02.11.2022 • News
Curia Begins Work on New Mexico Expansion
US CDMO Curia has begun construction on an expansion of its campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The facility designed by Burns & McDonnell will be built by BE&K Building Group.
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31.10.2022 • News
Arkema Divests Phosphorous Business
As part of its “dynamic portfolio management,” French specialty chemicals producer Arkema said it has agreed to sell its subsidiary Febex, a global player in phosphorus derivatives, to Belgian group Prayon.
31.10.2022 • News
Solvay Reuses Rosignano Limestone Residues
Solvay is collaborating with two companies to collect and reuse the limestone residues from its soda ash production in Rosignano, Italy. The move will enable the residues to be reused in construction and agriculture.
31.10.2022 • News
Recipharm Bolsters Blow-Fill-Seal Capabilities in France
Swedish multinational CDMO Recipharm has bolstered its sterile filling capabilities at its facility in Kaysersberg, France, by installing Lab+ continuous automated technology.
28.10.2022 • News
Nuberg Wins Chlor-alkali Project in India
Indian chemical plant contractor Nuberg EPC has been tapped to build a 250 t/d chlor-alkali plant planned by Indian chemical major Chemfab Alkalis at Karaikal, Puducherry.
28.10.2022 • News
Omicron-targeted Covid Boosters may not be Better
The newly launched bivalent mRNA-based Covid-19 booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech did not show a major improvement over the companies’ first-generation vaccines targeting the original strain, a small US study conducted by Columbia University and the University of Michigan has found. Detailed data have not yet been released.
28.10.2022 • News
Röhm and OQ break ground on Texas MMA Plant
Together with compatriot project partner OQ Chemicals, Germany’s Röhm has broken ground on a new world-scale methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant it is building at OQ Chemicals’ Bay City, Texas site.
27.10.2022 • News
Inovyn Rebrands, Electrifies Rafnes VCM Plant
Ineos’ vinyls business Inovyn has rebranded as Ineos Inovyn with effect from Oct. 21. At the same time, Inovyn’s hydrogen business has been renamed Ineos Hydrogen.
27.10.2022 • News
Symeres Strengthens US Foothold with Exemplify Buy
Dutch CDMO Symeres has acquired Exemplify Biopharma, a US-based contract research organization (CRO) based in Cranbury, New Jersey, USA. The deal further strengthens Symeres’ foothold in the US, where it already generates about 50% of its revenues.
26.10.2022 • News
Catalent to Invest $12 Million at Kansas City
Catalent has announced a $12 million expansion program to increase biologics CGMP analytical capabilities at its flagship facility in Kansas City, Missouri.
26.10.2022 • News
US Ratifies Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced additional actions to phase down the use of ozone-depleting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), lending a boost to president Joe Biden’s agenda for combating climate change.
26.10.2022 • News
Vopak Singapore Mulls Ammonia Storage Expansion
Vopak Singapore is considering expanding its ammonia infrastructure in response to growing demand for sustainable energy. The expansion at its Banyan terminal would include full import and export capabilities for low-carbon power generation and bunker fuels.
EU Energy and Supply: What Will Happen Next?
The European Commission proposed last month an emergency intervention in Europe’s energy markets to address recent dramatic price rises as the EU faces the effects of a severe mismatch between energy demand and supply. What is in the proposal?
25.10.2022 • News
Evonik to Sell TA Derivatives Arm to SABO
Italy’s SABO, a producer of polymer additives, cosmetics ingredients and specialized products for a variety of zootechnical and industrial applications, is acquiring the TAA derivatives business of Germany’s Evonik, including two production sites at Marl, Germany, and Liaoyang, China.
25.10.2022 • News
Italmatch Adds Flame Retardant Capacity in China
Italmatch, an Italian multinational specialty chemicals company, has started building a second flame retardants manufacturing plant in China. The expansion will expand capacity of the compay’s Phoslite range, which is based on inorganic phosphinates.
25.10.2022 • News
Sunshine Biopharma Buys Nora Pharma
Canadian pharma Sunshine Biopharma has taken over compatriot company Nora Pharma for C$30 million.
24.10.2022 • News
Trinseo Mulls Multiple Plant Closures
In response to what it describes as a “challenging macroeconomic environment” marked by continuing erosion of consumer sentiment in Europe and the lack of any meaningful recovery in Asia following the Covid-19 lockdowns in the first half of 2022, US plastics producer Trinseo said it is evaluating its asset footprint to improve its economic position and operating flexibility.
24.10.2022 • News
Ineos to Take Ashta Chemicals from Bigshire Mexico
Ineos Enterprises has agreed to acquire Ashta Chemicals from Bigshire Mexico for an undisclosed sum. The deal that includes a 100,000 kg/y potassium hydroxide (KOH) and a 65,000 t/y chlorine plant, is targeted to close before the end of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals.
