North American chem rail traffic rises

North American chemical rail traffic rose for a 10th consecutive week, with railcar loadings for the week ended 21 October up 3.7% year on year to 45,549, according to Association of American Railroads.

For the first 42 weeks of 2023 ended 21 October, North American chemical rail traffic was down 1.0% year on year to 1,903,429 - with the US down 2.2% to 1,307,333.

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

We remind, North American chemical rail traffic rose for a seventh consecutive week, with railcar loadings for the week ended 30 September up 3.6% year on year to 45,804. A 7.3% increase in the US more than offset declines in Canada and Mexico.

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ExxonMobil is planning to invest up to $15bn in a greenfield petrochemical project as well as new carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities in Indonesia, the country's President Joko Widodo said on Thursday.

The Indonesian government earlier this week signed an agreement with ExxonMobil to study the possibility of the petrochemical project which would include polymer production units.

Exxon and Indonesian state energy firm Pertamina also signed an agreement to evaluate investments in CCS facilities offshore of Java island, Indonesia.

In a post made on X, formerly known as Twitter, Joko Widodo said that he met with ExxonMobil chairman Darren Woods on 15 November during a trip to the US for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to discuss the two projects.

The Indonesian president added that he has also invited ExxonMobil to invest in green energy and infrastructure development in Indonesia.

We remind, Exxon Mobil moved up the start date for a CDU overhaul at its 619,024-bpd Beaumont, Texas, refinery from August 2024 to June 2024, said people familiar with the company’s plans. Exxon continues to plan to shut the 65,000-bpd diesel-producing hydrocracker in January for an overhaul, during which the 80,000-bpd reformer will also be shut for work, according to the sources.

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Technip Energies announces the creation of Reju, a new company focused on PET recycling of textiles that will leverage the innovative technology co-developed in joint-venture with IBM and Under Armour as well as Technip Energies’ global engineering and technology integration expertise, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Reju will address the fast-growing market of global rPET whose demand from the textile market is expected to grow up to 20 Mtpa by 2033, driven by industry pledges and targets on recycling, regulation and consumer awareness of the need to reduce plastic waste.

Technip Energies, IBM and Under Armour have been working together since 2021 in a joint venture to bring VolCat, an IBM technology for rejuvenating waste PET packaging and polyester, to an industrial scale. VolCat allows the selective breakdown of polymers which IBM first applied to technologies like semiconductor lithography and microelectronics packaging. Reju intends to use this technology to address hard-to-recycle polyester garments and PET packaging lost to the waste stream today. With this technology, acting as a molecular sorter, PET could be regenerated infinitely.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Reju’s demonstration plant took place in September in Technip Energies Frankfurt Research Center with the facility expected to come on stream in 2024.

Arnaud Pieton, CEO of Technip Energies, commented: “Globally, less than 1% of PET textiles waste is recycled today today. This means that most textiles end up as waste in landfills when they could be repeatedly reused in new clothes. What has been holding the world back in textile circularity is not a lack of demand for textile recycling but the lack of a solution that makes recycling of textiles economical on an industrial scale. For the first time in this domain, a unique scalable technology is directly associated with a scalability expert like Technip Energies. Reju will deliver the promise of economical textile recycling, and we are proud to extend our role as an active agent of circularity.”

Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, said: “The health of our planet has never been more pressing, and the amount of fashion apparel and textiles that end up in landfills today is enormous. The good news is that technology can help solve this challenge. IBM is proud to provide its VolCat technology to support Reju in advancing sustainable textile recycling. We look forward to collaborating with Technip Energies and Reju to champion initiatives like these that place sustainability at the heart of the global textile industry.”

Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, declared: "We have the opportunity to establish a genuine circular "We have the opportunity to establish a genuine circular ecosystem for textile recycling and invite collaboration across the entire value chain, ecosystem for textile recycling and invite collaboration across the entire value chain, encompassing collectors and sorters, chemical companies, and the apparel industry. Through encompassing collectors and sorters, chemical companies, and the apparel industry. Through the creation of Reju, we are laying the groundwork for an ecosystem that can profoundly of Reju, we are laying the groundwork for an ecosystem that can profoundly transform the PET textile industry, and transform the PET textile industry, and brings brings us closer to a world that has moved past us closer to a world that has moved past pollution."

We remind, TechnipFMC has been awarded a significant(1) contract to supply flexible pipes to Petrobras for the pre-salt fields offshore Brazil. The Company will design, engineer, and manufacture 14 kilometers of gas injection riser pipes. TechnipFMC will also supply associated services including packing and storage.

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Greiner Packaging has successfully manufactured trays using 70% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) for the renowned Austrian beverage company, Rauch Fruchtsafte, said Chemanalyst.

This environmentally conscious initiative by Greiner involves the utilization of material sourced from 'yellow bags' to create these innovative and sustainable beverage trays. Throughout the project, the viability of generating r-PET flakes from post-consumer material was demonstrated through a meticulous process involving pre- and post-sorting, followed by shredding and washing.

The intricate process begins with the creation of a PET film, comprising 70% recycled material, from the r-PET flakes. Subsequently, Greiner Assistec, a business unit within the company, employs thermoforming techniques to shape this film into the final r-PET trays. Notably, the r-PET flakes used in this process are derived from input materials beyond PET beverage bottles, encompassing items such as cups, tubs, and trays.

