European Chemicals Pulse Check
In its latest European Chemicals Pulse Check, Deloitte surveyed senior executives in the European chemical industry and industry associations about their views on current market challenges, trends and opportunities.
Strategy
Rising Chinese Investments in New Chemical Segments
China’s chemical industry originally focused primarily on basic chemicals, in line with the domestic needs of a developing economy and the lower technology requirements for the production of these materials. By now, China dominates the global market for many such chemicals – for example, the country accounts for about 55% of the global capacity for acetic acid, about 50% of the global carbon black capacity and about 45% of the global capacity for titanium dioxide. For many such commodity chemicals, China started out as a net importer, then built up domestic capacity and ended up being a major exporter.
A Journey towards the Smart Factory
Achieving sustainability targets and productivity improvements are primary levers that make operations teams successful. At MBCC Group, one of the leading construction chemicals players, Wayne Towell, Vice President of Operations has been driving various initiatives to track, monitor and enhance productivity of their plants across the globe.
Creating added value through innovation and transformation
As a global specialty chemicals company, Altana develops innovative technologies, solutions, and products with a clear customer focus. The company aims to strengthen and expand this position in the long term. The topic of digital transformation plays a key role.
Creating added value through innovation and transformation
As a global specialty chemicals company, Altana develops innovative technologies, solutions, and products with a clear customer focus. The company aims to strengthen and expand this position in the long term. The topic of digital transformation plays a key role.
Increasing the Sustainability of API Production
For Siegfried, sustainability is much more than a phrase with a green coating. The term, which encompasses social and economic criteria in addition to ecological aspects, is one of five central corporate values. One of the biggest levers for reducing energy and resource consumption in the pharma supply chain lies in the efficient production of active ingredients and pharmaceuticals. The company therefore works consistently on optimizing its processes.
Opportunities and Limits of Sustainability
The Pharmaceutical industry must prioritize sustainability. Jürgen Roos, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Siegfried, explains opportunities and limits of sustainability.
Special Issue: Swiss CDMO Siegfried Celebrates 150th Anniversary
There are only a few chemical and pharmaceutical companies that look back at a history of 150 years. Certainly, many companies claim such a long legacy, but if you only count those that have been operating and thriving under the same name for a century and a half, the number boils down significantly.
Sustainability – The Many Facets of Action
Climate change, energy crisis, the call for a more environmentally compatible production method and socially responsible action do not stop at the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Sustainability is becoming a central competitive and reputation factor and carries a high economic value. This need not be to the industry´s disadvantage. It helps companies to make processes more efficient, reduces energy consumption and keeps costs in check. But is the pharmaceutical industry already doing enough in this regard?
Siegfried Demonstrates Biologics Expertise in Hameln
The Fill & Finish of biologic drugs is expensive and poses special technological challenges for CDMOs. At the German site in Hameln, Siegfried has successfully proven these capabilities over the past two years by producing Covid-19 vaccines and a significant number of clinical batches for several biological companies. By investing in its competencies, capacities and flexibility, the company intends to further expand this demanding but promising business area.
"We Want to Be a Big Fish"
The CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organizations) business has a bright future, of that Siegfried CEO Wolfgang Wienand is certain. The economic advantages alone speak for this compared to in-house production by the pharmaceutical companies themselves. Although Siegfried has already reached sufficient critical size within its industry, he sees the company continuing on its growth path. The goal is to take over an even larger share of the value chain from pharmaceutical companies in the future.
Navigating Uncertainty in the Biopharma Market
Biopharma companies are facing funding challenges in 2023 as interest rates rise and investors are becoming more risk adverse. There is hope on the horizon, say some analysts, while others project a prolonged slump due to inflation and global instability. Established pharmaceutical companies are often seen as safer investments, with larger developers expected to perform well in 2023, especially if litigation threats against drugs like Zantac disappear. However, concerns about revenue gaps continue for big companies like GSK and Sanofi, and their strategy and leadership will be closely monitored in the coming months.
Chemical Distribution in China
The Chinese chemical distribution market is very likely the largest in the world. To be successful in this competitive market, foreign distributors in particular need to consider some important aspects.
