Covestro Puts MDI Expansion on Hold Again
Covestro is again putting on hold its previously announced plans to build a new 500,000 t/y plant for polyurethane precursor MDI.
News
Ineos and Plastic Energy in new Feedstock Recycling Pact
Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe and Plastic Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to produce 100,000 t/y of petrochemical feedstock from recycled plastic waste.
Pharma CEOs Take Action on Climate Change
The CEOs of seven multinational pharmaceutical companies have announced that they are taking joint action to achieve near-term emissions reduction targets and accelerate the delivery of net zero health systems.
Shell and Partners Explore Carbon Capture in China
Shell has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BASF and Chinese state-owned groups, including chemical producer Sinopec and steel maker Baowu, to explore the feasibility of developing an open-source carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project in East China.
OpEx Index: Insights in Operational Excellence Challenges
Every November for the past five years, the Conor Troy Consultancy (CTC) has been hosting the OpEx Forum in Schwetzingen, Germany.
Solvay and Orbia Create PVDF for Batteries JV
The battery market is becoming increasingly important to the global chemical industry, with companies frequently linking up to supply key materials.
Ariceum and AmbioPharm in Peptide Partnership
Ariceum Therapeutics, a Berlin-headquartered private biotech developing radiopharmaceutical products for the diagnosis and systemic targeted certain hard-to-treat cancers, and AmbioPharm, a globally oriented US CDMO specialized in peptides, have agreed a strategic partnership in peptide conjugates.
IMCD Acquires China’s Shanghai Sanrise
Dutch specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor IMCD has entered into an agreement to buy China’s Shanghai Sanrise Industries & Development. Financial terms were not disclosed.
DuPont Cancels Agreement to Acquire Rogers
DuPont has terminated the agreement announced in November last year to acquire the outstanding shares of electronics materials specialist Rogers Corporation for $5.2 billion.
Cambrex Invests in US R&D Facility
Cambrex is investing in a new R&D facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, expanding its capacity for small molecule development and manufacturing.
Acquisitions for Brenntag in Australia and USA
Leading international distributor Brenntag has acquired the life science business of Ravenswood, strengthening its position in the Australian and New Zealand specialties market. The deal is expected to close next month.
PTC Therapeutics Gets Funding from Blackstone for Drug Development
US biopharma PTC Therapeutics has entered into a financing collaboration with private equity group Blackstone so that it can achieve its goal of delivering at least one therapy every two-to-three years.
Clariant Completes Attapulgite Acquisition
Swiss specialty chemicals producer Clariant has completed the takeover of BASF’s US-based attapulgite business assets.
Technip Wins new Contract for Ineos Cracker
Ineos has tapped Technip Energies to supply proprietary equipment for the 1.45 million t/y ethane cracker the UK group’s Olefins arm is building at Lillo in the Port of Antwerp.
India’s Dorf Ketal Takes Clariant’s North American Land Oil Business
Indian specialty chemical company Dorf Ketal has agreed to acquire Clariant’s North American land oil business for an undisclosed sum.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Sunshine Biopharma Buys Nora Pharma
Canadian pharma Sunshine Biopharma has taken over compatriot company Nora Pharma for C$30 million.
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.
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.
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.
