Unilever invests USD 6M in new Vaseline line at Durban plant
The commissioning of the new Vaseline Petroleum Jelly production line is a shared success and reflects the people whose dedication brings Unilever’s trusted brands to life every day.
SOUTH AFRICA – Unilever South Africa has commissioned a R100 million (USD 6 million) investment in a new Vaseline Petroleum Jelly production line at its Maydon Wharf manufacturing facility in Durban.
The expanded operation increases the site’s contribution to global Vaseline Petroleum Jelly supply from approximately 60% to 80%, strengthening South Africa’s role as a key manufacturing base for both African and international markets.
This milestone is about much more than additional production capacity. It demonstrates Unilever South Africa’s confidence in the country’s manufacturing future and its commitment to investing locally, producing trusted brands close to consumers, supporting industrial development and helping create inclusive economic growth.
Maydon Wharf, established in 1912, is among Unilever’s oldest and most strategically important manufacturing facilities worldwide.
Originally a producer of the iconic Sunlight bar soap, it has evolved over more than a century into a world-class, multi-brand and multi-technology manufacturing hub serving consumers across Africa and international markets.
The Durban site produces around 140,000 tonnes of products annually across more than 20 production lines and manufactures leading Unilever brands such as Vaseline, Lux, Lifebuoy and Sunlight.
Its new Vaseline line further builds on this legacy by substantially increasing its capacity to serve global demand for Vaseline Petroleum Jelly.
The investment supports value creation beyond the factory gates. It contributes to employment, skills development, supplier participation, engineering capability, logistics activity, innovation and high product-quality standards.
Maydon Wharf employs approximately 350 full-time employees and 200 freelance workers, while the installation project involved 68 engineering and fabrication teams and more than 100 tonnes of steel cabling.
Unilever South Africa has also deepened its localisation efforts: approximately 95% of the group’s products sold locally are manufactured locally, while local sourcing of materials increased from 40% in 2019 to 80% in 2025.
These efforts reflect a long-term focus on industrialisation, domestic supply chains, job creation and inclusive growth.
The commissioning of the new line highlights the importance of partnership in manufacturing growth.
Sustainable industrial development depends on close collaboration among employees, suppliers, engineering teams, logistics providers, port operators, municipalities, regulators, government and industry partners.
Durban’s port infrastructure, industrial base and access to regional and global trade routes make the city an important location for manufacturing and export-led growth.
The investment therefore reinforces both Unilever’s confidence in KwaZulu-Natal and the province’s broader potential as a competitive industrial and logistics hub.
Unilever South Africa extends its sincere appreciation to the Honourable Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa; the Honourable Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Thami Ntuli; the Executive Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Mr Cyril Xaba; the CEO of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ms Palesa Phili; Transnet; members of the media; and all business and industry guests who joined the commissioning ceremony.
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