Unilever Opens the Most Modern Detergent Plant in the World in Palmira, Valle del Cauca

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Paul Polman, CEO of the Anglo-Dutch transnational Unilever, officially opened a new detergent plant in the municipality of Palmira, Valle del Cauca, in South Western Colombia in September. With an investment of US$60 million, this plant will create 128 direct and 400 indirect jobs.

Unilever has been building a major industrial park in the area over the past few years, investing more than US$100 million. This industrial park in Palmira is the first one built by the company in Latin America in 15 years; the new plant is the most modern powder detergent plant in the world. Its leading technology implements efficient and high-quality procedures to process and package detergents. With an output capacity of up to 100,000 tons per year, it will become the manufacturing hub for the top detergent brands in Colombia, including FAB, Lavomatic, and Puro. Besides their innovative characteristics and improved washing quality and experience, these products have a phosphate-free formulation.

"This investment reflects our trust in the country’s future, its economy, and its industry," said Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, about Colombia.

Unilever says that thanks to its sustainable production of detergent brands there will be greater economic, environmental, and social benefits for the Palmira region, leveraging a major advantage thanks to key supplier proximity and strategic location to distribute the company products.

Unilever has a significant presence in the Valle del Cauca region and across Colombia. Palmira is home to the industrial park, which includes the powder detergent plant, a personal care products plant and the National Logistics Center. Unilever’s food manufacturing plant is located nearby, in Cali, and the company’s Colombia and Middle Americas office (which services Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Central America) is located in Bogota.