Safripol
Safripol is the second largest polymer producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and the only South African producer of HDPE and PET, manufacturing ~520kt of resin annually at Sasolburg and Durban for industrial converters across packaging, construction, medical, and water-infrastructure sectors, as a subsidiary of KAP Industrial Holdings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersBryanston, South Africa
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Safripol does
Safripol is the second largest polymer producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and the only producer of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in South Africa. The company operates two manufacturing sites - Sasolburg (HDPE ~160kt and Polypropylene ~120kt annual capacity using Spheripol and Hostalen Slurry process technologies) and Durban (PET ~240kt annual capacity, upgraded in 2017) - alongside a commercial head office in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Safripol sells polymer resins directly to industrial converters across packaging, consumer goods, medical, construction, and water-infrastructure end-markets, with the iMPACT 100 HDPE specialty grade targeted at municipal and agricultural pressure-pipe applications. In 2023 the company launched ASPIRER rPET, its first recycled PET product containing 15-25% post-consumer recycled content, to help downstream customers meet Extended Producer Responsibility obligations.
The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KAP Industrial Holdings Limited, a Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed diversified industrial group; Safripol's financial results are consolidated within KAP rather than reported independently. Revenue model is direct B2B resin sales to manufacturers at undisclosed pricing, with a horizontal segmentation across end-use sectors. Safripol has positioned itself as a sustainability leader in the South African plastics value chain through net-zero by 2050 commitments, a 10MW solar installation at Sasolburg, and active membership in PETCO, POLYCO, SA Plastics Pact, Plastics SA, CAIA, SAPPMA, and Packaging SA. Most recently, the company won an independent arbitration ruling against ethylene supplier Sasol in a pricing dispute (March 2026) and is the subject of an ongoing Competition Commission investigation into Sasol's market dominance - both material to Safripol's input cost structure and near-term profitability following a reported 40% profit plunge in the interim period.
Safripol firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Safripol
- Legal name
- Safripol Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://safripol.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Safripol is the second largest polymer producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and the only South African producer of HDPE and PET, manufacturing ~520kt of resin annually at Sasolburg and Durban for industrial converters across packaging, construction, medical, and water-infrastructure sectors, as a subsidiary of KAP Industrial Holdings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Safripol industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Polymer Resin Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Polyolefins (PE, PP) (IMAEADAD)
Keywords
Where Safripol is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bryanston
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
Safripol business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Safripol product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Safripol manufactures and sells thermoplastic polymer resins, primarily Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Polypropylene (PP), serving industrial manufacturers across packaging, water infrastructure, medical, consumer goods, and construction sectors. The company produces approximately 520kt of polymer resin annually from its Sasolburg and Durban facilities, and has extended into recycled PET through its ASPIRER rPET product line.
Product overview
Safripol is a polymer producer offering three core product lines: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Polypropylene (PP). PET is used for blow-moulded bottles in food and beverage packaging. HDPE serves industrial piping and packaging applications. PP provides lightweight, high-strength solutions for various industries. The company also offers ASPIRER rPET, a recycled PET product with 15-25% post-consumer content for circular economy applications. Manufacturing operations are located in Durban (PET, 240kt capacity), Sasolburg (HDPE ~160kt, PP ~120kt), with commercial headquarters in Johannesburg.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Quantifiable outcome
- iMPACT 100 HDPE can be used for leak-resistant pressure pipes to address water loss
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Safripol
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Safripol technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Safripol partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Angel NetworkcorePartnership for the Safripol Toy Campaign collecting pre-loved toys for underprivileged children in South Africa. The initiative has grown exponentially since 2020 with over 128 locations and more than 55,000 toys collected in 2023.
- PETCOcoreSafripol is a member and financial contributor to PETCO, actively supporting recycling and alternative PET usage initiatives with a goal of 0% waste to landfill. Safripol contributes through voluntary grants to support PET recycling efforts.
- POLYCO (The Polyolefin Recycling Company)coreSafripol is a member of POLYCO, a not-for-profit industry body promoting collection and recycling of post-consumer polyolefin packaging. POLYCO aims to minimise environmental impact of post-consumer polyolefins.
