<\/p>\n
Unilever South Africa has commissioned a new Vaseline production line at its Maydon Wharf manufacturing facility in Durban.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s long-term commitment to South African manufacturing.<\/p>\n
Read:
Unilever\u2019s Magnum Ice Cream Co trades at \u20ac7.8bn value
Unilever, Pepsi tap celebrities, players during World Cup<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
While Unilever is rivalled globally by Procter & Gamble and L\u2019Or\u00e9al, Unilever SA supply chain vice president Phahle Phalane says approximately 95% of the group\u2019s products sold locally are manufactured locally.<\/p>\n
Phalane said the company has increased its local sourcing of materials \u2013 from 40% in 2019 to 80% in 2025, demonstrating its long-term commitment to industrialisation, localisation, job creation and inclusive growth.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Read: Grindrod earnings surge as record port volumes drive growth<\/p>\n
Phalane said the factory employs approximately 350 full-time staff and 200 freelancers.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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Product<\/p>\n
Unilever is one of the world\u2019s leading suppliers of beauty and wellbeing products. Its products are household staples, and 2025 saw it generate sales amounting to \u20ac50.5 billion (R945 billion) in 190 countries.<\/p>\n
From Durban to the world, billions of people use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, a translucent, semi-solid mixture of refined hydrocarbons derived from crude oil.<\/p>\n
Read:\u00a0To drive sales, PnP Smart Shopper now offering up to 7.5% back<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
Heritage<\/p>\n
The Maydon Wharf facility, established in 1912, is one of Unilever\u2019s most historic and strategically important manufacturing sites globally.<\/p>\n
It originally produced the iconic Sunlight bar soap.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaydon Wharf represents the very best of Unilever\u2019s heritage, capability and ambition,\u201d said Cloete.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis additional R100 million investment strengthens our ability to manufacture trusted brands locally, supports jobs and skills development, and reinforces South Africa\u2019s role as a strategic manufacturing hub serving both regional and global markets.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis investment is a vote of confidence in South Africa\u2019s manufacturing future and in the talented people who make Maydon Wharf such an important part of Unilever\u2019s growth story.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201ctells a story to the world that this port connects you to every place that matters\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added that Vaseline is embedded in local culture and its export earnings strengthen the local economy.<\/p>\n
City<\/p>\n
\u201cTo enable and cultivate further industrial development, the city is making significant investments in bulk infrastructure,\u201d said Xaba.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn [nearby] Prospecton alone, we are investing over R450 million in road upgrades and major water infrastructure improvements.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are pragmatic, targeted interventions designed to remove barriers to growth and to create an environment where business can thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Omeshnie Naidoo is a Moneyweb journalist.<\/p>\n
#Durban #factory #global #Vaseline #Petroleum #Jelly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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