Stepan Co.

Company Overview

Founded in 1932, the Stepan Co. was manufacturing sulfonate surfactants for personal care products by 1935. The publicly traded company has become the world’s leading merchant manufacturer of anionic surfactants and provides specialty chemicals to the laundry/cleaning, personal care, agricultural, food and health, industrial chemicals, coatings and oilfield products markets.

In 2021, company’s total sales were stood at $2,345.9 million, which shows an increase of around 25% compared to 2020. The company offers its products and services in four major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Latin America and APAC. In 2021, North America accounted for a 56.6% share of the company’s total revenues, followed by Europe with 25.6% share, Latin America with 13% share and APAC with 4.8% share.

As a leading manufacturer of surfactants, Stepan has become increasingly active in oilfield markets for EOR products. In September 2008, Stepan and Nalco Holding Co. announced a joint venture to market custom-engineered chemical flooding solutions for EOR oil production globally. The joint venture operates under the brand name Tiorco, a U.S. developer and supplier of EOR polymers, and combines the comprehensive services provided by Nalco for its process industry, oil production and water treatment projects with Stepan’s extensive surfactant manufacturing capabilities. Stepan’s surfactants are marketed under Tiorco’s surfactant-polymer and ASP flood solutions. The company manufactures a broad range of surfactant chemicals, including a full line of anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants.

Financial Highlights (FY 2024)

Company's Business Segments

• Surfactants : Emulsifiers for agricultural products, Emulsion polymers such as floor polishes and latex foams and coatings, Wetting and Foaming agents for wallboard manufacturing, Surfactants for oilfield applications
• Polymers : Polyurethane Polyols, Polyester Resins, Phthalic Anhydride
• Specialty Products : Chemicals used in Food, Flavoring, Nutritional supplement, Pharmaceutical applications