Commodity Chemicals

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

Evonik, Dow Develop Industrial-scale Direct Synthesis of PG from Propylene

Dow and Evonik have entered into an exclusive technology partnership. Together, they plan to bring a unique method for directly synthesizing propylene glycol (PG) from propylene and hydrogen peroxide to market maturity. The basis for the method, named HYPROSYN, has been created over the last few years by a team of over 100 Evonik employees. … Read moreEvonik, Dow Develop Industrial-scale Direct Synthesis of PG from Propylene

Ulsan PP Breaks Ground on New Polypropylene Plant in South Korea

LyondellBasell announced that Ulsan PP Co., Ltd., a joint venture between PolyMirae Company Ltd, a 50-50 partnership of LyondellBasell and Daelim, and SK Advanced broke ground in the southeastern port city of Ulsan, South Korea. This new plant will utilize LyondellBasell’s world leading fifth generation Spheripol technology and is expected to begin production in May … Read moreUlsan PP Breaks Ground on New Polypropylene Plant in South Korea

BP Signs MoU with ZPCC to Build 1 MMt Acetic Acid Plant in China

BP and China’s Zhejiang Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (ZPCC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the creation of a new equally-owned joint venture to build and operate a 1 million tonne per annum (tpa) acetic acid plant in eastern China. A proposed plant in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province would produce acetic acid – … Read moreBP Signs MoU with ZPCC to Build 1 MMt Acetic Acid Plant in China

BASF, Adani, Borealis, ADNOC Sign MoU to Study Joint Development of $4-bn Petrochemical Complex

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Adani Group, BASF SE and Borealis AG have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to engage in a joint feasibility study to further evaluate a collaboration for the establishment of a chemical complex in Mundra, Gujarat, India. This is the next step of BASF’s and Adani’s investment plans as … Read moreBASF, Adani, Borealis, ADNOC Sign MoU to Study Joint Development of $4-bn Petrochemical Complex

Solvay’s New Polyethersulfone Unit in India Comes On-stream

Solvay has started the operation of its new Veradel PESU (polyethersulfone) line at its plant in Panoli, India. Solvay is raising capacity to address significant demand mainly from the Healthcare and Water Treatment industries, for this high-performance thermoplastic material. This capacity increase is a part of Solvay’s plan, announced in 2017, to raise sulfone polymers … Read moreSolvay’s New Polyethersulfone Unit in India Comes On-stream

Sabic to Invest in Methanol Plant in Russian Far East

Sabic (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) signed a preliminary agreement with the state-controlled Russian Direct Investment Fund and Moscow-based ESN Group for a potential investment in a methanol plant in the Russian Far East, as the Middle East’s biggest petrochemicals producer looks to expand its international footprint. The agreement, part of a broad range of pacts … Read moreSabic to Invest in Methanol Plant in Russian Far East

Arkema to Sell Functional Polyolefins Business to SK Global

Arkema announces the proposed divestment of its Functional Polyolefins business to SK Global Chemical, a major chemicals player in South Korea and a subsidiary of SK, the large South-Korean corporation. With this project, Arkema continues its shift towards specialty chemicals and advanced materials. Part of the PMMA Business Unit (Industrial Specialties division), the Functional Polyolefins … Read moreArkema to Sell Functional Polyolefins Business to SK Global

Brenntag to Acquire Brazilian Chemical Distributor Quimisa

Brenntag, the global market leader in chemical and ingredients distribution, has signed an agreement to acquire Quimisa SA including its logistics subsidiary Quimilog. German Torres, Chief Executive Officer of Brenntag Latin America: “For Brenntag, the acquisition of Quimisa is an attractive investment with a strong infrastructure which will allow us to increase our market position … Read moreBrenntag to Acquire Brazilian Chemical Distributor Quimisa

BASF Plans Expansion of Ethylene Oxide, Derivatives Complex at Antwerp

BASF will expand the capacity of ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide derivatives at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium in line with its customer-focused corporate strategy. The total investment adds about 400,000 metric tons per year to BASF’s production capacity for the corresponding products with an expected investment amount exceeding €500 million ($544 million). “This … Read moreBASF Plans Expansion of Ethylene Oxide, Derivatives Complex at Antwerp

