OQ Chemicals to expand production capacity for carboxylic acids

OQ Chemicals GmbH (Monheim am Rhein, Germany) has announced further plans to expand its production capacity for carboxylic acids, said the company.

The company has invested in an optimization and debottlenecking project for precursors at its plants in Germany. Structural work has already commenced, with completion planned before the end of the first quarter of 2023. OQ Chemicals is also investing in a partial reorganization of its global network of multi-purpose production plants to boost efficiency, improve infrastructure, and further strengthen production capabilities. The new capacity is expected to be available to the market in 2024.

Manufacturers of various industries look to Oxo Performance Chemicals from OQ Chemicals as important building blocks to produce, for example, energy- efficient high-performance lubricants, cosmetic ingredients, or animal feed additives.“For decades, OQ Chemicals has been at the forefront of carboxylic acids, making us the global market leader in most of these products. As a technology leader in Oxo Performance Chemicals from C3 to C9, we continue to develop new technologies for future markets and applications,” said David Faust, Executive Vice President Oxo Performance Chemicals at OQ Chemicals. “For instance, OQ Chemicals’ carboxylic acids can be used to produce highly efficient lubricants for smart, eco-friendly, and energy-saving air conditioning systems, which are becoming increasingly vital in a world of rising and extreme temperatures. In the animal feed industry, our customers use our products to manufacture innovative feed additives that can benefit animal welfare.”

“At OQ Chemicals, we prioritize both fulfilling our customers’ current needs and preparing for their future requirements. Our investment into this capacity increase project aims to support our customers in their growth and will further strengthen our leading position in the global market. We’re committed to the market to provide a comprehensive product portfolio and be a dependable source for Oxo Performance Chemicals,” commented Dr. Oliver Borgmeier, CEO of OQ Chemicals.

We remind, Rohm and OQ Chemicals officially broke ground on their new world-scale methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant in Bay City, Texas. The plant will be the first to employ Rohm's LiMA ("Leading in Methacrylates") technology on a large industrial scale, which is its latest proprietary production technology. It will have a capacity of 250,000 tonnes/year once completed in early 2024, which will enable Rohm to serve increasing demand for MMA and support the reliability of its supply chain towards its customers globally.
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MOSCOW(MRC) -- International chemicals distributor Univar Solutions has agreed to acquire Turkish specialty chemicals distributor Kale Kimya, said the company.

Istanbul-based Kale Kimya has a product portfolio of beauty and personal care products, and home and industrial cleaning products, including surfactants, actives, emulsifiers, preservatives, UV filters, fragrances, polymers, conditioners, esters and emollients.

"This acquisition further progresses our strategy to grow our Ingredients and Specialties business with a leading company that builds on and adds to our strengths, geographic footprint and product portfolio," Nick Powell, president of Global Ingredients & Specialties at Univar, said in a statement on Monday.

Univar expects to complete the acquisition within the current Q1. Financial terms were not disclosed.

We remind, activist investor PrimeStone has urged German chemicals distributor Brenntag to end talks with potential takeover target Univar Solutions and instead buy back shares and prepare for a break-up into two separate companies. In a letter to Brenntag’s board and management, the UK-based investor urges Brenntag to terminate discussions with Univar immediately and refocus on improving Brenntag itself.
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Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announces that, through its subsidiary NextChem Holding S.p.A., it is expanding into the high-value derivates and biodegradable plastic by-products licensing markets with the acquisition of an 83,5% stake of Conser, a technology licensor and process engineering design company based in Rome, Italy, said the cmpany.

Founded more than Fifty years ago, Conser has been developed by Flavio Simola, who has led the company to the current technological excellence. The closing, which is subject to customary conditions, is expected to take place by April 15, 2023. NextChem Holding also retains an option to acquire the remaining 16.5% stake within the next 3 years. The acquisition of Conser, which is expected to reach total revenues of approximately €25 million in 2022, is strategically important because it allows the Group to enter new markets.

Conser has a portfolio of technology patents dedicated to the energy transition and added-value specialty chemicals processes. Such a portfolio includes cost-effective and process-flexible technologies for Maleic Anhydride, Butanediol and Dimethyl Succinate, which are crucial building blocks for the production of biodegradable plastics, in particular Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) and polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate (PBAT). Conser’s portfolio also includes technologies for Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers, specialties for Lithium-based batteries production and Bio-based (vegetable glycerine) derivatives.

