Arkema obtains mass balance ISCC PLUS certification for waterborne resin manufacturing in Louisiana

Arkema SA has acquired international sustainability and carbon certification (ISCC) PLUS certification of its waterborne acrylic resins at St. Charles, Louisiana, as per Chemweek.

The range of mass balance solutions includes waterborne resins with up to 90% bio-attributed content, it added.

The ISCC PLUS certification of products made at this site adds to Arkema Coating Solutions certifications worldwide.

Arkema aims to progressively introduce a range of bio-attributed specialty resins and additives, including high solids, waterborne, ultraviolet-LED-electron beam and polyester powder materials.

mrchub.com

Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. (Ahmedabad, India) has announced plans to acquire Agenus Inc.'s (Lexington, Massachusetts) chemistry, manufacturing and controls facilities at Emeryville and Berkeley (California), as per Chemweek.

Zydus will buy the facilities for an upfront consideration of $75 million and contingent payment of $50 million to be paid over three years subject to achievement of certain revenue milestone. The companies aim to complete closing agreements within 60 days.

Zydus said the acquisition provides the company with immediate access to advanced biologics manufacturing capabilities and establishes a key presence in California, a leading global biotechnology hub.

The transaction marks Zydus’ foray into the global biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business. Zydus said the CDMO business will operate as an independent entity and will house the acquired manufacturing capabilities.

As part of the transaction, Zydus will become an exclusive contract manufacturer for Agenus and will provide manufacturing services for clinical and commercial supply of two identified Phase-3 ready immuno-oncology products. Zydus will also have first right of negotiation to manufacture any of the future pipeline products developed by Agenus.

“With a trade agreement between the US and India seemingly imminent, there is a renewed sense of confidence by trading partners in both countries in the future of Indian-American relations,” said Garo Armen, CEO of Agenus. “There is also a growing recognition by both countries of the need for the US to ensure that biopharma supply chains are secure,” added Armen.

Zydus, quoting data by a market research firm, said the global biologics CDMO market size is expected to be worth around $84.9 billion by 2034, growing at a compound annual rate of 15.7% between 2025 and 2034.

According to Zydus, the global biologics CDMO market is witnessing significant growth, driven by the increasing complexity of therapies, rise of biologics in clinical pipelines, and a growing number of emerging biotech companies lacking internal manufacturing capabilities.

Zydus Lifesciences reported a 17% year-over-year rise in revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter ended March 31, to 65.2 billion Indian rupees ($764 million). Profit rose 18% year over year to 13.9 billion rupees. Its US formulations business contributed 50% to group revenue.

mrchub.com

Sika AG said it has invested in Giatec Scientific Inc. (Ottawa), a provider of digital concrete technology platforms specializing in smart testing and AI-driven solutions. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, as per Chemweek.

Giatec develops advanced sensors, software and data analytics tools to optimize concrete quality, durability and sustainability — from production and delivery to placement.

Sika said the investment represents a milestone in its overall digital plan, helping the construction industry to improve efficiency and reduce carbon footprint.

According to Sika, one key challenge in concrete production is the tendency to overdesign concrete mixes due to raw material fluctuations. With Giatec’s AI-powered concrete mix optimization and Sika’s admixture technologies, the amount of cement and aggregates used can be analyzed and optimized precisely. This results in significant cost savings and a reduction in CO? emissions, it added.

mrchub.com

Gazprom , together with Gazprom Neft , remained the second biggest oil and gas condensate producer in Russia in 2024, Gazprom said in its draft annual report, as per Interfax.

"Second place in Russia by oil and gas condensate production, including the share in oil and gas condensate production by associated organizations and joint ventures," the company ssaid.

Gazprom Group's oil and gas condensate production figures have been growing over the past three years, from 67.9 million tonnes in 2022 to 72.4 million tonnes in 2023 and almost 76 million tonnes in 2024.

"In the reporting year, the Gazprom Group produced 75.95 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate in Russia. The increase in liquids production was due, in particular, to the Gazprom Group gaining control over the activities of Sakhalin Energy LLC, the commissioning of Block 3A of the Urengoy oil and gas condensate field's Achimov formations and the commissioning of new capacity at the Kovykta gas condensate field. Oil was monetized using mobile infrastructure at the Chona group of fields in Eastern Siberia," the report said.

Gazprom said that liquids output in 2024 continued to be influenced by the need to comply with the quota set by the Russian Energy Ministry under the OPEC+ agreement.

The group's operating oil production well stock in Russia has decreased from 10,411 in 2023 to 10,223 wells in 2024.

"The Gazprom Group's strategic goal in the oil business is to maintain our status of one of the largest international oil and gas companies through effective management of the asset portfolio across the entire value chain and the use of advanced technological solutions to maximize financial results while upholding the principles of high social and environmental responsibility," the document says.

The strategy for developing the oil exploration and production segment in the medium term takes into account: effective development of the mature resource base, development of the Yamal Peninsula, monetization of liquid hydrocarbons in the Nadym-PurTaz province, creation of production clusters around the anchor assets of Eastern Siberia, and development of previously untapped oil rim reserves, Achimov and Neocomian-Jurassic deposits.

Gazprom Group's oil and gas condensate production capex in 2024 went to key investment projects at Gazprom Neft's traditional assets: development of Block 3A of the Achimov formations and oil rims of the Urengoy oil and gas condensate field, Neocomian-Jurassic formations of the Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate field and the Kharasavey gas condensate field; development of hydrocarbon deposits at the Yen-Yakhinskoye oil and gas condensate field and the Pestsovoye oil and gas condensate field (Valanginian), as well as oil deposits of the Zapadno-Tarkosalinskoye oil and gas condensate field and the Chayanda oil and gas condensate field; and development of hydrocarbon deposits of Eastern Siberia projects (Chona group of fields).

Gazprom's annual report for 2020 said that the group, based on its own observations, climbed from third to second place in terms of oil and condensate production.

mrchub.com

On Wednesday, despite a drop in crude values, propylene prices were left unchanged in Asia, as per Polymerupdate.

An industry source in Asia informed a Polymerupdate team member, "Prices were assessed stable on the back of quiet buying sentiments in the Asian markets."

On Wednesday CFR China propylene prices were assessed at the USD 770-780/mt levels, remain steady from Tuesday.

Meanwhile, FOB Korea propylene prices on Wednesday were assessed at the USD 740-750/mt levels, unchanged from Tuesday?s assessed levels.

In plant news, Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC) is likely to shutdown its No.3 cracker in end June 2025 for a maintenance turnaround. Further details on the duration of the shutdown could not be ascertained. Located in Zhejiang, China, the No.3 cracker has a propylene production capacity of 700,000 mt/year.

mrchub.com