Azelis opens application center in Istanbul

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Azelis, a leading distributor of specialty chemicals and food ingredients, is excited to announce it has opened a new application and training center in Istanbul, Turkey, said the company.

This center will service the Turkish food, personal care and pharma markets and will offer product advice, formulation development and technical research. Next to that, it will host customer meetings, interactive formulation workshops, supplier meetings and internal technical trainings.

The Azelis Turkey application and training center will be used for product advice, formulation development and technical research. It will also function as a knowledge center for workshops, meetings and internal trainings.

This new application and training center fits Azelis’ strategy to be an innovation service provider to the industry.
In December 2019 Azelis acquired Ekin Kimya, a leading supplier of high-quality chemicals to pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, laboratory sectors in Turkey and surrounding countries. The combined team of experts will work together to create synergies across businesses, which sees the Azelis Turkey application and training center servicing no less than three Azelis market segments: Food & Health, Personal Care and Pharma.

As mRC informed earlier, Huntsman’s Advanced Materials business is proud to announce the expansion of our Pan-American business relationship with our preferred distribution partner, Azelis Americas CASE, LLC in the US and Azelis Canada, Inc. in Canada.

We remind that Russia's output of chemical products rose in August 2020 by 5% year on year. At the same time, production of basic chemicals increased year on year by 5.3% in the first eight months of 2020, according to Rosstat's data. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the January-July output. August production of benzene fell to 102,000 tonnes from 95,300 tonnes a month earlier due to scheduled shutdowns for maintenance at several producers. Overall output of this product reached 918,300 tonnes over the stated period, down by 0.9% year on year.

At the same time, August production of primary polymers rose to 888,000 tonnes against 838,000 tonnes in July due to increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim, Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 6,630,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 15.2% year on year.
MRC

Covestro receives first order of Borealis renewable phenol for PC production

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Covestro says it has received its first delivery of certified renewable phenol from Borealis, to be used as a drop-in feedstock for the production of polycarbonate plastic, said Borealis.

The phenol is manufactured by Borealis using renewable hydrocarbons feedstock supplied by Neste, sourced from waste and residual oils and fats.

The first 1,000-metric ton batch of renewable phenol is part of a strategic collaboration among the three companies to increase the use of alternative raw materials and drive forward the circular economy, they say in a joint statement. The product’s renewable supply chain is verified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) process.

"By cooperating with upstream partners such as Neste and Borealis, we are showing how a sustainable value chain can work,” says Covestro’s CEO Markus Steilemann. Delivering renewable phenol to Covestro shows the companies are “at the forefront of driving the circular economy,” says Alfred Stern, Borealis CEO. The drop-in nature of the product shows its suitability for a continuously increasing number of demanding applications, and showcases how sustainability-focused collaboration among companies can “make a positive impact, even within a complex value chain," according to Peter Vanacker, Neste’s CEO.

Covestro, which has stated plans to make sustainability the heart of its growth strategy, will use the renewable PCs in the automotive and electronics sectors.

As MRC informed earlier, Covestro has launched a new production line for polycarbonate (PC) films in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Thailand.

As MRC reported earlier, Covestro has closed the sale of its European polycarbonates (PC) sheets business to the Munich-based Serafin Group effective January 2, 2020. This includes key management and sales functions throughout Europe as well as production sites in Belgium and Italy.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, overall estimated consumption of PC granules in the Russian market reached 58,000 tonnes in January-July 2020, up by 22% year on year (47,500 tonnes).

Covestro (formerly Bayer MaterialScience) is an independent subgroup within Bayer. It was created as part of the restructuring of Bayer AG from the former business group Bayer Polymers, with certain of its activities being spun off to Lanxess AG. Covestro manufactures and develops materials such as coatings, adhesives and sealants, polycarbonates (CDs, DVDs), polyurethanes (automotive seating, insulation for refrigerating appliances) etc. With 2019 sales of EUR12.4 billion, Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 17,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2019.
MRC

European Commission raises EU GHG emissions reduction target to at least 55% by 2030

European Commission raises EU GHG emissions reduction target to at least 55% by 2030

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The European Commission has recently presented its 2030 climate target plan, in which it sets out a program to reduce EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared with 1990, despite a call from the European Parliament in September for GHG emissions to be reduced 60% by 2030, reported Chemweek.

