UK chemicals manufacturer Hockley International is targeting new export markets in Africa, South America and the Far East after securing a funding package from The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

 

Hockley specialises in the manufacture of products for pest and weed control in crops, acaricides for veterinary hygiene and pest control for public health. They already export their products to over 70 countries and are now targeting new markets around the world.

 

Recent changes in European Union legislation have made it difficult for smaller independent chemical manufacturers such as Hockley to trade effectively. EU regulations now mean that active ingredients in the product have to be backed with a toxicological dossier at a typical cost of €
3mn-4mn each. Therefore only the large multinational manufacturers can afford to absorb these costs.

 

As a result Hockley is looking to expand its export operations in countries such as Nigeria, Morocco, Uruguay, Ghana and Yemen and target sales to new markets such as Algeria, Afghanistan, Benin and Ethiopia. The company was established in 1979 by its current Managing Director Frank Howard and remains a family owned business. Raw materials for production are imported mainly from Europe, China and India. They are mixed, blended and packed for Hockley before being exported to clients around the world.

 

Hockley’s products are used to combat pests on crops such as cotton, cereals, rice, sugar cane and coffee. Its public health products are used to combat the insect vectors that spread diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. The company’s client base includes NGOs, governments and local distributors.

 

The deal was put together by the commercial banking and international banking services teams in Manchester.