation's heritage. In March 2017, the Bandar Seri Begawan Master Plan was presented to the 13th Legislative Council , highlighting the revitalisation of the waterfront along the Brunei River as part of broader national infrastructure initiatives, despite fiscal challenges in the 2017–2018 budget. The Brunei Energy Hub , formerly the Royal Customs and Excise Building,

3400-533: The wharf to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca . By 1953, the wharf was extended from 200 to 400 feet (61 to 122 m) to accommodate the growing demands of traders, as the original ports at Kampong Lorong Sikuna and Lorong Dalam could no longer handle the increasing traffic. Although the space between the wharf and its surroundings remained unimproved, the customs building, designed in Victorian architectural style ,

3468-474: The world's largest plantation companies. By 1983 Harrisons had acquired complete control. Harrisons gradually faced increased demands from its host governments, variously in the form of higher royalties, increased taxation, and a desire to see greater local ownership. The plantations in Sri Lanka were the first to go, being nationalized in 1975. In 1982, the local entity Harrisons Malaysian Plantations Berhad

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3536-455: The world; the UK leader for zinc oxide and only producer of aluminum chloride. British and American Chrome were world leaders in chromium chemicals. Durham Chemicals also had a substantial market position in polymer additives and the original Linatex remained an important specialty. The timber and builders’ merchants division, now trading under the Harcros name, was substantially increased by

3604-430: Was Eric Macfadyen who had been active in rubber estates before the War. He joined Harrisons & Crosfield in 1918 to become the leading force for 40 years; with H. J. Welch and Eric Miller, the three men ran the Group during the inter-war years. The challenges were similar to those of any international trading company. There was a sharp recession in 1921 and the rubber price fell from 2s-1d in 1919 to 9d in 1922 For tea,

3672-435: Was 23 years younger while Joseph Crosfield had previously been an employee of Daniel. 80% of the business was in tea, imported from China , and 20% coffee from South America . The firm moved to London in 1854 and by the 1860s it was the third largest tea trader. Control passed to the next generation in the second half of the century, with two Harrison and three Crosfield partners. Until the 1890s, Harrisons & Crosfield

3740-631: Was Durham Raw Materials, which was to be the sole selling agency for Durham products, including the Neoprene agency in the UK Although the Canadian venture failed, the relationship with Durham developed and by 1962 Harrisons had acquired a majority holding; the business was then concentrating on zinc salts and metal soaps. In 1973, Albright & Wilson's chrome business was bought and renamed British Chrome & Chemicals and substantial investment

3808-485: Was North Borneo Timber, later Sabah Timber. Despite losing its monopoly in 1950, improved mechanical logging took timber production from around 2m cubic feet to 19m in 1969. By the time that logging ended in 1982, Sabah had established a thriving timber business in the U.K. Another growth market developed after the war was oil palms, often planted on old rubber estates but Harrisons also acquired virgin land in Sabah and formed

3876-550: Was a consolidation of estates into what became known as "the three sisters": Golden Hope, Pataling and London Asiatic. After a fierce takeover battle with outsiders, these three companies were merged in 1977 into Harrisons Malaysian Estates. In Indonesia, Harrisons struggled with changing nationalist demands, losing control of its agencies at times. Around 1960 the London Sumatra Group was established to merge its 16 agency companies; others were added and it became one of

3944-472: Was completed in the same year. In 1958, the site was officially closed to the public and renamed the Royal Customs and Excise Wharf , becoming a bustling hub for both people and cargo. With the rise in shipping activity, the government faced a decision in 1958: to dredge the Brunei River to accommodate larger ships or to construct a deep-water port in Muara. By 1956, the Royal Customs and Excise Building

4012-515: Was completed, and became the focal point of the fenced-off wharf. Major shipping companies, such as Harrisons & Crosfield and Brunei Lighterage Limited, managed vessels like the Perak , Lipis , Rajah Brooke , and MV Maimunah . Despite this, the shallow Brunei River posed significant challenges as ships grew in size. Many vessels had to anchor at Sapo Point in Brunei Bay and transfer goods to

4080-436: Was confined to preference shares; the ordinary shares remained with the partners and senior employees. The Company continues to this day as Elementis (Holdings). The inter-war years were difficult for the plantation companies, yet Harrisons managed to secure new areas for growth. Arthur Lampard died in 1916 and Heath Clark retired in 1924 but new people were ready to cope with the challenges and opportunities. One in particular

4148-539: Was considered to be the Gateway for Trade. The Muara Naval Base lies north-east of the port, and Muara Besar Island in the west. The port also contains a free trade zone, which is known as the Muara Export Zone (MEZ). In 1973, the port was officially completed and it became the largest port in Brunei. In 1982, the port underwent a B$ 26.5 million expansion project. It can also be noted after 1997,

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4216-476: Was formed in 1903; Golden Hope Rubber Estate and Anglo-Malay Rubber in 1905; and London Asiatic Rubber and Produce in 1907. In that same year Lampard visited Sumatra and repeated the consolidation process that had taken place in Malaya . Tandjong Rubber Company and United Serdang (Sumatra) Rubber Plantations were both formed and floated. In 1909 holdings in many of the tea and rubber companies were transferred to

4284-551: Was formed to acquire HME; Harrisons retained 30% and received £130m cash. After some poor plantation results, and pressure from outside shareholders, Harrisons decided to reduce further its dependence on plantations by divesting its minority holdings in Harrisons Malayalam and Harrisons Malaysian Plantations Berhad but retaining London Sumatra Plantations and Papua New Guinea. In 1983, 34% of Malayalam Plantations were sold to Indian nationals, leaving Harrisons with 40%. At

4352-476: Was just a respected London merchant. By then the two men who were to revolutionize the business had joined: Arthur Lampard in 1881 and Heath Clark in 1885. The first change was that rather than just merchanting, the firm began blending its own tea under the brand “Nectar” and a large export business was developed from Ceylon Wharf on the South Bank . (The Nectar brand was later sold to Twinings ). Clark handled

4420-440: Was made in the production of chromic oxide . A complementary business was bought in the US in 1979 and renamed American Chrome & Chemicals, making Durham a world leader in chrome and iron oxide pigments. In the early 1980s Durham Chemicals built a plant for aluminum chloride and by 1984 had over 60% of the UK market. The timber and building materials division was a natural extension of Sabah Timber's business downstream into

4488-413: Was received at the jetty on 18 May 1922, following a tour of the Brunei River. World War II aerial photographs showed the wharf to be 200 feet (61 m) long, connected to the mainland by three gangways . The wharf on the banks of the Brunei River has a significant history. Initially used to offload necessities, it became a key point for trade. In 1951, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III departed from

4556-473: Was the unprofitability of the UK chromium business and the plant was controversially closed in 2009. Further small acquisitions to enlarge the coatings business were made in 2012 and 2013: Watercryl Quimica Ltda of Brazil provided an entry to Latin America and in the U.S., Hi-Mar was a leading supplier of defoamers to the coatings, construction and oilfield drilling industries. Increased specialization led to

4624-543: Was the world's largest producer of rheological additives for coatings. Chromium was further enlarged with the acquisition of the chromium chemicals business of OxyChem in the US in 2002, making it the country's largest producer. This was followed by the construction of a chromium plant in China in 2004. In that same year, Elementis acquired the Dutch Sasol Servo, a supplier of coatings additives, for €48m. One negative

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