The new target is based on a comprehensive assessment of the social, economic, and environmental impacts, which shows that this “course of action is realistic and feasible,” the Commission says.

The raised target puts the EU on a balanced pathway to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and underlines the EU's continued global leadership in this area, ahead of the next UN climate conference (COP26), it says.

“We are doing everything in our power to keep the promise that we made to Europeans: make Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world, by 2050. Today marks a major milestone in this journey. With the new target to cut EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, we will lead the way to a cleaner planet and a green recovery. Europe will emerge stronger from the [COVID-19] pandemic by investing in a resource-efficient circular economy, promoting innovation in clean technology and creating green jobs,” says Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.

The plan includes an amendment to the proposed European climate law, which aims to write into legislation a goal set out in the EU Green Deal, to include the 2030 emissions-reduction target of at least 55% as a stepping stone to the 2050 climate-neutrality goal, the Commission says.

It also includes a call to the European Parliament and European Council to confirm the 55% target as the EU's new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, and to submit this to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by the end of this year, it says.

It also sets out the legislative proposals to be presented by June 2021 to implement the new target, including revising and expanding the EU Emissions Trading System; adapting the Effort Sharing Regulation and the framework for land use emissions; reinforcing energy efficiency and renewable energy policies; and strengthening CO2 standards for road vehicles, the Commission says.

In September, Germany’s chemical industry association VCI (Frankfurt) defined the proposed tightening of the EU GHG emission–reduction target for 2030 from 40% to 55%, as extremely ambitious. However, the Commission says that its assessment shows that the EU is on track to surpass its current 2030 emissions reduction target of at least 40%.

“Based on existing policies and the plans of member states, we are on course to surpass our current 40% target for 2030. This shows that being more ambitious is not only necessary, but also realistic,” says Kadri Simson, EU commissioner for energy.

Achieving 55% GHG emissions reductions will require action in all sectors of the economy, the Commission says. The EU will have to increase energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy even more, to reach the new goal of 55%, and this will now be subject to further consultation and analysis before legislative proposals are presented by the Commission in June 2021, it says.

“The energy system will be at the heart of this effort. We will build on the success story of the European renewables sector, look at all the tools at our disposal to increase our energy efficiency, and lay a firm foundation for a greener Europe,” Simson says.

The Commission says it has also adopted today rules for a new EU renewable energy financing mechanism, to make it easier for member states to work together to finance and deploy renewable energy projects.

According to the Commission, the new 2030 climate target will also assist Europe's economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, by stimulating investments in a resource-efficient economy, promoting innovation in clean technology, fostering competitiveness, and creating green jobs. It also notes that member states can draw on the €750-billion ($885 billion) NextGenerationEU recovery fund and the EU's next long-term budget to make these investments in the green transition.

“In this crucial moment for our health, our economy, and for global climate action, it is essential that Europe leads the way to a green recovery,” says Frans Timmermans, Commission executive vice president for the European Green Deal.

As MRC informed earlier, in October, 2020, the European Commission adopted the EU's chemicals strategy for sustainability, describing it as the first step towards a zero-pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment announced in the European Green Deal.

We remind that Russia"s output of chemical products rose in August 2020 by 5% year on year. At the same time, production of basic chemicals increased year on year by 5.3% in the first eight months of 2020, according to Rosstat"s data. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the January-August output. August production of primary polymers rose to 888,000 tonnes against 838,000 tonnes in July due to increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim, Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 6,630,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 15.2% year on year.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,496,500 tonnes in the first eight months of 2020, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of all ethylene polymers increased, except for linear low desnity polyethylene (LLDPE). At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 767,2900 tonnes in the eight months of 2020 (calculated using the formula - production minus exports plus imports - and not counting producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply increased exclusively of PP random copolymer.
MRC

Nestle partners with Plastic Energy to develop a recycling facility in the UK

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chemical recycler Plastic Energy has teamed up with consumer products major Nestle on a study for a commercial large-scale plastics recycling facility in the UK, said the company.

