Stepan posted record net income for the first quarter of 2017. Reported net income rose more than 14% to a record $31.9 million. Surfactant operating income was a record $38.2 million due, primarily, to lower manufacturing costs, mostly resulting from previous actions taken to close plants in Canada and Brazil, according to the company. Surfactant sales volume was down 7% from the prior year. “The company had a good start to the year and delivered record quarterly results,” said...