US supplier of bio-based succinic acid (SA) BioAmber (Minneapolis, Minnesota; www.bio-amber.com) and Dutch speciality chemicals distributor IMCD (Rotterdam; www.imcdgroup.com) have recently signed an agreement for distribution of Bio-SA to the resins and coatings markets in Europe.

IMCD will now be distributing the Midwestern company's Bio-SA products in Benelux, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Southeast Europe, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Ireland. With 1,250 technical and commercial professionals, the Dutch Group had a turnover of EUR 1.4 bn in 2012 and is active in 39 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

BioAmber's product is made from renewable feedstock and, according to a media release, leaves a better carbon footprint than petroleum succinic acid. It is also one of the few bio-based chemicals currently available at commercial scale. For resins and coatings applications, the product allows formulation flexibility and the ability to develop customised properties which offer performance in more sustainable solutions.

Currently utilising a production facility in Pomacle / France, to supply Bio-SA, BioAmber plans to expand capacity in 2014 by an additional 30,000 t/y with a facility in Sarnia / Canada in the province of Ontario. The facility is being built with Mitsui & Co (Tokyo / Japan; www.mitsui.com) – see PieWeb from 27.07.2012.