SECOND EUROPLANT FOR UPJOHN

US pharmaceuticals major Upjohn is to open a second plant in Europe with a capacity of bet-ween 7,000 and 10,000 tonnes a year at a cost of some $35 million. William Parfet, president of Upjohn, has visited a number of possible sites during the past week and told French media sources that "we are hesitating between Ireland, France, Spain and Italy, but will be taking a decision within six months."

In 1975, Upjohn set up a fine chemicals plant at Val-de Reuil in France, where it produces the main active principles for its major drugs sold in Europe. The French unit reports sales of some 645 million francs ($13.9 million) a year. Mr Parfet says Upjohn could simply open a second plant at the same site, but would need investment incentives comparable to those available elsewhere.

Despite problems with its sedative Hal-cion (triazolam), Upjohn is preparing for strong growth. Halcion was withdrawn from several key European Community markets, and its world sales dropped 23% in the last quarter of 1991 after posting $240 million in 1990. Over 1991 as a whole, the Upjohn group managed to increase sales by 13% to $3.4 billion, with net profits up 17% at $537 million.