LG Chem launches Asia first ISCC Plus certified plant-based ABS

With the launch of its eco-friendly, highly functional bio-based ABS, LG Chem has added a further product to its growing portfolio of LetZero materials, said Sustainableplastics.

LetZero is the brand name under which the company has brought its range of sustainable materials together, and includes PCR made of reprocessed waste plastics, renewably-sourced biomaterials, and biodegradable materials made of glucose and waste glycerol extracted from corn.

ABS is LG Chems leading product on the global market. The company sells some two million tonnes of transparent ABS per year. The material is in high demand because of its favourable properties, such as outstanding heat and impact resistance, toughness, good colourability and processability. It is currently one of the go-to materials in applications ranging from toys, and household appliances to the automotive and construction industry.

LG Chem has already supplied the new Bio-Circular balanced ABS to leading toy manufacturer Mattel, in the US. ”We will lead the market with sustainable materials centred on eco-friendly products and provide valuable consumption opportunities for customers," LG Chem's petrochemical division head No Guk-rae said in a 4 Dec statement.

LG Chem has adopted the biomass balance approach in the production of various plant-based materials and is the first Asian company to bring an ISCC Plus-certified ‘eco-friendly’ ABS to the market. According to the company, a life cycle assessment has been performed showing that the new grade generates significantly lower carbon emissions from raw material production to shipment compared to conventionally produced ABS.

We remind, LG Chem will invest 310 billion won (USD233 million) to build a plastic recycling plant and an aerogel plant in Dangjin, South Chungcheong. The chemical company signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Gyeongsang provincial office and Dangjin city government Wednesday, with CEO Shin Hak-cheol and South Gyeongsang governor Kim Tae-heum and Dangjin Mayor Oh Seong-hwan, in attendance.

mrchub.com

Azelis, a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry, announces that is has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Chemiplas Agencies Ltd (“Chemiplas”), one of the leading distributors of specialty chemicals, plastic raw materials and ingredients in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, said the company.

The acquisition significantly expands Azelis’ footprint and accelerates its growth in Asia Pacific. The addition of Chemiplas’ attractive portfolio of products from key principals strategically complements the group’s lateral value chain, strengthening market coverage and formulation expertise. This allows the group to provide even more innovative solutions to customers, thereby reinforcing its position in Australia and New Zealand.

Founded in 1976, Chemiplas’ strong network is supported by long-standing partnerships with over 200 global, regional and local strategic principals. Chemiplas employs more than 100 staff, including an experienced and dedicated sales team, serving a substantial customer base of over 1,900 companies from its headquarters in Auckland and six other offices across Australia and New Zealand. With two food application laboratories in Auckland and Melbourne, Chemiplas is well-placed to leverage an extensive product portfolio and provide innovative solutions to customers. Chemiplas’ management team and employees will become part of the Azelis family, supporting the business and integration process. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the first quarter of 2023, after fulfilment of customary closing conditions.

As per MRC, Azelis, a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry, announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Chemical Solutions Sdn Bhd (“ChemSol”), one of the leading distributors of raw materials in the Personal Care, Cosmetics and Household markets in Malaysia.

mrchub.com

North American chemical rail traffic fell by 3.2% year on year to 40,467 railcar loadings for the week ended 26 November – marking a 10th consecutive decline, according to the latest freight rail data by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

An increase in Canada was more than offset by declines in the US and Mexico. The four-week average for North American chemical rail traffic was at 45,860 railcar loadings.

Despite the 10th decline in a row, for the first 47 weeks of 2022 ended 26 November North American chemical railcar traffic was still up 1.2% year on year to 2,155,420 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, nonmetallic minerals, and oil and oil products rose for the first 47 weeks, while shipments in all other freight railcar categories fell.

In related news, the US House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a resolution aimed at averting a rail strike.

We remind, for the week ending November 19, 2022, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 491,794 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.2 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending November 19 were 235,887 carloads, down 0.6 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 255,907 containers and trailers, down 5.6 percent compared to 2021.
mrchub.com

Romania's Petrotel Lukoil refinery, owned by Russia's Lukoil has found alternative fuel supplies and its petrol stations will not be affected by a ban on Russian imports, said Reuters.

A European Union embargo from Dec. 5 is banning European buyers from purchasing and transporting Russian oil.

"At the latest meeting Lukoil has assured us, alongside the other two (refineries) that it has alternative sources both for crude and oil products and that it will not have problems supplying the refinery and petrol stations," Popescu said.

We remind, Lukoil Neftochim Burgas , Bulgaria's only oil refinery, may have to shut down if the government does not follow through on plans to allow the Russian-owned business to continue exporting, said Reuters, citing Chief Executive Ilshat Sharafutdinov. The European Union has agreed to a ban on Russian crude oil imports as part of its sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in February. The ban takes effect next month, but Bulgaria has been given an exemption and is allowed to import Russian crude until the end of 2024.
mrchub.com

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) on Monday signed a deal awarding the first concession in the Middle East for unconventional oil resources, said Reuters.

The six-year agreement is the first investment by a Malaysian company in an Abu Dhabi concession, United Arab Emirates state news agency WAM said. "ADNOC will continue to responsibly unlock value from Abu Dhabi’s vast hydrocarbon resources in a reliable and sustainable manner," Minister of Industry and ADNOC's CEO, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber said after the signing.

Petronas will retain a 100% stake in the operating rights of the concession to explore and appraise resources in "Unconventional Onshore Block 1", which covers an area of more than 2,000 square kilometers in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region.

"We have driven the de-risking of Abu Dhabi’s unconventional oil resources and look forward to building on this with Petronas to realize the full potential of Unconventional Onshore Block 1,” al-Jaber added. The agreement comes after ADNOC conducted preliminary operations in the concession area, WAM said, adding that the parties can enter a production concession of 30 years after a successful appraisal phase. This starts from the date of awarding the first concession to Petronas.

ADNOC could also have the option to hold a 50% stake in the concession, which offers the potential to create significant in-country value for the UAE, WAM said.

Abu Dhabi’s unconventional recoverable oil resources are estimated at 22 B barrels of very light and sweet crude, comparable to ADNOC’s flagship lower-carbon Murban grade, WAM added. Malaysia's King Al-Sultan Abdullah, who is in an official visit to the UAE, witnessed the signing, along with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

We remind, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and ADQ, the majority shareholders in TA’ZIZ, launched the next phase of growth at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone, in Al Ruways Industrial City, which will more than double the number of chemicals produced at the industrial hub. The centerpiece of the expansion will be a new world-scale, low-carbon footprint steam cracker to supply feedstocks for the various downstream production units, bringing multiple new product value chains to the UAE for the first time. The project is in the feasibility study phase, with the design phase set to commence in Q1 2023.
mrchub.com