Shell Polymers supplying circular PE to Isoflex for food packaging

Shell Polymers is supplying ISCC Plus-certified, virgin-equivalent circular polyethylene (PE) produced at its Monaca, Pennsylvania, site to Isoflex Packaging Inc. for use in food-grade flexible packaging, as per Chemweek.

Shell Polymers, part of Shell PLC, announced the news on Sept. 26.

“This collaboration underscores Shell Polymers’ ability to meet the real-world demands of converters seeking circular solutions, including certified circular resin,” said Ryan Siegfried, global marketing manager at Shell Polymers. “Our ISCC Plus-certified materials help customers like Isoflex deliver traceable and functional solutions that make it possible for more end markets to access recycled plastic.”

Shell Polymers’ Monaca facility is ISCC Plus-certified for the production of circular PE from circular ethylene. Shell’s Norco, Louisiana, steam cracker is ISCC Plus-certified for the production of circular ethylene from pyrolysis oil. Freepoint Eco-Systems supplies pyrolysis oil from its advanced recycling facility at Hebron, Ohio, to Shell under a long-term supply agreement.

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The European Commission has launched an expiry review of the antidumping measures in place on imports of certain polyvinyl alcohols (PVOH) originating from China, it announced on Sept. 25, as per Chemweek.

Antidumping duties were implemented on Sept. 25, 2020, after a complaint by Kuraray Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Kuraray Ltd., that material being dumped was causing harm to the European market, triggered an investigation in 2019.

The review will determine whether the removal of duties up to 72.9% will cause dumping and subsequent harm to the industry.

A final decision to maintain or terminate the measures is expected by Sept. 24, 2026.

PVOH is produced using vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) through a process called hydrolysis, whereby VAM undergoes polymerization to form polyvinyl acetate, which is then reacted with an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst.

The original complaint indicated distortions for a number of raw materials that can be used to produce VAM, such as petroleum, natural gas or coal, which were having impacts on China.

However, it was found that VAM prices in China were higher than those in Europe and Russia.

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, last assessed the three- to 30-day forward VAM spot price at €850 per metric ton free-delivered northwest Europe, stable week over week.

Imports of VAM into Europe from China have stagnated in the second half of 2025, following the EU’s duty-free quota being fully used up on July 23.

EU importers are, however, still sourcing material from South Korea at competitive prices.

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Hungarian refiner MOL Group has signed agreements to resume international crude oil exports from Iraq's Kurdistan region, it said on Friday, marking a key step toward restoring operations halted since spring 2023, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The agreements involve international exploration and production companies, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the Federal Government of Iraq.

MOL expects the crude oil pipeline connecting the region to Turkey's port of Ceyhan to reopen in the coming days.

"We are optimistic about the reopening of the pipeline and the positive impact it will bring to our operations," MOL said in its statement.

The pipeline closure earlier this year disrupted crude exports from the region, impacting revenues for oil firms operating in Kurdistan.

MOL has a 20% stake in the Shaikan oil field in Iraq's Kurdistan.

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Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd. (GHCL; Ahmedabad, India) said its soda ash plant at Sutrapada, Gujarat State, will undergo a temporary closure for planned maintenance activities, as per Chemweek.

The annual maintenance shutdown is scheduled to take place from Sept. 26, 2025, to Oct. 12, 2025, resulting in an estimated production shortfall of approximately 22,000 metric tons to 25,000 metric tons.

Despite the temporary halt in production, GHCL reassured its customers that it has sufficient reserve stock of soda ash to meet ongoing requirements. The company emphasized that there will be no adverse impact on supply commitments during this maintenance period.

GHCL plays a significant role in the Indian soda ash market, contributing to nearly 25% of the country’s annual domestic soda ash demand. The company operates with a capacity of 1.2 million metric tons per year, according to its website.

In its report for the fiscal first quarter ended June 30, GHCL noted a persistent softness in global soda ash prices. This decline is primarily attributed to an oversupply situation in international markets, including the US, Europe and now China, which has exerted pressure on pricing realizations.

Looking forward, GHCL previously expressed concerns regarding macroeconomic uncertainty, anticipating that it will continue to impact global soda ash markets. The company expects prices to remain volatile in the near future as market dynamics evolve.

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MAIRE announced that NEXTCHEM and Siemens Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on the development and commercialization of a breakthrough methanol high temperature fuel cell, based on a newly designed modularized solution, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

With an initial focus on the high-end yachting segment, the target market for the cooperation is the maritime industry and beyond.

NEXTCHEM will focus on the design and supply of the innovative and highly efficient methanol fuel cell module, while Siemens Energy will leverage its expertise in onboard system integration, complete electrification and energy management with the aim of delivering a complete solution to shipyards and Owners.

The fuel cell will reform low-carbon methanol back into hydrogen for onboard power generation, allowing net-zero operations of the vessel both at anchor and during propulsion. This solution will allow displacing significant amounts of fossil marine diesel fuel, and to avoid the emissions of highly regulated nitrous and sulfur oxides.

The first "Industrial scale” installation of this innovative system is already under definition and will be installed on a flagship net-zero yacht currently under construction.

While the yachting segment is seen as an early adopter market, this new highly efficient methanol fuel cell module designed and supplied by NEXTCHEM will be capable of serving many other applications and markets, like stationary net-zero power generation, including back-up and baseload of data centers and industrial processes, as well as remote and off-grid installation.

Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director of NEXTCHEM, commented: “With this highly efficient and modularized fuel cell solution NEXTCHEM will cover the entire value chain of low-carbon methanol, with a unique proposition capable to deliver best-in-class production technologies, while also unlocking additional methanol uses, thus, accelerating demand growth and the establishment of a broader low-carbon methanol economy”.

Giuseppe Sachero, Vice President, Oil & Gas and Chemical Solutions, Siemens Energy, added: "This development highlights the unique value of key players in the energy transition value chain. By working together, we capitalize on each other’s expertise and references in adjacent industries. Fuel cells are an integral part of the clean fuels technologies ecosystem, from electrolysis to electricity generation and storage, and are applicable in multiple industrial applications."

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