Clariant expands its emission control catalysts capacity

MOSCOW (MRC) – Clariant Catalysts is expanding and enhancing its capacity for emission control catalysts to meet growing global demand, particularly in China, as per the company's press release.

The company just recently commenced operations at an additional, upgraded production facility in Heufeld, Germany, which features state-of-the-art production equipment exclusively dedicated to emission control catalysts.

Production capacity for the catalysts has been increased to enable a volume growth of 100% compared to 2019. The site, which now includes two units, covering a combined area of 1500 m2. The plant operates under rigorous quality controls, and is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 standards.

Stefan Heuser, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Clariant Catalysts, stated, “As governmental emission control standards are intensified around the world, our customers can rely on the ample supply of our innovative EnviCat catalysts to effectively and cost-efficiently meet even the most stringent targets.”

Clariant’s EnviCat emission control catalysts are proven to remove harmful chemical compounds with an excellent conversion efficiency of up to 99% and beyond. The catalysts are suitable for off-gas abatement in a diverse range of applications, from chemical production plants to stationary engines and turbines. The EnviCat range includes catalysts for the removal of various harmful emissions, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen oxide, and ammonia.

Demand for Clariant’s emission control catalysts has increased dramatically worldwide, particularly in China, where strict new legislation has been introduced to improve the air quality. In 2020 and the first half-year of 2021, 56 chemical producers in the country decided to upgrade their chemical production facilities with Clariant emission control catalysts. Strong growth comes from emission control for applications such as propane dehydrogenation (PDH), as well as acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) production. Here, Clariant’s advanced technologies help customers meet stringent governmental emission control standards and sustainable development regulations.

As MRC reported earlier, in October 2020, Clariant announced the construction of a new state-of-the-art catalyst production site in China. This project represents a significant investment which further strengthens Clariant’s position in China and enhances its ability to support its customers in the country’s thriving petrochemicals industry.

The new facility will be primarily responsible for producing the Catofin catalyst for propane dehydrogenation, which is used in the production of olefins such as propylene. Thanks to its excellent reliability and productivity, Catofin delivers superior annual production output compared to alternative technologies, resulting in increased overall profitability for propylene producers, says the company. Construction at the Dushan Port Economic Development Zone in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province was scheduled to commence in Q3 2020, and Clariant expects to be at full production capacity by 2022.

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

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 607,8900 tonnes in January-May 2021, up by 33% year on year. Shipments of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas deliveries of PP random copolymers decreased.

Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Italian energy company Eni is expanding its renewable energy presence in Spain with the acquisition of wind and solar power projects amounting to 1.2 GW, reported S&P Global with reference to the company's statement on July 26.

Eni's retail division, gas e luce, which it has integrated with its renewable power operations, signed an agreement with Azora Capital to buy the portfolio of nine renewable energy projects in Spain, it said in a statement.

Eni will acquire three wind farms in service and one under construction in central-northern Spain, totaling 230 MW, in addition to five solar projects totaling around 1 GW, in advanced development.

"This operation allows us to increase our renewable power generation capacity with immediate effect, in compliance with our plan targets and at the same time reinforce our growth prospects through a pipeline of solar projects in a strategic market like the Spanish one," Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said in the statement.

The two companies will work together to target first production from the projects under construction or in development by 2024.

Eni aims to have 4 GW of installed renewable capacity globally by 2024, with a customer base of over 11 million, expanding to 15 GW of renewables and 15 million customers by 2030.

As MRC wrote previously, Italian energy group Eni is evaluating conversion of its Livorno refinery in northwest Italy into a biorefinery, as part of the Italian company's wider strategy to make its activities more environmentally sustainable. Eni has already converted two of its Italian refineries and is looking to almost double its biorefining capacity to around 2 million mt/year by 2024, and expand this to at least five times by 2050, as part of its pledge to achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2050.

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 953,400 tonnes in the first five months of 2021, which virtually corresponded to the same figure a year earlier. High denisty polyethylene (HDPE) shipments decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 607,8900 tonnes in January-May 2021, up by 33% year on year. Shipments of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas deliveries of PP random copolymers decreased.

Eni, abbreviation of Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi, in full Eni SpA, Italian energy company operating primarily in petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemicals. Established in 1953, it is one of Europe's largest oil companies in terms of sales.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chinese giant Sinopec has closed the first bulk agreement transaction on China’s recently launched national carbon market, said Upstreamonline.

Sinopec confirmed it had purchased 100,000 tonnes of carbon emission quota from China Resources Group on 21 July, marking the first bulk agreement transaction since last week’s launch of the national carbon market.

Sinopec has a total of 17 subsidiaries participating in the national carbon market, while its carbon trading business is operated by its wholly-owned subsidiary China International United Petroleum & Chemicals (Unipec).

The company claims to be accelerating the construction of a clean, low-carbon energy supply system as it targets a reduction in its annual methane emission intensity by 50% by 2025.

It forms part of Sinopec’s "one foundation, two wings and three news" strategy, which looks to lay a strong foundation with “energy resources”, strengthen the "two wings" of improving clean oil quality and modern industrial development, while the "three news" covers exploring new energy, new material and new economy.

China is currently the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but it has set climate goals of reaching peak CO2 emissions by 2030 on its path to carbon neutrality by 2060.

