French imports are more than just Camembert and the "nouvelle vague"; Rhodia's North American operations bring the specialty chemicals business of its French parent Rhodia over to the US. The company manufactures an array of chemicals, from surfactants and raw materials for cosmetics to pharmaceutical ingredients and rare earth materials. Its inputs are in industrial and consumer products, serving markets such as automotive parts, oilfield operations, detergents, food flavorings, and agricultural products. The company has 18 production sites and one R&D site in North America. Rhodia's North American operations make up about 20% of the total sales of its parent, which became part of Solvay in 2011.