Haldia Petrochemicals to set up new chemical plants in West Bengal

Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL) is building India's first on-purpose propylene facility based on Olefin Conversion Technology (OCT) in Haldia, West Bengal, said Business-standard.

Speciality chemicals have supported HPL in earning Rup 999 crore of revenue in FY 2023. HPL is also constructing India's biggest phenol facility with 300,000 tonnes/y of phenol capacity and 185,000 tonnes/y of acetone capacity. With the two plants commissioning, the total chemical business portfolio is poised to rise by Rup 5000 crore.

We remind, Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) will license its olefins conversion technology (OCT) and the Lummus/Versalis cumene and phenol technologies for a new plant in West Bengal, India.

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Leading peroxide manufacturer Evonik and major Chinese chemicals producer Fuhua Tongda Chemicals Company (Fuhua) have signed a licence agreement for Fuhua to build a new hydrogen peroxide plant in Leshan, Sichuan Province, using Evonik's know-how, said the company.

Furthermore, both partners will evaluate a cooperation to jointly produce and market speciality grades of hydrogen peroxide with the aim to meet the rising demand for those applications on the Chinese market.

The signing ceremony took place on 15 Nov 2023 in Hanau, Germany. According to the agreement, Fuhua will use Evonik licenced technology to build an industrial-grade hydrogen peroxide plant with an annual capacity of 200,000 tonnes.

The envisaged Evonik-Fuhua collaboration would then further purify the hydrogen peroxide into speciality grades for applications such as solar panel production or aseptic packaging for food and beverages.

We remind, Dow and Evonik are proud to announce the successful start-up and operation of a pioneering hydrogen peroxide to propylene glycol (HPPG) pilot plant at Evonik’s site in Hanau, Germany. Collaboratively developed by Dow, the world’s largest producer of propylene glycol, and globally leading hydrogen peroxide manufacturer Evonik, the plant uses the distinct HYPROSYN method to enable the direct synthesis of propylene glycol (PG) from hydrogen peroxide and propylene.

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China is on the brink of asserting its dominance in the realm of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) capacity expansions throughout Asia, said Chemanalyst.

Projections are confidently pointing towards China accounting for an overwhelming 96% of the capacity additions in Asia by 2027.

The ABS industry holds a position of paramount importance due to its role as a versatile polymer widely sought after in a myriad of end-user industries, including automotive, construction, packaging, consumer goods, and electronics. The resilient and ever-growing demand for ABS within China, primarily fueled by the nation's flourishing economy, has securely positioned China as both the largest producer and consumer of ABS on a global scale.

China's ABS capacity additions are nothing short of remarkable. The nation is slated to introduce a staggering 4.43 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of ABS capacity through ten meticulously planned and announced projects. The magnitude of these capacity additions unequivocally underscores China's commanding position in the ABS industry landscape.

A standout contributor to this colossal capacity expansion endeavor is the Zhejiang Petrochemical Daishan ABS Plant 2, a project that has been announced and is set to exhibit a remarkable capacity of 1.20 mtpa. This plant is poised to embark on ABS production in the year 2027, marking a momentous milestone in the annals of China's ABS industry.

Furthermore, among the contributing projects, two others are poised to play pivotal roles in amplifying China's ABS capacity. The INEOS Styrolution Ningbo ABS Plant and the Shandong Yulong Petrochemical Longkou ABS Plant, both projects that have been strategically planned, are individually scheduled to augment China's ABS capacity by 0.60 mtpa. The INEOS Styrolution project was commenced its operations in 2023, while the Longkou ABS Plant is expected to spring into action in 2024.

hina's ABS capacity expansion initiative also graciously welcomes the Guangxi Changke New Material Company Fangchenggan ABS Plant, an announced project. This particular facility is primed to make a substantial contribution to China's ABS capacity by adding 0.50 mtpa and is on track to commence ABS production by 2025.

The significance of these capacity additions reverberates through China's commitment to industrial growth and its ongoing contribution to the versatile and indispensable ABS polymer industry. This polymer is widely used across various vital sectors of the economy, including automotive, construction, packaging, consumer goods, and electronics, underscores China's dedication to both its economic prosperity and its role as a leading player in the global industrial landscape.

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Grupa Azoty S.A. to commence discussions with Orlen S.A. to cease actions related to potential acquisition of Grupa Azoty Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy S.A. by Orlen S.A., said the company.

The resolution to initiate discussions with Orlen S.A. to cease actions related to the potential acquisition of Grupa Azoty Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy S.A. was passed today and came into force upon adoption. The resolution followed a comprehensive analysis conducted by a reputable consultancy, which formed the basis for the Management Board of Grupa Azoty S.A. to deem the potential sale of Grupa Azoty Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy S.A. as unjustified.

The decision was influenced by various factors, including the value-building concept developed by an independent consultant and the recommendation of the Project Steering Committee.

Grupa Azoty S.A. will continue its collaboration with consulting firms to further develop recommendations and prioritise actions aimed at enhancing the long-term shareholder value of the Company’s group.

‘Analyses conducted by an external consulting firm, considering current market conditions and the clear strategic recommendations derived from them, offer no basis for the continuation of discussions regarding the potential acquisition of Grupa Azoty Pulawy by Orlen S.A. We are undertaking broader analyses to develop additional measures aimed at restoring the group’s market value. Concurrently, we are implementing further optimisation initiatives across our businesses and engaging in ongoing discussions with financing institutions. We are constantly monitoring the market and adjusting production to current demand, which has been gradually increasing in recent months,’ said Marek Wadowski, Vice President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty S.A.

We remind, Orlen is set to continue its recent expansion in Norway after one of its subsidiaries, PGNiG Upstream Norway, agreed a $445 million (1.8 billion zloty) deal to purchase a 100% stake in KUFPEC Norway from the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.

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Singapore's middle distillates inventories fell marginally week-on-week as net exports of both gasoil and jet fuel/kerosene grew, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Gasoil and jet fuel/kerosene inventories at the key oil storage hub were at 10.422 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 22 from 10.423 MMbbl a week earlier, data from Enterprise Singapore showed. Net exports of gasoil posted a week-on-week gain for the first time in two months.

Total gasoil exports rose by more than two times week-on-week. Most of these exports were directed towards other South-East Asian countries, including Malaysia, Myanmar and Indonesia. On the other hand, total gasoil imports fell 16.8% week-on-week.

Singapore was also a net exporter of jet fuel/kerosene and net exports posted week-on-week gains after two consecutive weeks of declines. Both imports and exports grew by a substantial amount. Total jet fuel/kerosene imports grew by more than 300 times week-on-week, primarily driven by imports from Malaysia.

Total jet fuel/kerosene exports expanded over sevenfold week-on-week, with the top destination being Australia.

We remind, China's oil demand growth is likely to ease in the first half of 2024 to around 4%, according to consultancies, with resurgent consumption from the aviation and petrochemical sectors offset by weaker diesel usage due to an ongoing property sector crunch. Slowing demand growth for the world's biggest oil importer comes amid what remains an uncertain outlook for the Chinese economy and as travel patterns normalise following the post-COVID rebound earlier in the year.

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