As per MRC, Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical, a subsidiary of one of the world's largest energy and chemical companies, Sinopec, closed on July 9 for unscheduled repairs a high-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant in the city of Zibo (Zibo, China). Thus, maintenance at this enterprise, which can produce 175 thousand tons of LDPE per year, will be carried out within one month, until August 9.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 953,400 tonnes in the first five months of 2021, which virtually corresponded to the same figure a year earlier. High denisty polyethylene (HDPE) shipments decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 607,8900 tonnes in January-May 2021, up by 33% year on year. Shipments of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas deliveries of PP random copolymers decreased.

Sinopec Corp. is one of the world's largest integrated energy and chemical companies. Business of Sinopec Corp. includes oil and gas exploration, production and transportation of oil and gas, oil refining, petrochemical production, production of mineral fertilizers and other chemical products. In terms of refining capacity, Sinopec Corp. ranks second in the world, fourth in terms of ethylene capacity.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Henkel has acquired Swania SAS, based in Nanterre, France, from Milestone Investisseurs and individual shareholders, said the company.

Through this transaction, Henkel expands its position in the market for sustainable laundry and home care products and adds a highly complementary portfolio in very attractive and profitable market segments with a successful innovation track record.

Swania is the fastest-growing French independent player in the ecological home care market. In 2020, the company was even ranked as one of the top 20 fastest-growing consumer companies in France. The portfolio comprises the sustainable brand Maison Verte, which offers a wide variety of products certified with Ecolabel and accounts for more than 60 percent of total sales. Maison Verte is one of the most established sustainable home care brands in France with a very high brand awareness. The brand offers products for laundry and home care as well as for dishwashing. The vegan brand YOU, created for a young, tech-savvy target group and awarded with the Ecocert label, is also part of the portfolio. Traditional and well-known authentic brands Baranne and O’Cedar are completing the product range. In fiscal 2020, Swania generated sales of around 40 million euros.

“In line with our strategic agenda for purposeful growth we aim to create competitive edge through embedding sustainability into our businesses. Through this acquisition, we are adding attractive brands with a strong sustainability performance and compelling growth opportunities to the portfolio of our Laundry & Home Care business,” said Henkel CEO Carsten Knobel.

“We are excited about the opportunity to add the Swania brands to our Laundry & Home Care business. The brands are fast-growing, and the company has a very successful innovation track record. This business is a perfect fit for our existing portfolio, adding highly complementary brands and expanding our position in the attractive market for sustainable laundry and home care products,” said Bruno Piacenza, Executive Vice President Laundry & Home Care at Henkel.

Both parties agreed to not disclose any financial details of the transaction.

As per MRC, Henkel has expanded its gasketing product portfolio by including new materials and technologies that have been specifically designed for the automotive industry. With higher oil resistance and proven lower gas permeability, Loctite AA 5884 is a new polyacrylate gasketing technology that enables customers to enhance the performance and reliability of their products, all while achieving productivity goals and reducing overall costs.

Henkel operates in three business units, including laundry and home care, beauty care and adhesive technologies.

As per MRC, March production of polymers in primary form was 958,000 tonnes versus 861,000 tonnes in February. Overall output of polymers in primary form totalled 2,740,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by 8.5% year on year. 151,000 tonnes of synthetic rubbers were produced in March, compared to 141,000 tonnes a month earlier. Overall, Russian plants produced about 447,000 tonnes of synthetic rubbers in January-March 2021, up by 10.2% year on year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Brenntag, the global market leader in chemicals and ingredients distribution, made further important steps in strengthening its business in China with the closing of two acquisitions within its Specialties division, said the company.

On July 23, the acquisition of the first tranche (67%) of food ingredients specialist Zhongbai Xingye has been closed. The closing of the second tranche and thus the full acquisition of Zhongbai Xingye is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. In addition, end of June, Brenntag has completed the acquisition of pigments and additives specialist Wellstar Group by acquiring the remaining 49% of shares of the joint venture.

Henri Nejade, Member of the Management Board of Brenntag SE and COO Brenntag Specialties, comments: “Strengthening our Brenntag Specialties division, particularly in China, as well as in the Asia Pacific region in general, is a central pillar of our company’s M&A strategy. I am particularly delighted that we stuck exactly to our timing in both cases and were able to successfully close the important acquisition steps in the dynamic and growing Asian markets as planned."

The Chinese company Zhongbai Xingye is dedicated to the distribution of a wide range of specialty food ingredients, including dairy products and proteins. The acquisition of the leading player in mainland China is an important step for Brenntag to become a full-line distributor of food ingredients in the Asian market. Closing of the second tranche is expected at the end of 2024.

The Wellstar Group is headquartered in Hongkong and operates three subsidiaries in Mainland China located in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. Since Brenntag acquired a majority stake of 51% with a first tranche in August 2017, the business was operated and successfully developed as a joint venture servicing a broad range of industries. With the closing of the second tranche, the Wellstar Group is 100% owned by Brenntag.

As MRC informed earlier, in April 2020, Brenntag said it had acquired the operating assets of Suffolk Solutions’ (Suffolk, Virginia) caustic soda distribution business. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

As MRC reported earlier, the May production of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) amounted to 112,000 tonnes (100% of the main substance) against 101,000 tonnes a month earlier. In the first five months of the year, the total production of caustic soda amounted to 543,000 tonnes, which is 1.4% more than the same indicator of the previous year.
MRC