Sasol launches bio-circular surfactant made from insect oil

HOUSTON - Sasol International Chemicals, a business of Sasol Ltd. (JSE:SOL; NYSE:SSL), a $97.5 million market cap specialty chemicals company with a strong liquidity position reflected in its 4.24 current ratio, announced Tuesday the introduction of LIVINEX IO 7, a new bio-circular surfactant derived from insect oils that serves as a replacement for traditional oleochemicals. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company appears undervalued at current levels.

According to the company’s press release, LIVINEX IO 7 is the first nonionic surfactant of its kind for the fabric, home care, industrial and institutional cleaning markets. The product is made from oil obtained from black soldier fly larvae, which transforms organic waste into chemical feedstock.

The new surfactant is designed to be a drop-in replacement for conventional C1214-based chemistry, allowing it to be integrated into existing product formulations without requiring complete reformulation.

"This new surfactant broadens our portfolio of sustainable offerings," said Louis Snyders, Vice President of Care Chemicals at Sasol.

The company states that the insect oil used in LIVINEX IO 7 is rich in fatty acids used to produce detergent-grade alcohols. Because the chemistry is identical to vegetable oil, existing production processes can be utilized without land use changes or competition with food crops.

LIVINEX IO 7 will debut at the SEPAWA CONGRESS 2025 in Berlin. It is currently available only in European markets, with initial focus on home care, fabric, industrial and institutional cleaning sectors.

Sasol plans to expand its insect oil-based product line to the personal care sector within the next 12 months, according to the announcement.

The company previously introduced the LIVINEX and CARINEX brands in 2023 with sophorolipids as their first product offering.

In other recent news, Emeren Group Ltd announced the cancellation of its extraordinary general meeting, which was previously scheduled for October 21, 2025. The meeting was intended for shareholders to vote on a merger proposal. This proposal was outlined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated June 18, 2025, involving Emeren Group Ltd, Shurya Vitra Ltd., and Emeren Holdings Ltd. The company plans to announce a new date for the meeting. These developments are crucial for investors interested in the merger’s potential impact on the company’s future operations. The cancellation of the meeting indicates a possible delay in the merger proceedings. Investors will be watching closely for the new date and any further announcements from Emeren Group Ltd.

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