24.10.2022 • News
Univar Adds Four Labs Worldwide
Specialty ingredients and chemicals distributor Univar Solutions has added pharmaceutical ingredient laboratories at four of its flagship centers around the world: in Houston, Texas, USA; Osasco, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Mexico City, Mexico; and Essen, Germany.
Rewriting the Rules for Chemical Distribution
Having survived the pandemic so far in good condition, chemical distributors are well positioned to grow, provided they understand how the rules for winning have changed. Distributors that keep their customers’ needs front and center will be best positioned to succeed, regardless of what the future brings.
21.10.2022 • News
ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell and Cyclyx in US Plastic Waste Project
ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell and Cyclyx International have agreed to jointly establish a plastic waste sorting and processing facility in Houston, Texas, USA, providing feedstock for both mechanical and advanced recycling technologies.
21.10.2022 • News
LG Chem Boosts Oncology Offering with Aveo Buy
South Korea’s LG Chem is to acquire US biopharma Aveo Oncology for an equity value of $566 million. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Aveo is focused on developing cancer treatments.
20.10.2022 • News
EU Public Prosecutor Probes Vaccine Mega Order
The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) has confirmed that it is looking into the EU Commission’s ordering of Covid-19 vaccines, with the probe thought to pertain in particular to order activity outside the usual purchasing channels.
20.10.2022 • News
Qatar Won’t Divert Asian Gas Orders to Europe
As QatarEnergy works to expand its gas production and trading operations amid a surge in global demand, it has stressed that it will not divert liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracted with Asian buyers to Europe as some governments had hoped.
20.10.2022 • News
Lilly Acquires Hearing Loss Specialist Akouos
Lilly has agreed to acquire Akouos, a precision genetic medicine company that is developing gene therapy treatments for hearing loss. Both companies’ boards have approved the deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter and cost Lilly up to $610 million.
19.10.2022 • News
Ineos to Refocus Lillo Plant on Circular Plastics
Ineos O&P Europe, the olefins and polyolefins arm of the Ineos group that steers its European business, will invest €30 million to convert existing capacity at its polyethylene plant at in Lillo in the Port of Antwerp to either monomodal or bimodal grades of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
19.10.2022 • News
Bodo Möller Takes Over Portugal’s Anmapi
Bodo Möller Chemie has acquired Portuguese distributor Anmapi for an undisclosed sum. Located in Valbom, Gondomar (Porto) – north of Lisbon – Anmapi supplies Henkel’s brand of Bonderite cleaners and corrosion protection products for the metal industry in Southern Europe.
19.10.2022 • News
Purolite Expands UK Bioprocessing Resin Production
Purolite, a US manufacturer of ion exchange resins that is also part of Ecolab, has opened up a new facility in Llantrisant, Wales, tripling its bioprocessing resin production. The company said the extra output will meet growing global demand for biopharmaceutical products.
The Evolution of Chemical Industry M&A
Every year, the chemical industry sees hundreds of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Traditional M&A drivers, such as consolidation and portfolio extension, are still important. But many transactions also show that the nature of M&A is evolving, as chemical companies look for ways to contend with ongoing volatility and move to a more sustainable future.
The Future of Outsourcing
The increasing complexity in drug development and the highly competitive industry landscape are creating a dramatic shift in how pharmaceutical and biotech companies plan for and execute drug development and production.
Is the Chemical Industry Ready for the Future?
Many chemical executives say their companies have made significant progress in their digitalization efforts in the last two years – and they are even more excited about it now.
Is the Chemical Industry Ready for the Future?
Many chemical executives say their companies have made significant progress in their digitalization efforts in the last two years – and they are even more excited about it now.
18.10.2022 • News
Saudi and Korean Power Firms Link on Green Hydrogen/Ammonia
Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power is partnering Korea Electric Power Corp. to jointly develop green hydrogen/ammonia projects. The companies propose to work on projects in the Middle East and other agreed geographies, including decarbonizing KEP’s operations in South Korea.
18.10.2022 • News
Merck & Co and Moderna Proceed with Cancer Vaccine
US drugmaker Merck & Co is going ahead with plans to develop a therapeutic cancer vaccine called mRNA-4157 together with Covid vaccine maker Moderna. This fulfills an agreement first signed in 2016 and amended in 2018.
18.10.2022 • News
Total Energies Signs Offtake Deal with Indaver
French energy giant TotalEnergies has signed an agreement with waste management and advanced recycling specialist Indaver covering offtake of petrochemical feedstock generated from the Belgian company’s advanced recycling of mixed polyolefins waste.
