CHEManager asked executives and industry experts from a broad range of chemical distributors to share their views on how their companies are dealing with this changing economic environment and the resulting opportunities and challenges.
CHEManager asked executives and industry experts from a broad range of chemical distributors to share their views on how their companies are dealing with this changing economic environment and the resulting opportunities and challenges.
Interview with Olli Kähkönen, Nordic Bioproducts Group
Interview with Franziska Walde and Lukas Fischer, Refinq
Dorothee Arns, Director General of FECC, discusses current challenges, market trends and her vision for the chemical distribution industry in Europe.
Today, economic success is defined by a different perception and practice of supply capability and supply security. This applies not only to the European trade with chemicals but to the entire chemical value chain.
The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) has published the results of its 2025 Contract Manufacturing Outlook survey which reveals significant trends and insights into the contract manufacturing landscape.
Dow recently announced that Karen S. Carter, currently president of Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics, has been appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.
US drug manufacturer Eli Lilly announced a $3 billion expansion of its US manufacturing facility in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, that the company acquired earlier this year. This investment will extend the company's global parenteral (injectable) product manufacturing network for diabetes, obesity and future medicines across therapeutic areas.
Sanofi plans to invest around €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in the construction of a new insulin production facility in Beijing – the company's largest single investment in China to date. This was reported by Reuters and other news agencies.
In a move to increase its competitive advantage in Latin America, Swiss flavors, fragrances and active cosmetic ingredients manufacturer Givaudan has inaugurated its newly expanded production facility at the Pedro Escobedo site in Mexico, enhancing the company’s encapsulation technologies.
H.B. Fuller Company, the largest pure-play adhesives company in the world, recently announced that it has signed agreements to acquire two leading medical adhesive technology companies, GEM S.r.l. and Medifill Ltd.
Arkema recently finalized the acquisition of Dow’s flexible packaging laminating adhesives business. This acquisition will significantly expand Arkema's portfolio of solutions for flexible packaging, positioning the company as a key player in this attractive market.
French industrial gases group Air Liquide is launching a renewable hydrogen production project at La Mède, France, to supply TotalEnergies’ biorefinery at that site under a long-term contract. AirLiquide will build, own, and operate the new unit with a capacity of 25,000 t/y, producing hydrogen from recycled biogenic by-products instead of fossil hydrocarbons.
Safic-Alcan, a distributor of specialty chemicals, recently announced that it has acquired a majority stake in Avees Biocos Private Limited, a personal care chemical distributor in India.
Japanese chemical group Ube wants to increase production capacity for high-purity nitric acid at its chemical plant in Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Lisbon, Portugal-headquartered Hovione has completed significant expansions in Europe and the USA. The investments at the facilities in East Windsor, New Jersey, and Ringaskiddy, Cork, significantly increase the global capacities of the CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) for spray drying for pharma applications and improve the sites' capabilities.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has launched XRG, an international lower-carbon energy and chemicals investment company, with an enterprise value of over $80 billion.
Samsung Biologics, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), recently announced a series of manufacturing deals with a Europe-based pharmaceutical company.
Roche has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Poseida Therapeutics, a US clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing donor-derived CAR-T cell therapies, in a deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion.
IMCD Group, a global distribution partner and formulator of specialty chemicals and ingredients, recently announced the expansion of its Pharmaceuticals Technical Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia. This facility will serve as the hub for pharmaceutical development and innovation across Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
The path to a sustainable, net-zero future for the chemical industry is paved with challenges – and also opportunities.
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has acquired Kate Therapeutics for $1.1 billion. The San Diego, US-headquartered preclinical stage biotechnology company develops adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies to treat inherited neuromuscular diseases.
Avantor has opened its latest Innovation Center in Bridgewater, New Jersey, US, “to support the growing demands for monoclonal antibodies, cell and gene therapy and mRNA workflows.” The new center is now part of the company’s network of 13 global research and innovation centers.
DNACotton is a female-led start-up from Türkiye that has developed a blockchain-based labeling and traceability system for textiles. The solution allows for reliable monitoring and analysis of materials, from fiber production to customer delivery.
Zofingen, Switzerland-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Siegfried inaugurated its new global research and development (R&D) center for drug substances at its site in Evionnaz, Switzerland. The 4,500 m2 center houses chemical and analytical facilities, laboratories, and technologies such as flow chemistry, advanced distillation and process analytical technology, as well as new office space.
Dutch-based multinational distributor Barentz announced that Unipex Solutions France, which it acquired in 2022, transformed into Barentz France. This new structure marks a major strategic turning point, symbolizing the complete integration of Unipex within Barentz and strengthening its presence in France, the group said.
Ilham Kadri, CEO of Syensqo, has been re-elected as president of CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council, for a two-year term, effective immediately.
Ambiopharm, a US-based pharmaceutical services company specializing in peptide manufacturing, recently announced the groundbreaking of a 70,000-square-foot (6,504 m2) capacity expansion project at its Shanghai manufacturing site. This $28 million (€26.6 million) project reflects the company’s commitment to serving growing global demand and confidence in China’s vital role in the global pharmaceutical supply chain.
US drugmaker Merck & Co. (MSD) has entered into a global license agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize LM-299, a novel investigational PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody from Chinese biotechnology company LaNova Medicines.
Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca plans to invest $3.5 billion in the US to expand the company’s research and manufacturing footprint by the end of 2026.
International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG) has acquired the European Advanced Organics business from Valtris Specialty Chemicals. The transaction includes production plants in Tessenderlo, Belgium, and Maastricht, the Netherlands, as well as the benzyl chloride and derivatives portfolio manufactured at those sites.
Dutch specialty chemicals producer Nouryon has completed the capacity expansion for organic peroxides at its manufacturing facility in Ningbo, China. The expansion doubled production capacity to 6,000 tons of organic peroxide products each, which are sold under the Perkadox 14 and Trigonox 101 brands.
Lonza, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for the pharmaceutical, biotech, and nutraceutical markets, announced today that it will invest in additional bioconjugation capabilities in Visp, Switzerland.
US-headquartered Avid Bioservices, a biologics-oriented CDMO, will be acquired by funds managed by GHO Capital Partners and Ampersand Capital Partners in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion. The three companies have signed a corresponding agreement.
