Chemicals

Much of Cheshire and Warrington’s early economic success was founded on the Chemicals industry and today the sector remains a significant contributor to the local and national economy.

Salt mining has been mainstay of the local economy for centuries and British Salt (now part of Tata Chemicals Limited), headquartered in Middlewich, supplies over half of the UK’s pure white salts from its state-of-the-art plant and exports across the globe. 

Some of the earliest research into biofuels was carried out at the then Shell Technology Centre in Thornton. Now owned by the University of Chester, and located at the western end of the Cheshire Science Corridor, the site dates back to the 1930s with research into the development of aircraft engines and fuels, and later high performance motor fuel and oils. Thornton sits next to the UK’s second largest oil refinery, Stanlow, owned by Essar Oil (UK) since its purchase from Shell in 2010. The site produces 16% of the UK’s road transport fuels including 4.4 billion litres of diesel and 3 billion litres of petrol every year. It also produces 2 billion litres of jet fuel a year and has a chemical plant on site which manufactures a range of polymers, lubricants, detergent alcohols and toluene (used in foams for furniture and bedding).

Northwich-based Tata Chemicals Limited (TCL), formerly Brunner Mond, is one of Europe’s leading producers of sodium carbonate, soda ash and sodium bicarbonate.

CF Fertilisers, Headquartered at Ince near Chester, was established in 1965 and produces 40% of the UK’s fertiliser needs. The Ince plant employs around 400 staff and specialises in ‘True Granular Compound Fertilisers’ (NPKS), producing one million tonnes of fertiliser a year.

Compass Minerals is the largest rock salt provider in the UK, mining and operating out of Winsford, Cheshire. It is also a leading provider of essential minerals focused on safely delivering where and when it matters to help solve nature’s challenges for customers and communities. Its products help keep roadways safe during winter weather, improves the quality and yield of crops, and serves the water treatment industry, to name a few. The company operates 21 production and packaging facilities throughout the U.S., Canada, Brazil and the U.K.