Durban factory to make 80% of global Vaseline Petroleum Jelly

Unilever South Africa has commissioned a new Vaseline production line at its Maydon Wharf manufacturing facility in Durban.

This follows a R100 million investment that expands production capacity from 60% to 80% of the global supply of its petroleum jelly and reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to South African manufacturing.

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Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba joined Unilever Southern Africa CEO Stefan Cloete at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday (2 October).

While Unilever is rivalled globally by Procter & Gamble and L’Oréal, Unilever SA supply chain vice president Phahle Phalane says approximately 95% of the group’s products sold locally are manufactured locally.

Phalane said the company has increased its local sourcing of materials – from 40% in 2019 to 80% in 2025, demonstrating its long-term commitment to industrialisation, localisation, job creation and inclusive growth.

Hlengwa, who was in the city for the KwaZulu-Natal Transport Indaba 2026, said the iconic facility is a stellar example of how industrial development can be anchored in port infrastructure and bring certainty and stability to the job market.

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Phalane said the factory employs approximately 350 full-time staff and 200 freelancers.

The project drew in 68 engineering and fabrication teams to lay down the German and Italian equipment, and more than 100 tons of steel cabling.

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Product

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of beauty and wellbeing products. Its products are household staples, and 2025 saw it generate sales amounting to €50.5 billion (R945 billion) in 190 countries.

From Durban to the world, billions of people use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, a translucent, semi-solid mixture of refined hydrocarbons derived from crude oil.

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Vaseline does not have a publicly disclosed standalone net worth, but industry estimates value the brand at between $5 billion and $10 billion (R83 billion and R166 billion).

Heritage

The Maydon Wharf facility, established in 1912, is one of Unilever’s most historic and strategically important manufacturing sites globally.

It originally produced the iconic Sunlight bar soap.

More than a century later, it has evolved into a world-class, multi-technology and multi-brand manufacturing hub serving consumers across Africa and international markets.

“Maydon Wharf represents the very best of Unilever’s heritage, capability and ambition,” said Cloete.

“This additional R100 million investment strengthens our ability to manufacture trusted brands locally, supports jobs and skills development, and reinforces South Africa’s role as a strategic manufacturing hub serving both regional and global markets.”

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“This investment is a vote of confidence in South Africa’s manufacturing future and in the talented people who make Maydon Wharf such an important part of Unilever’s growth story.”

Ntuli said the milestone development tells a story of partnership, adding that Unilever has helped shape the industrial landscape of the province, while the relationship “tells a story to the world that this port connects you to every place that matters”.

He added that Vaseline is embedded in local culture and its export earnings strengthen the local economy.

City

“To enable and cultivate further industrial development, the city is making significant investments in bulk infrastructure,” said Xaba.

“In [nearby] Prospecton alone, we are investing over R450 million in road upgrades and major water infrastructure improvements.

“In the Westown precinct, we have committed close to R600 million in bulk infrastructure to unlock a development that is expected to attract R15 billion in investment and create thousands of jobs.

“These are pragmatic, targeted interventions designed to remove barriers to growth and to create an environment where business can thrive.”

Omeshnie Naidoo is a Moneyweb journalist.

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