Posco Chemical to Invest $107 M to Expand Anode Material Capacity

Posco Chemical Co., a unit of South Korean steel giant Posco, will invest 125.4 billion won ($107.7 million) to ramp up annual production capacity of lithium-ion secondary battery anode materials to 66,000 tons to promptly respond to burgeoning demand from the electric vehicle market. The company said Monday that its board of directors approved its … Read more

Reliance to Invest US$9.75 B to Build Oil-to-Chemicals Complex in India

Reliance Industries has confirmed plans to invest US$9.75 billion – or 700 billion Indian rupees – to build a crude-oil-to-chemicals complex at the company’s Jamnagar, India, site. Commenting, Afsar Hussain, Wood Mackenzie Senior Research Analyst, said: “The project will have a combined capacity to produce 8.5 million tonnes of ethylene and propylene, 3.5 million tonnes … Read more

BASF Begins $10 Billion Verbund Project in China

BASF officially launched its smart Verbund project in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, China, and commenced building its first plants. The project is estimated to cost US$10 billion as announced in July 2018. The first plants will produce engineering plastics and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to serve the increasing needs of various growth industries in the southern China … Read more

SAGIA, Shell and AMG Sign Agreement to Build Catalyst Recycling Facility

The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), Shell Overseas Services Ltd. (Shell) and Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (AMG) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to evaluate the potential for construction and operation, subject to regulatory approvals, of a spent catalyst recycling facility in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. The signing took place in Riyadh, Saudi … Read more

Saudi Government Agency Announces New Petchem Investment Deals Worth over $2bn

The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) has announced more than $2bn worth of new petrochemical investment deals, which include a new polyacrylamide plant and an ammonia project in Jubail. The deals were signed in Riyadh between the SAGIA and five chemical majors, namely, German BASF, Anglo-Dutch Shell, Japanese Mitsui & Co, French SNF and … Read more

Next Wave to Build Ethylene-Based Alkylate Plant in Texas

Next Wave Energy Partners, LP announced on Wednesday it has made a final investment decision (FID) to construct a new alkylate production facility, known as Project Traveler, which will be located adjacent to the Houston Ship Channel at Next Wave’s 53-acre site in Pasadena, Texas. Next Wave said it will convert a portion of North … Read more

UPL to Acquire Chinese Agrochemical Company

UPL Ltd, an Indian agrochemical company said it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a majority stake in Yoloo Laoting Bio-technology Co. Ltd, an agrochemical firm based in China’s Heibei province, from Beijing Yoloo Bio-Technology Corp. Ltd. UPL will own 75% stake in Yoloo Laoting for RMB 93.33 million ($13.3 million). The remaining 25% … Read more

Royal DSM to Acquire Royal CSK, Combining Complementary Strengths in Dairy

Royal DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, announced that it has reached agreement with the shareholders of specialty dairy solutions provider Koninklijke CSK Food Enrichment C.V. for the acquisition of a 100% interest in the company for a cash consideration of about €150 million ($166 million). Subject to customary conditions, … Read more

Celanese Signs Strategic Agreement with Chinese Firm on R&D

Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, and Beijing Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology Co., Ltd., announced they have signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation and development agreement. The agreement aims to further expand cooperation in product research and development, expansion into emerging markets, and the advancement of industry, safety and environmental protection practices and … Read more

PMC Acquires Lanxess’ Organotin Specialties Business

PMC Group N.A., Inc. and Lanxess Organometallics GmbH announced that the parties have reached an agreement whereby PMC’s European subsidiary will acquire the organotin specialties product line from Lanxess. The transaction is scheduled to close by year end, subject to customary closing conditions. The Business includes Lanxess’ global organotin catalyst, organotin specialties and intermediates product … Read more

Air Liquide is Exploring the Possible Sale of Schülke

Air Liquide said it was examining the possible sale of its German unit Schuelke. The Group intends to continue to develop its healthcare activities, while providing schülke with the best opportunities for its long-term development. “Being at the very preliminary stage of this process, different scenarios are being reviewed and no assurance can be given … Read more

ADNOC Signs Framework Agreement with China’s Rongsheng Petrochemical

ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.) said Tuesday it signed an agreement with China’s Rongsheng Petrochemicals Co. to explore local and international opportunities which will support the delivery of its 2030 smart growth strategy. Both companies will look into opportunities for ADNOC’s sale of refined products to Rongsheng, downstream investments in both China and the … Read more

AkzoNobel Wraps up Acquisition of Aerospace Coatings Firm Mapaero

AkzoNobel N.V. has completed the acquisition of French aerospace coatings manufacturer Mapaero, which was first announced in July. The deal will strengthen AkzoNobel’s global position in aerospace coatings, notably in the structural and cabin coating sub-segments. Combining the world class product ranges from both companies will also enable AkzoNobel to provide customers with a much … Read more

Perstorp Breaks Ground in India to Expand Pentaerythritol Business

Perstorp, a global leader in the specialty chemicals market, has unveiled plans to invest in the construc-tion of a new Pentaerythritol production facility in Gujarat, India. The world scale, green-field Gujarat plant will produce Pentaerythritol, including the renewable grades of Voxtar, providing up to a 60% reduced carbon footprint. Construction of the Gujarat plant started … Read more

LG Chem Opens New Petchem Technology Center in South Korea

LG Chem announced on Thursday it has opened a technical service and development center in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, marking the country’s largest petrochemical technology center. The company invested 110 billion won ($94.8 million) in establishing the center, it said. The petrochemical tech center is part of LG Chem’s plan to boost its competitiveness in the … Read more

Air Products Signs MOU to Establish Industrial Gas Production Facilities in Saudi Arabia

Air Products Qudra and Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish world-class industrial gas production facilities and distribution networks in the industrial cities of Royal Commission. The MOU sets preliminary framework details for Air Products Qudra to establish a hydrogen fueling economy in the Kingdom, achieve higher values … Read more

MonoSol to Build New Plant in Europe and Expand Operations in US

MonoSol, a divison of Tokyo-based Kuraray Group announced plans to further expand its operations with the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Poland to meet rapidly increasing demand for its water-soluble and biodegradable films. Additionally, the company confirmed plans to increase manufacturing capacity at its recently completed plant near Indianapolis in Lebanon, Indiana. The … Read more

Covestro Sells European Systems Houses Business to HIG Capital

Covestro successfully closed the sale of its European Systems Houses business to H.I.G. Capital effective as of November 1, 2019. The sales proceeds amount to a high-double-digit euro million sum. The business comprises facilities in the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Germany and further businesses in Italy. With approximately 250 employees, the business generates a annual sales … Read more

Sibur Closes Sale of Petchem Units Based in Togliatti, Russia to Tatneft

SIBUR and Tatneft have closed the sale and purchase of certain production and other assets that to date have been registered in the name of Sibur Togliatti and Togliattisintez legal entities. After the deal, Tatneft intends to further develop the acquired assets in line with its gas and petrochemical strategy, while SIBUR will concentrate efforts … Read more