What's in the EU's proposed 19th package of Russia sanctions

The European Commission (EC) has published a set of proposals included in the 19th sanctions package against Russia. EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced in her statement that the European Union (EU) is now targeting oil refineries, oil traders, and petrochemical companies in third countries, including China and India, as per Reuters.

It proposes accelerating the phase-out of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by January 1, 2027, and imposing a complete ban on transactions with oil companies. Sanctions against oil companies and refineries in third countries are also proposed. The European Commission is calling for a reduction in the price ceiling for Russian oil at $47.6 per barrel.

As part of a new sanctions package, the European Union plans to impose restrictive measures against the Russian payment system Mir and strengthen the fight against sanctions evasion. The restrictions will affect cryptocurrency platforms, and a ban on cryptocurrency transactions will be introduced.

The restrictions will also affect foreign banks associated with Russian alternative payment systems. Furthermore, transactions with organizations in special economic zones will be limited.

The European Commission is proposing to tighten export controls for companies from Russia, India, and China, as well as to ban the export of certain chemicals, ores, metal components, and salts.

The sanctions list will include 45 Russian and foreign companies and 118 vessels, allegedly belonging to the "shadow fleet." In total, this list includes more than 560 vessels.

On September 19, European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho announced at a briefing that the EC had approved the 19th sanctions package against Russia and would present it later that day.

On September 16, Politico reported that consideration of restrictions under the 19th sanctions package had been postponed indefinitely, as US President Donald Trump and the European Union continued to increase pressure on Slovakia and Hungary to reduce their dependence on Russian oil. On September 18, the publication, citing diplomats, reported that the EC could present an official proposal for a new package of measures on September 19 or 22. Media outlets also reported that the new package would include restrictions on issuing Schengen visas to Russians. The package presented by the EC does not include such a measure.

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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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