Unilever invests US$6M to expand Vaseline production in South Africa.

Unilever has invested an additional South African Rand 100 million (US$6 million) in the commissioning of a new Vaseline Petroleum Jelly production line.

What happened

The production line is in Unilever’s Maydon Wharf manufacturing facility and represents an incremental investment to develop local manufacturing capacity, strengthen supply resilience, and bolster international export capabilities.The Maydon Wharf facility supplies approximately 60% of Unilever’s global Vaseline Petroleum Jelly volume.

Why it matters

The new line supports the company’s capacity and supply resilience to address growing demand across Africa and international markets.According to Business Insider Africa, the enhancements to the Durban factory are projected to increase the facility’s global Vaseline Petroleum Jelly volume to 80% of the supply.

Unilever anticipates the additional investment will support the coastal South African province of KwaZulu-Natal’s position as an industrial and export platform. “By continuing to invest in South Africa, Unilever is showing how local manufacturing can serve consumers, sustain livelihoods, strengthen supply chains, and connect South African-made products to regional and global markets,” says the company.Unilever Vaseline investments Unilever reported that its beauty, personal care, and home care divisions drove its H1 2026 results and delivered the best volume quarter the company has seen in over a decade.

The financials indicate the effectiveness of the company’s Desire at Scale strategy at driving demand.

This news brief is based on reporting published by Personal Care Insights on 2026-10-07. The original report is linked below.