Stepan Company is a leading global manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals, headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. Since its founding in 1932, the company has developed a reputation for innovation in surfactants and related products. Stepan’s expertise spans the design, production, and marketing of chemicals that serve diverse end markets, including personal care, agrochemicals, oilfield, construction, plastics, and household cleaning.
The company’s operations are organized around core product lines such as specialty soaps and detergents, emulsifiers, dispersants, and rheology modifiers. Stepan’s surfactants play a critical role in personal care formulations—shampoos, body washes and lotions—while its polymeric additives enhance the performance of agricultural formulations and construction materials. In the oilfield segment, Stepan provides surfactants that improve oil recovery, drilling efficiency and environmental performance.
Stepan maintains a global manufacturing footprint, with production facilities across North America, Latin America and Europe. The company serves customers in more than 100 countries, leveraging regional technical centers to tailor formulations to local market needs. A sustained focus on research and development underpins Stepan’s ability to deliver sustainable and bio-based solutions, reflecting its commitment to environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance.
Leadership at Stepan is headed by President and Chief Executive Officer Michael F. Ploch, who has guided the company’s strategic growth and innovation agenda. Supported by an executive team with deep industry experience, Stepan continues to invest in emerging technologies, digitalization and workforce development to maintain its position as a trusted partner for customers seeking high-performance specialty chemicals.
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