Petrochemicals
Sinopec confirms deal with Galp Energia to buy 30% of Brazil assets
China Petrochemical Corp. said Friday that it has signed an agreement to buy a 30% stake in the Brazilian unit of Portuguese oil company Galp Energia SA for $3.54 billion. Galp's assets in Brazil include four deep-water blocks in the Santos Basin, it said.
Celanese to buy polyvinyl acetate lines of Ashland
US-based specialty chemicals firm Celanese has agreed to acquire polyvinyl acetate assets from Ashland, including its Vinac and Flexbond product lines, to support strategic growth of Celanese’s emulsion polymers business. Revenues of Vinac and Flexbond were approximately $45 million in 2010.
Cristal, Outotec to partner on TiO2 feedstock plant in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia-based titanium dioxide (TiO2) producer Cristal Global announced what it called a groundbreaking partnership with Outotec, a leading provider of metals processing solutions. Outotec has been selected to build a new fully scalable ilmenite-processing plant for Cristal in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, estimated to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2013.
US paints, coatings demand to grow 8%/yr - study
US demand for paints and coatings is forecast to increase 7.8 percent annually to $26.2 billion in 2015, according to a new study from US-based market research firm The Freedonia Group. The US paints and coatings market will continue to be impacted by the trend toward sustainability, the study says.
Rhodia completes silica expansion at Illinois plant
Rhodia on Wednesday inaugurated its expansion of highly-dispersible silica production at its Chicago Heights site in Illinois, furthering its commitment to support the future growth of its customers. The expansion increases Rhodia’s North American capacity by 33%.
Dow, Saudi Aramco select Jacobs for engineering, construction of chemicals venture
Jacobs Engineering Group was awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract for the Chemicals 1 Envelope of Sadara Chemical Co., the joint venture between Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco. Construction work on the project has already started and is scheduled to be completed by early 2015.
BioAmber, Mitsui plot Canada biosuccinic acid plant
BioAmber and Mitsui & Co. have officially partnered in Canada to build and operate their previously-announced biosuccinic acid manufacturing facility in Sarnia, Ontario. BioAmber will be the majority shareholder in the plants.
Air Liquide starts up California air separation unit
Air Liquide has started up a new, energy-efficient air separation unit (ASU) at its facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The new ASU produces liquid oxygen and nitrogen for a range of industries, including healthcare, food and beverage, steel, glass, electronics, oil and gas, and chemicals.
Dow, Mitsui finalize Brazil biopolymers joint venture
Dow Chemical and Japan-based Mitsui & Co. have secured all necessary governmental regulatory approvals to complete the formation of their previously-announced 50-50 joint venture for biopolymers in Brazil. This represents the world’s largest biopolymers play and Dow’s largest investment in Brazil, a country in which Dow has operated successfully for more than 50 years.
DuPont says 2011 Asia-Pacific sales to grow 20% amid rising populations
DuPont’s East Asia president Carl J. Lukach told investors at the CLSA Asia Forum that his company is on track to generate approximately 20% sales growth this year in Asia Pacific, versus 2010 revenues of $7.3 billion. Lukach said new product and market innovations in China, India, Japan and ASEAN are driven by macro-economic factors and demographic shifts, especially a growing middle class in the region.
- BASF supports European 1,4‑butanediol supply security through increased production in Ludwigshafen 2/16
- Vitol backs proposed $3-billion LNG power plant for South Africa's Durban port 2/16
- HAMR Energy receives additional funding for low-carbon liquid fuels projects 2/16
- NASCAR names POET official bioethanol partner: Becomes first major motorsports series to utilize zero-carbon bioethanol 2/16
- ExxonMobil starts third advanced plastics recycling unit at Baytown complex 2/16
- Geoinform, subsidiary of the MOL Group, signs strategic cooperation agreement with Baker Hughes 2/16
