Netherlands-based Corbion Purac has signed an agreement with Malladi Specialties Limited (MSL) of India covering marketing and supply of lactic acid and derivatives. Part of the Malladi group, one of India's leading pharmaceutical companies, MSL will retain the production assets and toll manufacture for Corbion.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Indian producer supplies regional pharmaceutical, home & personal care, chemical and food industries with products including calcium lactate, sodium lactate and buffered lactic acid. The partnership will give Corbion a local production base while maintaining control over quality of supply, the Dutch company said.

Noting that Corbion “has been an established name and superior service provider in the food and pharmaceutical industry with lactic acid and its derivatives for 80 years,” Frank Goovaerts, regional vice president at Corbion Purac Asia Pacific, said that with MSL’s strong local customer base and distribution network, his company will be able to expand its distribution network and customer service in India.