Ineos to close European PO, PG production

UK-based Ineos will indefinitely shut down propylene oxide (PO) and propylene glycol (PG) production in Europe even if chlorine supply resumes to its idled 210,000 t/yr chlorohydrin-based PO production plant in Germany, said the company.

The firm has notified clients, in a letter dated 8 September, it would cease production of PO and PG with immediate effect. Ineos has also withdrawn from industry association Cefic's PO and PG working group from 2026.

Ineos' PO production plant at Cologne supplies its 120,000 t/yr PG production unit nearby. Both plants have been offline since a fire on 12 July caused a power outage at Germany's Chempark Dormagen. That in turn prompted German chemical firm Covestro on 15 July to declare force majeure on a range of products, including chlorine. Covestro provides chlorine to Ineos' Cologne PO production plant, which then had to shut down, and Ineos declared force majeure on its PG production on 18 July. Ineos did not declare force majeure on its PO production, which is mainly for captive use.

Repairs are underway at Chempark Dormagen but the damage was extensive and full operations are unlikely to resume before the first quarter of 2026. But Ineos has told clients it will not resume PO or PG production.

The decision may predate the fire in July, as some downstream users of Ineos' PO have been seeking alternative sources since at least the middle of the second quarter.

Ineos has this week declined to comment.

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Syngenta Group (Basel, Switzerland) has announced the appointment of Emilhano Stefanello Lima as the new global head of its seedcare and biologicals business division, as per Chemweek.

Lima succeeds Jonathan Brown, who has recently transitioned to the role of head of Europe.

Lima brings nearly three decades of experience to his new position, having joined Syngenta in 1998. Throughout his tenure, Lima has held various leadership roles in the company.
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Sai Life Sciences, a contract research, development and manufacturing organization, has opened a new facility, unit No. 6, dedicated to the production of veterinary active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) at Bidar in Karnataka state, as per Chemweek.

The new facility is situated alongside the company’s flagship API manufacturing site, unit No. 4.

The company recognizes the significant growth potential in the market for veterinary APIs, fueled by rising demand for veterinary medicines and ongoing advancements in animal healthcare.

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Hydrite Chemical Co. (Brookfield, Wisconsin), a sanitation and cleaning chemicals producer, said it has acquired Enterprise Specialty Products Inc. (ESP; Laurens, South Carolina), a maker of foam control products for a variety of specialty chemical applications, as per Chemweek.

Terms of the transaction, including purchase price, were not disclosed.

ESP’s products are sold into the water treatment, coatings, adhesives, inks and construction markets, among others. Founder Allen Waters will remain with ESP and oversee day-to-day operations of the business.

The deal marks Hydrite’s first entry into the southeastern US and will broaden the company’s product portfolio, it said.

The transaction closed Sept. 3.

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Olin Corp. (Clayton, Missouri) and Mitsui & Co. (Tokyo) have announced their mutual decision to dissolve their joint venture Blue Water Alliance JV, LLP (BWA) by the end of this year, as per Chemweek.

This move allows both companies to pursue new opportunities under a more flexible framework that aligns with Olin’s evolving participation in the ethylene dichloride (EDC) market.

Founded in 2022, the Blue Water Alliance JV was established to enhance global trading of chlor-alkali products and derivatives. However, Olin has indicated that ending the JV will accelerate its commitment to diversifying its chlorine derivatives offerings, reducing its exposure to the volatile merchant EDC market and increasing its participation in the vinyls sector.

Olin said BWA customers can expect a seamless transition as the company remains committed to providing industry-leading services, value and trading management for its full product portfolio, including EDC and caustic soda.

Olin is the largest chlor-alkali producer in the world.

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