On Track for a Sustainable Future
Interview with Annegret Vester, Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), CHT Germany
Resilience Is the Strategy for Success in Volatile Markets
For its annual report "Value Creation in Chemicals 2022 – Building Resilience as the Crisis Unfolds," the strategy consultancy Boston Consulting Group examined the performance of leading international chemical companies between 2017 and 2021. The results show that the chemical industry, even in difficult times, has outperformed other sectors.
Using Digital Twins for Sustainable Manufacturing Processes
Sustainable manufacturing is one of the most common demands industries, such as the pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnological industries, are faced with today.
Containment Solutions for HPAPI Manufacturing
Clear incentive for drug manufacturers to equip their production facilities with the capacity to process highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs). HPAPIs now account for 25% of all drugs produced globally, with some analysts projecting that it will reach a value of $40 billion by 2027.
Delivering Quality with Speed for European Market
In this interview, Jinling Chen, head of WuXi STA’s drug product business, and Jamie Andrews, site head of WuXi STA’s Couvet facility, explain the company’s strategy and the goals of the European expansion.
A Flexible Chemical Business Model
Actylis, leading global manufacturer and sourcing expert of critical raw materials and performance ingredients for the life sciences and specialty chemicals markets, made its debut in September 2022. The new CDMO was created from US-based fine and specialty chemicals distributor Aceto. Gilles Cottier, CEO of Actylis, has played a tremendous role in Aceto’s transformation into the new Actylis brand. Ralf Kempf and Michael Reubold asked Cottier about the reasons for creating the new brand identity, the challenges of combining so many companies, and Actylis' strategy going forward.
Going Inland
Historically, China’s chemical industry has mainly been located in coastal provinces, with Shandong as the biggest and Jiangsu as the second biggest province by chemical sales, while the coastal regions of Hebei, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Liaoning and Guangdong are also among the top ten producers of chemicals.
Chemicals M&A Review 2022 and Outlook 2023
2021 was historic for chemical M&As, it was a record-breaking year in terms of total value of deals. Therefore, it was expected that 2022 would only build upon this. However, the combination of high interest rates, supply chain bottlenecks and geopolitical instability saw both the number and value of deals take a significant hit throughout 2022.
The Materials Revolution
Companies in the materials industry – including chemical companies – are seeing a revolution that is likely to drive a new wave of growth. To succeed, however, they will need to rethink their value chains, expand manufacturing in the region, and take advantage of digitally powered approaches to innovation.
Intellectual Property Protection in China: Better Than Many Think
In 2021, the new patent law came into force in China. It represents a significant strengthening of protection against patent infringements.
Behavior Based Safety
Every chemical company has safety rules, analysis tools, dashboards and a keen awareness of safety processes.
The Re-Emergence of Global Geopolitical Risks
The 2022 edition of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, compiled by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), is published at a moment of tremendous turmoil.
The Energy Crisis as Opportunity
The current crisis, exacerbated by the economic downturn and war in Ukraine, can be an opportunity to reduce dependence on fossil feedstocks and explore sustainable alternatives.
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?
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.
Sustainability and the Chemicals Industry
The chemicals industry is one of the world’s largest industrial sectors, worth €3,471 billion in 2020. It includes producers of industrial chemicals, polymers, pesticides, food and feed additives, and cosmetics, and is growing rapidly. By some estimates it will reach almost $22,000 billion by 2060.
Transition Pathways toward CO2 Neutrality
Chemical parks are locations of intensive value creation. They are a driver for sustainable development with a high economic, ecological and social impact.
The Japanese Pharma Market
Japan continues to be one of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the world, making up approximately 7% of the global share. Historically, Japan has been viewed as insular compared to other developed markets such as Europe or the US, with foreign companies reporting high barriers to entry.
Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
The primary goal for any manufacturing or process organization is to produce a profit and return on net asset (RONA) to shareholders and other stakeholders. Safety and environmental performance are secondary goals – not secondary in importance, but no manufacturing plant was ever built with the sole and explicit purpose of being safe and environmentally responsible.
