Petrochemicals
Air Products to increase Korea nitrogen production
Air Products will increase production of gaseous nitrogen at Cheonan City, South Chungcheong Province in Korea to serve increasing demand from the electronics industry. The company said it will build a new nitrogen plant at its site in Cheonan industrial complex.
EuroChem buys Belgium fertilizer assets of BASF
BASF has signed a contract with Moscow-based EuroChem to sell its fertilizer activities in Antwerp, Belgium. BASF also plans to sell its 50% share of the PEC-Rhin joint venture in Ottmarsheim, France, to EuroChem, it said. The total transaction value is expected to be approximately €700 million.
LyondellBasell to close 105,000 bpd France refinery
LyondellBasell will shut down operations at its 105,000 bpd refinery in Berre, France, after failing to find a buyer for the facility. As a result, refinery operator Compagnie Petrochimique de Berre (CPB) will soon begin work on a project to cease refinery operations, the company said.
Huntsman may close Swiss textile chemicals plant
Huntsman said that its textile effects (TE) division plans to implement a significant restructuring, including the possible closure of its production facilities and business support offices in Basel, Switzerland. The planned restructuring and the possible closures could affect approximately 600 positions in Basel, with potentially 500 job losses and 100 positions moving to other sites across the organization, to build capability closer to customers.
Huntsman plans $40m Asia-Pacific technology hub
Huntsman plans to invest $40 million in building an Asia Pacific regional technology center in Shanghai's Minhang economic and technological development zone. The US-based chemicals manufacturer said the center would support rapidly-growing demand for world-class technology and innovation from customers across the Asia Pacific region.
Celanese opens German engineered polymer plant
US-based specialty chemicals firm Celanese has opened its polyoxymethylene (POM) production facility in Frankfurt Hoechst Industrial Park in Germany. With a nameplate capacity of 140,000 tpy, Celanese’s new POM plant will be the world’s largest and strengthens the company’s Ticona engineering polymers business, including its global operations and advanced technical capabilities, the company said.
BASF picks N America care chemicals distributors
BASF has entered into agreements with nine distributors who will represent its personal care and selected home care businesses in North America, the company said on Monday.
RPM buys US restoration, cleaning solutions group
US-based specialty coatings and sealants firm RPM International said that its RPM2 business unit has agreed to acquire the Legend Brands group of companies, providers of equipment and solutions for water and fire damage restoration, professional cleaning and environmental control.
Oiltanking, PERN sign JV for Poland liquids terminal
Oiltanking and petroleum logistics firm PERN have signed a joint venture to jointly develop and construct a terminal for the storage and handling of bulk liquids in the Port of Gdansk, Poland. The terminal will potentially be able to store and handle crude oil, refined oil and petrochemical products.
Strategic buyers lead chemical M&A revival - report
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the global chemicals industry surged following the recession, driven by interest from strategic buyers in the specialty chemical sector, according to a report issued Wednesday from Fitch Ratings.
- 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
