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                                                                      EXHIBIT 21
 
                              CAMBREX CORPORATION
 
                           SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT
 


                                  SUBSIDIARY                             INCORPORATED IN:
        ---------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------
                                                                      
        CasChem, Inc. .................................................   Delaware
        Cosan Chemical Corp. ..........................................   New Jersey
        Nepera, Inc. ..................................................   New York
        The Humphrey Chemical Co., Inc. ...............................   Delaware
        Salsbury Chemicals, Inc. ......................................   Iowa
        Zeeland Chemicals, Inc. .......................................   Michigan
        Seal Sands Chemicals Limited...................................   England
        Profarmaco Nobel S.r.1. .......................................   Italy
        Nordic Synthesis AB............................................   Sweden