Oxiteno - a leading surfactants and specialty chemicals company that completes 40 years in2013 - started to produce specialty chemicals for the Agrochemical and Home & Personal Care markets in Pasadena, TX.

To produce these specialty chemicals, Oxiteno retrofitted the assets acquired in April,2012.

The start-up of the Pasadena site is an important milestone for Oxiteno, as it reaffirms itscommitment to the US market and strengthens its position and product portfolio for the NAFTA region.

In the coming months, new capacity in surfactants will be added to the site to furthersupport Oxiteno's business expansion in the Home & Personal Care, Agrochemicals, Coatings and Oil &Gas markets. The Pasadena site will reachcapacity of 32,000 tons per year for specialty surfactants in 2013.

In addition to the current capacity of ethoxylates, Oxiteno will invest anotherUS$ 100 million in the NAFTA region during the next 18 months to expand its production capacity by 100,000 tons per year in Pasadena and in Coatzacoalcos,Mexico.