- CAIA (Chemical and Allied Industries Association)coreSafripol actively contributes to CAIA as a member with multiple directors on CAIA's management team. CAIA represents chemical industry interests and is custodian of ResponsibleCare.
- Plastics SAcoreSafripol is a member of Plastics SA which represents all sectors of the South African plastics industry including polymer producers, converters, machine suppliers, fabricators and recyclers.
- SA Plastics PactcoreSafripol is a member of the SA Plastics Pact, a collaborative initiative working with the value-chain to create a circular economy for plastics in South Africa aligned with Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy vision.
- Operation Clean SweepminorSafripol is a signatory of Operation Clean Sweep, a voluntary stewardship program designed to prevent resin pellet, flake and powder loss and keep plastic resin out of the marine environment.
- SAPPMAminorSafripol is a member of SAPPMA which works with SABS to ensure end users are offered top quality plastic pipe systems. Pipes produced by SAPPMA members carry the SAPPMA Logo.
- Packaging SAminorSafripol is a member of Packaging SA, a voluntary industry body representing converters and associates including raw material suppliers, brand owners, and retailers.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Safripol competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sasol Polymers: Sasol's polymer business produces polyethylene and polypropylene in Secunda and is Safripol's primary domestic competitor as well as upstream ethylene supplier, sharing the South African polyolefin market.
- Braskem: Braskem is the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and a leading integrated PP and PE producer with comparable product mix (HDPE, PP, plus emerging bio-based and recycled polymers).
Broad incumbents
- LyondellBasell: Global polyolefins leader producing HDPE, LDPE, and PP across multiple continents; a comparable large-scale integrated resin producer competing for global commodity-grade customers.
- INEOS: INEOS Olefins & Polymers produces HDPE, LLDPE, and PP across Europe and North America, operating comparable polymerization technology (gas-phase and slurry) at much larger scale.
- BASF: BASF produces a broad portfolio of engineering and commodity plastics, including high-performance and recycled polymer grades under its Circular Economy program, overlapping with Safripol in specialty and sustainable resin segments.
- Dow Inc. Dow's Packaging & Specialty Plastics business produces polyolefin resins and high-performance plastics globally; comparable in scale and broad customer base.
- SABIC: Saudi Aramco-affiliated SABIC is a global petrochemicals and polymer producer with a comparable portfolio of polyolefins, engineering plastics, and recycled polymers (TRUCIRCLE).
- Reliance Industries: Reliance operates one of the world's largest integrated polyolefin complexes, producing PE, PP, and PET, and competes globally with Safripol in polymer exports and emerging-market sales.
- Sinopec: China's largest integrated petrochemical company with massive polyolefin and PET capacity; relevant as a global benchmark competitor and potential exporter of low-cost polyester and polyolefin grades into Africa.
Others
- PETCO (Positive Environmental Technology and Concepts): South African PET industry body coordinating post-consumer PET recycling, of which Safripol is both member and contributor; comparable in circular-economy orientation and SA PET industry context rather than as a direct producer competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Safripol social profiles
Digital presenceSafripol compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Safripol financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Safripol leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Safripol funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Safripol M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Safripol
What does Safripol do?
Safripol manufactures and sells thermoplastic polymer resins, primarily Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Polypropylene (PP), serving industrial manufacturers across packaging, water infrastructure, medical, consumer goods, and construction sectors. The company produces approximately 520kt of polymer resin annually from its Sasolburg and Durban facilities, and has extended into recycled PET through its ASPIRER rPET product line.
Is Safripol a public or private company?
Safripol is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Safripol founded?
Safripol was founded in 1972. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Safripol based?
Safripol is headquartered in Bryanston, South Africa, in the Africa region.
Who are Safripol's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sasol Polymers and Braskem. Broad incumbents are LyondellBasell, INEOS, BASF, Dow Inc., SABIC, Reliance Industries and Sinopec. PETCO (Positive Environmental Technology and Concepts) is listed as an others.
Does Safripol have an API?
No public API is recorded for Safripol.
What industry is Safripol in?
Safripol's product category is Polymer Resin Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEADAD, Polyolefins (PE, PP). Its NAICS code is 325211 and its SIC code is 2821.