THE WHAT? Unilever has invested R100 million in a new Vaseline production line at its Maydon Wharf factory in Durban, increasing the facility’s capacity from 60 percent to 80 percent of the global supply of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly.
THE DETAILS The investment expands production at one of Unilever’s longest-established manufacturing sites, which employs approximately 350 full-time staff and 200 freelancers. The project involved 68 engineering and fabrication teams and new German and Italian equipment. Unilever has also increased the proportion of materials it sources locally in South Africa from 40 percent in 2019 to 80 percent in 2025, while approximately 95 percent of the group’s products sold in the country are manufactured locally. The Maydon Wharf site, established in 1912, serves both African and international markets.
THE WHY? The investment strengthens South Africa’s position within Unilever’s global beauty and personal care manufacturing network, concentrating a significant proportion of worldwide Vaseline Petroleum Jelly production in Durban while increasing capacity, local sourcing and export-oriented manufacturing.
Source: Money Web
