Chemical railcar traffic in North America up 5.3%

North American chemical railcar traffic rose by 5.3% year on year to 44,983 railcar loadings for the week ended 3 September, marking a fourth consecutive increase, according to the latest freight rail data by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

The four-week average for North American chemical rail traffic was at 46,592 railcar loadings.

For the first 35 weeks of 2022 ended 3 September, North American chemical railcar traffic was up 2.2% year on year to 1,630,734 railcar loadings.

In the US, chemical railcar loadings represent about 20% of chemical transportation by tonnage, with trucks, barges and pipelines carrying the rest. In Canada, producers rely on rail to ship more than 70% of their products, with some exclusively using rail.

Shipments of chemicals, coal, motor vehicles and parts, and nonmetallic minerals rose for the first 35 weeks, while shipments in all other freight railcar categories fell.

We remind, North American chemical railcar traffic rose for third consecutive week. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 511,574 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.4 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending August 27 were 242,633 carloads, up 3.4 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 268,941 containers and trailers, down 0.3 percent compared to 2021.

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The EQUATE Group, a global producer of petrochemicals and the world’s leading supplier of Ethylene Glycol announced its earnings for the first half of 2022, said the company.

The EQUATE Group reported total revenue of USD2,238 million in H1 2022, compared to USD2,041 million during the same period in 2021. The Group also reported a net income after tax of USD537 million and EBITDA of USD855 million, compared to USD543 million and USD869 million, respectively for 2021.

Despite various macro-economic challenges, including the COVID-19 lockdown in China, the geopolitical conflict, and potential recessionary sentiments, EQUATE Group continues to prove that it is well positioned to adapt to market dynamics while advancing its long-term sustainable strategy.

Commenting on the results, Naser Aldousari, President & CEO of EQUATE Group, said: “Our positive performance reflects the strength and agility of our business portfolio, as well as the remarkable efforts of the EQUATE team in maintaining the well-being and safety of our team and the communities in which we operate.

“While current market dynamics remain challenging, we continue to identify and capitalize on areas of underlying strength. Similarly, the competitive position of EQUATE’s global assets has enabled us to operate at maximum capacity and, with our global multi-sourcing capabilities, successfully continue to ship our products to customers."

EQUATE Group’s results reflect their uncompromising focus on reliability and their proactive actions in navigating supply chain challenges and market dynamics to deliver our long-term sustainable strategy.

We remind, EQUATE Group, a global producer of petrochemicals, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Omniya Project Management Company, a plastic recycling firm, in a bid to help close the loop on the plastics economy through the implementation of a joint community recycling program. Signed by Naser Aldousari, President & CEO of EQUATE Group, and Sanaa AlGhemlas, CEO of Omniya, the agreement marks the strengthening of a collaborative partnership to develop and support environmental initiatives in Kuwait to minimize resource consumption and reduce waste.
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Tecam, a leading supplier of environmental technology, announces that it has been awarded 3 new projects for the removal of gases emissions derived from the venting processes generated at very relevant and technically leader industrial sectors in central Europe, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Under the terms of these agreements, Tecam will supply these companies with 3 systems of Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO), which are expected to eliminate 99.9% of the polluting gas venting emissions at the industrial sites where they will be installed.

Although the type of plants where these TECAM solutions will be installed may be different, they both represent leadership on new technologies seeking renewable strategies and circular economy being followed, and the solution from TECAM is fit-for-purpose.

The technology provided by TECAM consists basically on the collection of streams from vents so that they are conducted to a dedicated common treatment plant. Vents from different sources, also with different flowrates and pollutant compositions can be treated in the same pollutant abatement system.

Taking into account the polluting emissions that must be eliminated in tank storage and many other industrial sectors, even more if the most up-to-date Best Available Techniques have to be implemented, Thermal Oxidation technology represents one of the most suitable and cost-effective (from capital and operational costs perspective) option to guarantee polluting emissions elimination in this sector, if the most recent and conservative emissions limits are those to be met.

The RTO solution is getting more and more common in industrial sectors. Moreover it fully complies with BREF recommendations and is specifically mentioned as one of the Best Available Techniques defined by the European Commission within the framework of Directive 2010/75 on industrial emissions and pollution control.

“The recent award of these 3 key projects for gas venting emissions removal shows our commitment with different industrial sectors that constitute leadership on technology, renewable and circular economy strategies, and how Tecam can support the industry with eliminating their gas venting emissions” Tecam CEO Bernat Sala declared. “Environmental technology has proven to be profitable for companies while allowing them to adapt to the strictest environmental legislation. We are at a decisive moment at an environmental level and must take action now”.

By eliminating high concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Thermal Oxidation technology allows to minimize the concentrations of VOCs emitted into the atmosphere, and at its turn comply with all current and most restrictive regulations at an international level.

Thanks to the elimination of 99.9% of gas emissions derived from their production processes, these 3 industrial sites in The Netherlands are soon becoming places with the highest standards of safety, quality and respect for the environment.

As per MRC, Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announces that its subsidiary NextChem has been awarded a Pre-FEED engineering services contract by MadoquaPower2X to develop and operate an integrated renewable hydrogen and green ammonia plant located in Sines, Portugal. The agreement was signed at Gastech at the presence of H.E. Joao Galamba, Secretary of State for Environment and Energy – Government of Portugal. The purpose of the Pre-FEED engineering services includes early studies, technology and process review, modularity and logistics analysis, front end loading of engineering required to undertake the permitting and licensing for the project.
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P2X-Europe, the joint venture between H&R and Mabanaft, launches SynZero, its new brand for synthesis-based specialty chemical products and e-fuels with sustainability standards surpassing legal and regulatory requirements, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

H&R and Mabanaft thus confirm their pioneering role in their respective business segments when it comes to climate protection and set a new sustainability standard for synthetic Power-to-liquids (PtL) products.

