Oil giant Shell has started producing two new wax products at its Pulau Bukom manufacturing site in Singapore.

The company intends to manufacture 60 kilotonnes of the new products - Slackwax 60 and Slackwax 120 - each year for customers in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Slack wax, a mixture of oil and wax, is used to make candles, petroleum jelly, emulsions, as well as various other applications. It comes from base oil production at the Pulau Bukom manufacturing facility.

"Singapore is Shell's largest integrated petrochemicals production and export centre in the Asia-Pacific region. This latest investment affirms the commitment to optimise our assets and capability here," said Ms Brenda Stout, manufacturing director for Shell Singapore.

Besides Singapore, Shell also produces wax products at its plants in Malaysia (Sarawak), South Africa and Argentina.

Mr Maarten van Roon, global business manager for wax at Shell International Trading and Shipping Company, said the investment here is a strategic move for Shell to reinvigorate its position in the wax business.

"Our value proposition is in offering security of supply, consistent product quality, and local support to customers in key markets, whether technically or commercially," he said.

Jacqueline Woo