In the realm of sustainable packaging, the predominant practice involves recycling PET bottles to produce r-PET flakes. Greiner, however, highlights the underutilized potential of recycling additional PET packaging from 'yellow bags.' This represents a strategic shift in the recycling paradigm, demonstrating a commitment to explore and maximize the recycling potential of various plastic products beyond traditional bottles.

Peter Fessl, the Director of Greiner Recycling, stressed the company's forward-looking approach, expressing that by expanding a year ago, they communicated a clear signal and emphasized their belief in the potential of r-PET for a sustainable future in the packaging industry. At that time, their explicit objective was to divert recycling streams away from virgin PET bottles. He mentioned that the project with Rauch Fruchtsafte represents just one step on this path, with many more to follow. This statement indicates Greiner's commitment to progressing recycling practices and lessening reliance on virgin PET materials.

Rauch Fruchtsafte, as part of its ongoing sustainability efforts, is already incorporating bottles made from 100% r-PET in its operations. Hanno Mandl, the Purchasing Manager at Rauch, emphasized the importance of ensuring a robust supply of high-quality r-PET from bottle recycling for the production of new r-PET bottles. Mandl also highlighted the significance of exploring alternative forms of packaging for the manufacturing of various products, aligning with the company's commitment to environmental responsibility.

This collaborative effort between Greiner Packaging and Rauch Fruchtsafte exemplifies a holistic approach to sustainability in the packaging industry. By actively exploring and implementing innovative recycling practices, these companies are contributing to the broader goal of reducing the environmental impact of plastic packaging. The use of r-PET in trays not only showcases the versatility of recycled materials but also emphasizes the importance of diversifying recycling sources beyond conventional PET bottles. As consumer and industry demands for sustainable practices continue to grow, initiatives like these set a positive precedent for the future of packaging, promoting circular economy principles and responsible resource management.

We remind, Croatian PET recycling company, Rekis, a result of a merger between the Austrian drinks firm Steinrieser and the Austro-Croatian trading company KIS pica involved in beverage production, has recently made a significant undisclosed investment in the establishment of a state-of-the-art PET recycling plant located in the Donja Dubrava region of Croatia. This advanced facility is capable of producing an impressive 18,000 tons per year of high-quality rPET (recycled PET) pellets derived from post-consumer plastic bottles.

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ELIX Polymers, a leading Spanish polymer manufacturer, has outlined plans to initiate a temporary shutdown of its acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plant located in Tarragona, Spain, starting from December 11, said Chemanalyst.

This temporary halt in production is scheduled for routine maintenance measures, aimed at ensuring the optimal functioning of the facility. The maintenance activities, critical for sustaining the plant's efficiency, are anticipated to span a period of ten days, with operations expected to resume by December 20.

This planned shutdown follows a previously conducted maintenance period earlier in the year. ELIX Polymers had temporarily ceased production at the ABS plant in Tarragona on May 2, implementing scheduled preventive measures. The maintenance activities, integral to the ongoing upkeep of the facility, were successfully concluded as planned on May 16.

ELIX Polymers, recognized for its extensive experience exceeding 35 years, stands as a major international player in the manufacturing of engineering plastics. The company specializes in producing acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), a versatile and widely used thermoplastic polymer. Beyond ABS production, ELIX Polymers also offers a range of high-quality polymer modifiers, primarily based on ABS and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN). These modifiers play a crucial role in enhancing the properties of engineering plastics and PVC compositions, contributing to the development of advanced and specialized materials.

Import figures for ABS surged by 12% in the first eight months of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year, amounting to 22.2 thousand tons as opposed to 19.7 thousand tons in 2022. South Korea emerged as a prominent supplier, accounting for 56% (12.5 thousand tons) during this period, a slight increase from the 54% (10.6 thousand tons) share in 2022. Following closely, China contributed significantly, representing 30% (6.6 thousand tons) of ABS imports from January to August 2023. Taiwan secured the third position with a share of 13% (3 thousand tons).

ELIX Polymers' decision to undertake routine maintenance aligns with industry best practices to ensure operational reliability and product quality. This strategic approach reflects the company's commitment to upholding stringent standards in polymer manufacturing. As the ABS market continues to witness growth and evolving dynamics, ELIX Polymers remains a key player, contributing to the advancement of engineering plastics and associated technologies.

ELIX Polymers' planned shutdown for ABS plant maintenance in Tarragona signifies a proactive commitment to operational excellence and industry leadership. The periodic maintenance measures are essential for sustaining the facility's productivity and aligning with the company's dedication to delivering high-quality engineering plastics to meet market demands. ELIX Polymers' versatile product portfolio and its contribution to the broader ABS market underscore its significance in the global polymer manufacturing landscape.

We remind, Exxon Mobil moved up the start date for a CDU overhaul at its 619,024-bpd Beaumont, Texas, refinery from August 2024 to June 2024, said people familiar with the company’s plans. Exxon continues to plan to shut the 65,000-bpd diesel-producing hydrocracker in January for an overhaul, during which the 80,000-bpd reformer will also be shut for work, according to the sources.

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