Idemitsu Kosan to expand production of solid electrolytes in Japan

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. (Tokyo) will increase the production capacity of Plant 1 (launched in November 2021), small pilot facilities for solid electrolytes (planned completion: within fiscal 2024), in order to expand the use of all-solid-state lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, said Chemengonline.

In addition, Plant 2, comprising small pilot facilities, will start operation in July this year. The company will steadily supply solid electrolytes to car/battery manufacturers and others who are developing all solid-state batteries.

All-solid-state batteries are expected to be put to practical use and their expansion, mainly as a technology to meet the performance needs of electric vehicles (EVs), such as longer cruising range, shorter recharging time, and improved safety. Car/battery manufacturers, etc., are accelerating development, which in turn is driving material needs even higher.

We remind, Idemitsu SM (ISM) and Petrochemicals P(M), Malaysia, subsidiaries of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., successfully obtains the ISCC PLUS certification, an international certification system for sustainable products, for the production of styrene monomer and polystyrene.

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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Specialty chemicals company LANXESS expects second quarter 2023 EBITDA pre exceptionals to remain below average market expectations, said the company.

Therefore, the company adjusts the outlook for FY 2023 downward as well. EBITDA pre exceptionals for the second quarter 2023 is expected to amount to around EUR 100 million which is below current average market expectations.

Generally very weak demand combined with continued customer de-stocking effects already seen in the first quarter lasted into the second quarter and are ongoing. Especially demand weakness in the construction industry, electro/electronics and even from usually stable consumer related products, burden utilization and earnings. A recovery within the month of June is not visible.

LANXESS had formerly expected Q2 2023 EBITDA pre exceptionals roughly on par with Q1 results and a FY 2023 EBITDA pre exceptionals between EUR 850-950 million. LANXESS now expects the weakness to continue in the second half of 2023. Hence, the company also adjusts its full-year expectations. Should trading not pick up, LANXESS now expects a profitability level of EUR 600 to 650 million EBITDA pre exceptionals for FY 2023.

“The demand recovery we originally expected in the second half is not yet visible – neither in China nor in other meaningful end markets. This impacts us especially in Germany: Here we are massively impacted by the disadvantageous conditions such as the high energy prices and massive bureaucracy. In times of weak demand Germany as an industrial location is just not competitive”, said Matthias Zachert, CEO of LANXESS.

LANXESS will release its results for the second quarter 2023 on August 4, 2023.

We remind, LANXESS has doubled its production capacity for benzyl alcohol at its site in Kalama, WA, US, to support the growth of its established customer base in the Americas. The capacity expansion is the result of various technical upgrades. LANXESS also produces benzyl alcohol at its sites in Krefeld-Uerdingen (Germany), Botlek (Netherlands), and Nagda (India).

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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Rohm has now expanded its proTerra product range to include PLEXIGLAS® proTerra molding compounds, said the company.

They combine the proven performance of the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) PLEXIGLAS® brand with a lower carbon footprint. “All material manufacturers face the same requirements on the market: achieving a lower carbon footprint and higher recyclable content, all with no loss in performance. In response to this, we have developed our PLEXIGLAS® proTerra molding compounds,” says Sven Schrobel, Head of Sustainability Management at Rohm GmbH’s Molding Compounds business unit.

Rohm offers customers two different ways to lower their product carbon footprint: PLEXIGLAS® proTerra M5 contains mechanically recycled PMMA, while in PLEXIGLAS® proTerra 8N, fossil resources have been replaced with raw materials certified under ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification). “With these two options, we now offer PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds that help our customers to achieve their sustainability goals,” says Siamak Djafarian, Senior Vice President Molding Compounds at Rohm. “Sustainability is an integral component of our business strategy at Rohm.”

We remind, Rohm (Darmstadt, Germany) is further driving the growth of the company by the additional expansion of capacities for impact-resistant PLEXIGLAS, the brand polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) from Rohm. A new section is currently being added to a plant producing impact-resistant PLEXIGLAS Resist special molding compounds in Worms.

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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Chandra Asri has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ecovance Co. Ltd., a South Korean-based company specializing in biodegradable materials which partly owned by SKC group, to study the potential for strategic collaboration in the biodegradable plastic materials, polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polybutylene succinate (PBS), said the company.

Through this MoU, both parties agree to focus on application development and customer evaluation, developing partnerships to create a biodegradable plastic ecosystem, and exploring investment opportunities in environmentally friendly materials and solutions.

A study will be conducted to determine the feasibility of biodegradable materials in the Indonesian market by leveraging Chandra Asri's extensive knowledge and experience in polymers and plastics, combined with Ecovance's expertise in biodegradable materials technology.

Biodegradable plastic is seen as a green alternative to plastic due to its lower energy consumption and produces less emission. This advantage is in line with Chandra Asri's commitment to supporting Indonesia's Long-Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience 2050 (Indonesia Vision 2050 LTS-LCCR).

We remind, Chandra Asri through its subsidiary, PT Chandra Asri Alkali (CAA), has signed a License, Basic Engineering and Technical Services Agreement with a leading vinyl technology licensor from United States of America, to develop ethylene dichloride (EDC) plant following the Company’s business plan to build a world-scale integrated chlor-alkali and EDC plant (CA-EDC plant).

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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Brenntag BNRGn.DE has acquired Chinese chemical company Shanghai Saifu Chemical, the German chemicals distributor said on Tuesday, expanding its specialties business in China, said the company.

Brenntag said the acquisition of Shanghai Saifu fits its acquisition strategy and expands its life science division presence in China.

Closing of the transaction is expected later this year, the company said. No financial details of the transaction were given.

We remind, Brenntag, the global market leader in chemicals and ingredients distribution, has become the exclusive distributor of Nouryon’s specialty polymers in the United State and Canada. As the sole distributor of Nouryon’s proprietary LumaTreat™ polymers, Brenntag can offer a portfolio including the patented LumaTreat™ smart-tagged polymers, Aquatreat™, Versaflex™, and Versa™ polymers which offer scale control and dispersancy.

Founded in 2005, Saifu distributes personal care ingredients, coatings, emulsion polymerization, and cleaning chemicals and provides related solution services. The company currently has over 100 employees and serves more than 1,000 customers in the Greater China region. Saifu provides customers with formulation expertise and product innovation services through a dedicated technology application center with two laboratories.

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