Nestle UK and Ireland has partnered with chemical recycling company Plastic Energy to develop a recycling plant in the UK. The two companies will explore the scope for the first-commercial large-scale facility of its kind in the country.

Plastic Energy uses and develops a specialist recycling technology to transform traditionally hard-to-recycle plastic waste, such as confectionery wrappers and breakfast cereal bags, into recycled oils called TACOIL.

These can then be used as a replacement for fossil oils to make food-grade plastics. Nestle UK and Ireland group packaging manager Alison Bramfitt said: “The issue of packaging waste is one where we all have a role to play, to not only cut our use of virgin plastic, but also make sure the plastic in our packaging has a second life.

“We are working hard to create a circular lifespan for our packaging so it can have multiple lives and uses, and partnering with Plastic Energy is just one of the ways we are taking steps forward on this journey. “We want to increase the amount of recycled plastic we use but there are currently real challenges in the supply of recycled content for food packaging in the UK.

“That’s why we are excited about the potential of this partnership with Plastic Energy. “We hope the outcome of the feasibility study will help offer more insight into the options for supporting the infrastructure in recycling capability in this country."

We remind that Russia's output of chemical products rose in August 2020 by 5% year on year. At the same time, production of basic chemicals increased year on year by 5.3% in the first eight months of 2020, according to Rosstat's data. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the January-July output. August production of benzene fell to 102,000 tonnes from 95,300 tonnes a month earlier due to scheduled shutdowns for maintenance at several producers. Overall output of this product reached 918,300 tonnes over the stated period, down by 0.9% year on year. At the same time, August production of primary polymers rose to 888,000 tonnes against 838,000 tonnes in July due to increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim, Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 6,630,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 15.2% year on year.



MRC

Cray Valley resins business of Total in France not for sale

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Oil and gas group Total said its Societe Cray Valley business, the French offshoot of its resins operations, was not up for sale, reported Reuters.

Reuters reported earlier in October that Total was launching a sale of its resins business and had hired Credit Suisse to work on the process. Total declined to comment at that time.

While the Societe Cray Valley, the French operations, are not part of the divestiture plan, its international resins businesses have been put on the block and are attracting interest from private equity buyers, people close to the matter said.

Cray Valley operates the Carling petrochemical complex in eastern France and has operations elsewhere, including in China.

Total said in a statement that "there is no sales process for the "Societe Cray Valley".

The oil company said that it stood by commitments made in 2013 when it restructured the Carling site, shutting down some activities there but investing in resins production.

Total declined to comment further when asked whether other resins operations were affected by a sales process.

As MRC wrote previously, Total has agreed to sell its Lindsey refinery in the UK to fuel trader and marketer Prax Group, as the French oil major focuses on its integrated downstream assets and the coronavirus adds to the uncertainty over long-term demand for fuel.

We remind that in November 2019, Total disclosed that itis evaluating construction of a new gas cracker at its Deasan, South Korea, joint venture (JV) with Hanwha Chemical.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,496,500 tonnes in the first eight months of 2020, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of all ethylene polymers increased, except for linear low desnity polyethylene (LLDPE). At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market reached 767,2900 tonnes in the eight months of 2020 (calculated using the formula - production minus exports plus imports - and not counting producers' inventories as of 1 January, 2020). Supply increased exclusively of PP random copolymer.

Total S.A. is a French multinational oil and gas company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world with business in Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Asia. The company's petrochemical products cover two main groups: base chemicals and the consumer polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene) that are derived from them.
MRC