Arkema Completes the Acquisition of its Partner’s Stake in Sunke

Arkema has completed the acquisition of its partner’s stake in Taixing Sunke Chemicals, its joint venture manufacturing acrylic monomers in China, and now becomes the sole shareholder of the company. With this transaction, which has approximately €70 million ($86 million) impact on the net debt, the Group will support the growth of its customers in … Read moreArkema Completes the Acquisition of its Partner’s Stake in Sunke

Fire broke out at Haldia Petrochemical’s Naphtha Cracker in West Bengal, India

A major fire broke out at the naphtha cracker unit of the Haldia Petrochemicals Limited here on Friday injuring 15 people, reported Business Today with reference to a senior police officer’s statement. The fire broke out when a naphtha pipe line exploded during repair at the naphtha cracker unit. The fire was brought under control … Read moreFire broke out at Haldia Petrochemical’s Naphtha Cracker in West Bengal, India

ExxonMobil Plans $174M Ethylene Plant Upgrade at Fife, Scotland

ExxonMobil said Tuesday that it is investing £140 million ($174.7 million) to upgrade infrastructure and add new technologies to its ethylene plant in Mossmorran, Fife, Scotland to boost the performance and reliability of the site. “These planned investments demonstrate our commitment to long-term reliable operations at the site,” Jacob McAlister, plant manager of the Fife … Read moreExxonMobil Plans $174M Ethylene Plant Upgrade at Fife, Scotland

SIBUR and Sinopec Sign MoU to set up Nitrile Rubber JV

SIBUR Holding (SIBUR) and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) production. The MoU  was signed at the meeting between the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang in St Petersburg. … Read moreSIBUR and Sinopec Sign MoU to set up Nitrile Rubber JV

Saudi Aramco Suspends 50% of Production following Drone Attacks

Saudi Aramco emergency crews contained fires at its plants in Abqaiq and Khurais, as a result of terrorist attacks with projectiles, according to a media release from the company. These attacks resulted in production suspension of 5.7 million barrels of crude oil per day. After visiting the incident locations, Amin H Nasser, Saudi Aramco president … Read moreSaudi Aramco Suspends 50% of Production following Drone Attacks

Sarawak Petchem Breaks Ground for Methanol Plant

The Sarawak Petchem Sdn Bhd-owned methanol plant project’s ground breaking ceremony was held on Wednesday. The project is estimated to cost over RM 8 billion ($2 billion). The plant, which will have a production capacity of about 1.7 million tonnes per annum, will receive 160 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas feedstock … Read moreSarawak Petchem Breaks Ground for Methanol Plant

MEGlobal Inaugurates its New Ethylene Glycol Plant in Texas

MEGlobal America, a subsidiary of Kuwait-based petrochemicals producer Equate Group, has inaugurated the new Oyster Creek ethylene glycol plant in Oyster Creek, Texas. The Oyster Creek ethylene glycol plant has a capacity of 750,000 metric tons per annum. The plant will produce monoethylene and diethylene glycol products by capitalizing on US shale gas. Monoethylene and … Read moreMEGlobal Inaugurates its New Ethylene Glycol Plant in Texas

Air Products to Form JV with Debang Group to Operate Syngas Project in China

Air Products announced a new joint venture (JV) with Debang Xinghua Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Jiangsu Debang Chemical Industrial Group Co., Ltd., to build, own and operate a coal-to-syngas processing facility in Xuwei National Petrochemical Park, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, China.   Air Products will own 80 percent of the JV, and Debang Group will own 20 percent. The JV will own and operate … Read moreAir Products to Form JV with Debang Group to Operate Syngas Project in China

LyondellBasell Signs MOU with Bora for Expansion in China

LyondellBasell, one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand in China through a Joint Venture (JV) with the Liaoning Bora Enterprise Group (Bora). “China is the largest, fastest growing market in the world for our core products,” said Bob Patel, … Read moreLyondellBasell Signs MOU with Bora for Expansion in China

German Chemical Industry in the Doldrums

Lack of demand from industrial customers and the global economic uncertainties continue to create problems for the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Weak numbers for the second quarter of 2019 have prompted the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) to lower its full-year forecast for the third time in 2019. There is no improvement in sight, … Read moreGerman Chemical Industry in the Doldrums