PBS and PBAT have excellent biodegradation properties, and their relevant consolidated markets show very promising outlooks driven by a growing demand especially in Asia, where Conser has licensed more than half of the plants in the region in the last year for several leading global players.

Conser will benefit from Maire Tecnimont Group’s technological know-how and expertise to further optimize its current and future technologies, in order to develop, among other solutions, a fully bio-based or biodegradable polymer.

With this strategic acquisition, Maire Tecnimont further strengthens its leadership in polymers by adding biodegradable plastics by-products and added-value specialty chemicals technologies to its technological portfolio and aims to combine it with its integrated projects service capability, while leveraging its global commercial network.

We remind, Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announced that a signing ceremony concerning the USD6 bn world-class integrated polymers complex to be built in Ras Laffan Industrial City was held today in Doha, Qatar. The USD1.3 B EPC Lump Sum contract, already announced on December 21, 2022, is part of this complex and has been awarded to Tecnimont by a Joint Venture composed of QatarEnergy and Chevron Phillips Chemical.

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Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) announced the formation of, ADNOC Gas, effective 1 Jan 2023, a new worldscale gas processing, operations and marketing company, said Upstreamonline.

ADNOC Gas combines the operations, maintenance and marketing of the ADNOC Gas Processing and ADNOC LNG (liquefied natural gas) businesses into one global consolidated business.

The new company will be a key enabler of ADNOC's ambitious strategy for the gas sector, supporting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) gas self-sufficiency, industrial expansion and economic growth; and expanding export capacity to meet growing global demand.

“As Adnoc grows its gas production and processing capacity, the combined scale and capabilities of Adnoc Gas will maximise value and create new opportunities for Adnoc, its partners, (and the United Arab Emirates),” it noted.

Adnoc last year highlighted its intent to proceed with the consolidation of its gas processing and marketing business into Adnoc Gas, which will “serve a wider range of domestic and international customers with an expanding portfolio of gas products”.

Adnoc stated that Adnoc Gas “is expected to unlock significant financial and operational opportunities”.

“The new company will be more agile, better able to respond to changing market demands, and well-positioned to take advantage of strategic opportunities for future growth,” it said.

We remind, ADNOC announced a bold new strategy to progress the world-scale decarbonization of its operations.
The announcement follows the guidance by ADNOC’s Board of Directors in November 2022 to accelerate delivery of its low-carbon growth strategy and the approval of its Net Zero by 2050 ambition. This builds on ADNOC’s strong track record as a leading lower-carbon intensity energy producer, which includes its use of zero carbon grid power, a commitment to zero flaring as part of routine operations and deployment of the region’s first carbon capture project at-scale.

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Saint-Gobain, through its Chryso business, has completed the acquisition of Matchem in Brazil and entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire IDP Chemicals in Egypt, said the company.

The acquisitions of Matchem and IDP Chemicals will allow Saint-Gobain to strengthen its position in construction chemicals, in particular concrete admixtures which play a key role in the decarbonization of the construction industry.
These two companies are focused on the buoyant building and infrastructure markets in Brazil and Egypt, which should see strong growth for the years to come. Matchem, established in 2011, employs around 50 people across two plants in Brazil and generated revenues of close to EUR 20 M in 2022.

Together with Quartzolit, manufacturer of mortars (tile fixings, wall and floor coatings, waterproofing membranes), TekBond, sealant and adhesive specialist, and the recently acquired GCP Applied Technologies, Matchem will reinforce Saint-Gobain's platform in construction chemicals, a leader on the Brazilian market with 24 industrial sites. IDP Chemicals, licensed by Chryso since 2018, employs 25 people at one plant and is well positioned to serve the dynamic construction market in Egypt. This acquisition should be finalized in 1Q 2023.

We remind, Saint-Gobain has now obtained approvals from all relevant competition authorities for its acquisition of GCP Applied Technologies Inc., a major global player in construction chemicals, announced on December 6, 2021, said the company. The acquisition will close on September 27, 2022. GCP will delist from the New York Stock Exchange.

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