“Mabanaft plays an active role in shaping the energy transition and we offer our customers innovative mobility solutions to reduce their CO2 emissions,” explains Volker Ebeling, Senior Vice President of New Energy, Chemicals & Gas at Mabanaft. “With the launch of SynZero, we show our customers that we are ready and able to support them on their path to a carbon-neutral future”.

While SynZero products reduce some undesirable aspects of fossil fuel production and use, including greenhouse gas (GHG) pollutant emissions, they are chemically identical and functionally equivalent to petroleum fuels. That is why SynZero products can replace traditional hydrocarbons made from fossil materials without any inconvenience for the consumer: for instance, SynZero e-fuels can be used without limitations like conventional fuels at the filling station. Existing infrastructures and vehicle fleets require neither equipment retrofits nor technical adjustments, and the refueling process remains the same.

As SynZero e-fuels are created with the help of green electricity, water, and biogenic CO2, they maintain a sustainable carbon equilibrium. While fossil fuel combustion is a one-way process which transfers carbon from “sealed” geological reserves into the atmosphere, biogenic CO2 has a carbon neutral balance since it does not contribute more carbon to the atmosphere than that which has been sequestered before by trees and plants. Combustion simply returns the carbon, that was absorbed as the plants grew, to the atmosphere.

“H&R aims to continue supplying its customers with proven chemical-pharmaceutical specialties in the future, while at the same time converting its portfolio to climate-friendly products. The use of synthetic waxes as raw material is a crucial pillar of our strategy in this regard,” emphasizes Detlev Woesten, Chief Sustainability Officer at H&R and co-CEO of P2X-Europe. “Our additional advantages are the vertically integrated end-to-end technology solutions, and our parent companies’ market access in the mobility and chemical sectors."

With the innovative Power-to-liquid demonstration plant in Hamburg, around 200 metric tons of SynZero e-fuels per year for mobility, and around 150 metric tons of SynZero waxes for applications in the cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food industries will be produced, starting in 2022.

“With SynZero™ products, P2X-Europe aspires to maximize the climate friendliness of synthetic hydrocarbons to be produced from green hydrogen and biogenic CO2. The SynZero brand allows for a differentiation of carbon sources, end products and sustainability attributes. It is the company’s response to increasing consumer demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), cleaner motor fuels, and non-fossil chemical raw materials. With SynZero, P2X-Europe is offering not only a premium brand for synthetic fuels but a credible defossilization strategy and a net-zero carbon perspective for its customers,” underlines Dr. Christoph Weber, co-CEO of P2X-Europe.

In July, P2X-Europe announced its plans to scale-up the Power-to-liquid business with its first project in Portugal in a joint venture with the Navigator Company. The JV opens perspective for 80,000 tpy of renewable SynZero Power-to-liquid products and eSAF.

As per MRC, Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announces that its subsidiary NextChem has been awarded a Pre-FEED engineering services contract by MadoquaPower2X to develop and operate an integrated renewable hydrogen and green ammonia plant located in Sines, Portugal. The agreement was signed at Gastech at the presence of H.E. Joao Galamba, Secretary of State for Environment and Energy – Government of Portugal. The purpose of the Pre-FEED engineering services includes early studies, technology and process review, modularity and logistics analysis, front end loading of engineering required to undertake the permitting and licensing for the project.
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SK Capital Partners has invested in VanDeMark Chemical, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals, in partnership with existing investor Comvest Partners, said the company.

With this investment, VanDeMark aims to expand its presence in the fine chemistries for the global life science market. Comvest will remain a co-owner of VanDeMark.

“Comvest’s support and investment in VanDeMark’s infrastructure, manufacturing processes, and management team over the last three years has strongly positioned the Company for its next chapter of growth,” says Roger Marrero, a senior partner of Comvest. “As we continue to build upon VanDeMark’s robust foundation and enhance the quality and diversity of its product portfolio, we are thrilled to partner with SK Capital. SK Capital brings a shared vision for the Company’s future, strategy, and expansion in the life sciences markets, as well as deep expertise in the sectors and markets in which VanDeMark operates."

King & Spalding LLP acted as legal counsel to SK Capital and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel to Comvest. Debt financing was provided by a bank group led by CIT.

We remind, SK Capital completes USD250m sale of NuCera Solutions to Chase Corporation. An affiliate of funds advised by SK Capital Partners (SK Capital) has completed the sale of NuCera Solutions (NuCera) to Chase Corporation, a leading manufacturer of protective materials for high reliability applications in a USD350 million deal.

SK Capital is a private investment firm with a disciplined focus on the specialty materials, specialty chemicals, and pharmaceuticals sectors. The firm seeks to build strong and growing businesses that create substantial long-term economic value. SK Capital aims to utilize its industry, operating, and investment experience to identify opportunities to transform businesses into higher performing organizations with improved strategic positioning, growth, and profitability, as well as lower operating risk. SK Capital’s portfolio of businesses generates revenues of approximately USD16 billion annually, employs more than 20,000 people globally and operates 203 plants in 32 countries.
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