Evonik to build bio-surfactants plant in Slovakia

Evonik to build bio-surfactants plant in Slovakia

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik is investing a three-digit million-euro sum in the construction of a new production plant for bio-based and fully biodegradable rhamnolipids, as per the company's press release.

The decision to build the plant follows a breakthrough in Evonik's research and development. Rhamnolipids are biosurfactants and serve as active ingredients in shower gels and detergents. Demand for environ-mentally friendly surfactants is growing rapidly worldwide.

The investment at the Slovenska Lupca site in Slovakia strengthens Evonik's partnership with the consumer goods group Unilever, which began in 2019. At the same time the investment allows Evonik to further expand its own market position in the growth market for biosurfactants. The new plant is scheduled to come on stream in two years.

Over the past 25 years, Evonik's site in Slovakia has developed into a strategic center for biotechnology with a team of highly qualified experts.

As MRC informed earlier, in February, 2020, Dow and Evonik 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.

Propylene is the main feedstock for the production of polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of EUR12.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR1.91 billion in 2020. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. About 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: to improve life today and tomorrow.
MRC

Eastman invest in PET waste chemical recycling facility in France

Eastman invest in PET waste chemical recycling facility in France

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman is to invest up to USD1bn in a hard-to-recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste methanolysis-based chemical recycling facility in France, said the company.

The investment would recycle enough plastic waste annually to fill Stade de France national football stadium 2.5 times, while also creating virgin-quality material with a significantly lower carbon footprint. Eastman is the largest investor at this year's "Choose France" event, which is focused on attracting foreign investment to France.

This multi-phase project includes units that would prepare mixed plastic waste for processing, a methanolysis unit to depolymerize the waste, and polymer lines to create a variety of first-quality materials for specialty, packaging, and textile applications. Eastman also plans to establish an innovation center for molecular recycling that would enable France to sustain a leadership role in the circular economy. This innovation center would advance alternative recycling methods and applications to curb plastic waste incineration and leave fossil feedstock in the ground. The plant and innovation center would be expected to be operational by 2025, creating employment for approximately 350 people and leading to an additional 1,500 indirect jobs in recycling, energy and infrastructure.

A circular economy is key to addressing the global plastic waste crisis and the climate crisis, which have both been at the center of attention in France and throughout Europe. This long-term partnership between France and Eastman will contribute to the EU achieving its sustainability goals, by reducing carbon emissions and enabling a circular economy. France has demonstrated tremendous leadership by recognizing the vital role of molecular recycling and supporting investments in innovation.

The plant and innovation centre is expected to be operational by 2025. Eastman CEO Mark Costa said agreements related to securing the plastic waste that will be raw material supply, securing government incentives, and a decision on the location of the site will be made in the coming months.

LVMH Beauty, The Estee Lauder Companies, Clarins, Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal and Danone are signing letters of intent for multiyear supply agreements from this facility.

As per MRC, Eastman Chemical Co. (Kingsport, Tenn.) has completed the acquisition of the business and assets of Matrix Films, LLC and its UK affiliate, PremiumShield Limited, marketer of PremiumShield performance films, including its extended line of automotive film patterns.

As per MRC, Eastman is increasing capacity for its Naia-brand cellulosic filament yarn at its plant in Barcelona, Spain. Eastman is increasing its capacity to produce Naia cellulosic filament yarns at its plant Barcelona, by 30% by mid-2021, and by more than 50% by the end of 2022.

Eastman is a multinational chemical company serving customers in approximately 100 countries. Sales in 2015 amounted to around USD9.6 Billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. The company employs approximately 15 thousand people around the world.
MRC

COVID-19 - News digest as of 17.01.2022

1. Crude oil prices hit their highest in more than three years on supply worries, limited Omicron impact

Oil prices rose on Monday, with Brent futures touching their highest in more than three years, as investors bet supply will remain tight amid restrained output by major producers with global demand unperturbed by the Omicron coronavirus variant, reported Reuters. Brent crude futures gained 40 cents, or 0.5%, to USD86.46 a barrel by 0641 GMT. Earlier in the session, the contract touched its highest since Oct. 3, 2018 at USD86.71. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 58 cents, or 0.7%, at USD84.40 a barrel, after hitting USD84.78, the highest since Nov. 10, 2021, earlier in the session. The gains followed a rally last week when Brent rose more than 5% and WTI climbed over 6%.

MRC

LG Chem reduces capacity utilisation at its steam crackers in South Korea on weak margins

LG Chem reduces capacity utilisation at its steam crackers in South Korea on weak margins

MOSCOW (MRC) -- LG Chema, South Korean petrochemical major, reduced run rates at all of its three naphtha crackers in Deasan and Yeosu, South Korea to approximately 80% on 5 January, 2021, on the back of weak demand and highly volatile upstream naphtha costs, according to CommoPlast with reference to market sources.

All three crackers with a combined capacity of 3.25 million tons of ethylene and 1.48 million tons of propylene would operate at reduced rates throughout the month of January.

It is reported that the producer would ramp up the production in February, however, it is unclear on the exact schedule.

As MRC reported earlier, LG Chem increased the capacity utilisation at its naphtha cracker in Daesan to 50% by 25 November, 2021, after restart and ramped up the operating rates to 100% on 26 November. LG Chem restarted this cracker on 22 November 2021 after a couple of delay due to a trouble at the cooling tower. The unit was taken offline in late September, 2021, for a routine maintenance. And on 23 November, it received commercial production. LG Chem’s Daesan cracker has an annual output of 1.2 million tons/year of ethylene and 600,000 tons/year of propylene.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,265,290 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2021, up by 14% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

LG Chem Ltd., often referred to as LG Chemical, is the largest Korean chemical company and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It has eight domestic factories and global network of 29 business locations in 15 countries. LG Chem is a manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of petrochemical goods, IT&E Materials and Energy Solutions.
MRC

CPC to restart is No. 4 cracker this week

CPC to restart is No. 4 cracker this week

MOSCOW (MRC) -- CPC Corporation is in plans to restart its No. 4 steam cracker in Linyuan, Taiwan in the third week of January, 2022, according to CommoPlast with reference to market sources.

Thus, the company has postponed the restart of htis cracker by 15 days after a small fire struck the offline unit on 6 January 2022, .

This cracker with an annual output of 380,000 tons/year of ethylene and 193,000 tons/year of propylene was shut on 8 November 2021 for a scheduled tunraround. The producer initially planned to bring the unit online on 6 January 2022.

As MRC informed earlier, Taiwan's CPC Corporation unexpectedly shut is No. 4 cracker due to technical glitches on 2 July, 2020. The shutdown period lasted for around 7 days.

The company also operates another cracker at the same site - No. 3 cracker, which has an ethylene capacity of 720,000 mt/year and propylene capacity of 370,000 mt/year.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,265,290 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2021, up by 14% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

CPC Corporation, Taiwan, is engaged in the exploration, production, refining, procurement, transportation, storage, and marketing of oil and gas. The company provides fuel oil, including automotive unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel, low-sulfur fuel oil, marine distillate fuels, marine residual fuels, and aviation fuel; petrochemicals, such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, para-xylene, and ortho-xylene; liquefied petroleum gas products comprising liquefied petroleum gas, propane, butane, and a propane/butane mixture; lubricants, motor oil, industrial oil, grease, and marilube oil; SNC products, including petroleum ether, naphtha, toluene, xylene, crude octene, methyl alcohol, normal paraffin, viscosity-graded asphalt cement, and sulfur; and natural gas.
MRC