Kemira UK
UK branch of a Finnish company, Kemira Oy.
1920 Kemira was founded by the Finnish State to provide a secure domestic source of sulphuric acid and superphosphate fertilisers. The company became the largest chemical producer in Finland and, through exports and overseas acquisitions, an international and diversified company.
1982 Kemira entered the UK fertiliser market through its acquisition of Lindsey and Kesteven Fertilisers Ltd, which had one plant producing some 120 ktpa of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertiliser.
1986 Lindsey and Kesteven changed its name to Kemira Ltd; acquired NIS Fertilisers Ltd (now Kemira NI Ltd) from Dutch State Mines, as part of a wider transaction.
1988 Kemira UK Holding Ltd was formed; acquired UKF Fertilisers Ltd (later renamed Kemira Ince Ltd) with a plant at Ince in Cheshire. That company had been incorporated in 1950 and became Shellstar Ltd in 1965, a joint venture between Shell and Armour Star of the USA. It became a wholly-owned Shell company in 1969, before being taken over by the Dutch State Mines (DSM) group in 1973. The company then operated under the name of UKF Fertilisers Ltd.
Kemira also invested approximately £50 million in a new ammonia plant at Hull.
1989 the Kemira Group's United Kingdom fertiliser interests were restructured.
c.1992 Kemira Coatings Ltd (the former MacPherson trade and construction paint business) was sold.
See Also
Sources of Information
- MMC report 1991