Air Liquide invests EUR130 mln in high-purity gas supply in Singapore

In the frame of two new long-term contracts, Air Liquide S.A. (Paris) will build, own and operate two new state-of-the-art industrial gas facilities to support the expansion of a leading semiconductor manufacturer in Singapore, for a total investment of €130 million, as per company.

Ultra-high purity gases are essential to accompany the next wave of digital technologies, including AI. These new contracts, signed just a few months apart, highlight the acceleration of demand for advanced electronics components in this key hub.

Air Liquide’s next-generation facilities will supply large volumes of ultra-high purity nitrogen to support the production of advanced chips. Integrated with digital technologies such as automation and predictive maintenance, Air Liquide’s new infrastructures will enhance energy efficiency, operational reliability and quality control, delivering value to the customer. The new units are projected to be operational by 2027, further leveraging the Group’s expertise and extensive footprint in the region.

With these investments, Air Liquide reinforces its forefront position in Singapore but also more broadly in Asia. In addition, this new series of contracts with a long-standing customer demonstrates its confidence in the Group’s proven ability to deliver industrial gas technologies with the highest standards of quality, reliability and safety. THis investment also follows a significant investment by Air Liquide in Europe’s semiconductor supply chain.

Ronnie Chalmers, Air Liquide Group Vice President, in charge of supervising Asia Pacific, commented: “Innovation and reliability are at the heart of our business. These contracts are a true testimony of our client’s continued trust, and this move enhances Air Liquide’s position as a leading technology partner to the global semiconductor industry, which continues to rapidly expand in Asia and worldwide. Our advanced solutions will provide the highest levels of reliability and efficiency, demonstrating our strong commitment in delivering the best value to our customers and empowering the future of AI and high-tech innovation.”

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Teijin Automotive Technologies, a European subsidiary of Teijin Ltd., has announced an alliance with Aeronautical Service Srl (Rome), a technology company specializing in ceramic composite materials, as per Chemweek.

This collaboration aims to expedite the industrialization of high-temperature-resistant components utilizing proprietary ceramic matrix composite technologies.

As part of the agreement, Teijin Automotive Technologies has secured exclusive production rights for the automotive sector within its European facilities, alongside extended production rights in the marine, aerospace and industrial sectors. Aeronautical Service will license its FireA technology, which offers a high-temperature-resistant, fireproof and lightweight material formulation.

Teijin said the partnership will focus on the industrialization and standardization of production processes for ceramic matrix composites. The collaboration is set to scale production capabilities to meet the increasing international demand from European facilities. Together, the companies will develop functional applications and market the resulting solutions to global institutional and industrial clients.

According to Teijin, traditional composite materials have long been lauded for their weight and performance advantages; however, they have faced limitations regarding fire resistance. The new generation of high-temperature ceramic matrix composites promises to overcome these challenges, enabling the design and manufacture of structural components that blend the benefits of lightweight composites with comprehensive fire protection. These advanced materials are engineered to withstand extreme temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees C without producing smoke or toxic emissions.

By integrating Aeronautical Service’s ceramic formulations with Teijin Automotive Technologies’ range of industrial production solutions for composite parts, the partnership aims to facilitate the cost-effective, high-volume production of fireproof components.

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Air Water Gas Solutions, a subsidiary of Air Water America Inc. (Bedminster, New Jersey), has broken ground on a new air separation unit (ASU) at Eastman Business Park (EBP) in Rochester, as per Chemweek.

This multimillion-dollar investment is set to enhance the industrial gas supply chain for RED Rochester LLC (Rochester, New York) and its customers, while fortifying supply networks across the US Northeast.

The company said the new facility will be constructed, owned and operated by Air Water Gas Solutions under a comprehensive 20-year supply agreement with RED Rochester. Once operational in 2026, the ASU will provide high-purity liquid nitrogen, oxygen and argon to customers located at EBP and throughout the broader New York and Northeastern US merchant market.

Air Water America Inc. operates as an affiliate of Air Water Inc. (Osaka, Japan).

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DIC Corp.’s affiliate, DIC Graphics Corp., has announced a revision of prices for its commercial printing inks, effective Dec. 1, 2025. The company will implement price increases across various product lines, including commercial web offset inks, oil-based sheet-fed inks, UV inks, newspaper inks and special kneading inks, as per Chemweek.

The new pricing structure will see the following increases:

- Commercial web offset inks: 10% or more

- Oil-based sheet-fed inks: 10% or more

- UV inks: Color inks will increase by 5% or more, while black inks will see a rise of 10% or more

- Newspaper inks: 10% or more

- Specially milled inks: 20% or more

This decision comes in response to a combination of factors, including rising raw material and energy prices influenced by the current international situation, as well as ongoing increases in logistics and packaging costs.

Additionally, DIC Graphics has reported a decline in demand for printing inks used in paper media, such as advertisements, books and newspapers, which has significantly impacted the company’s profit structure.

In light of these challenges, DIC said it has undertaken various cost-cutting measures, including enhancing production efficiency and reducing fixed costs. However, the company has determined that it is increasingly difficult to absorb these cost increases solely through internal efforts. As a result, the price revision aims to ensure a stable supply of products while maintaining and improving quality for its customers, it added.

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Sunrise (Guizhou) New Energy Materials Co. Ltd. has signed a one-year contract to supply 10,000 metric tons of artificial graphite anode materials to China Sodium Times (Shenzhen) New Energy Technology Co. Ltd., a lithium battery pack manufacturer, as per Chemweek.

The deal underscores the growing demand for battery materials as the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors continue to expand.

Sunrise New Energy Co. Ltd. said in an Oct. 2 statement that the contract’s value is $29 million. Sunrise New Energy, via its wholly owned subsidiary Zhuhai Zibo, owns 39.35% of Sunrise Guizhou.

According to the statement, Sunrise Guizhou recently completed construction of a 50,000 metric tons per year graphite anode manufacturing plant in Guizhou province. The company, headquartered in Zibo, Shandong province, has also been expanding its production capacity, with a $41.1 million loan secured earlier this year to finance infrastructure for an additional 50,000 metric tons per year of capacity. On Sept. 19, Sunrise New Energy began construction of a new 20,000 metric tons per year graphite anode material line, a project valued at $64 million. China Sodium Times is a lithium battery pack manufacturer.

Sunrise New Energy said, “This long-term contract demonstrates strong market demand for Sunrise’s advanced anode materials and further strengthens its position as a key supplier to downstream battery and energy storage manufacturers.”

According to company data, Sunrise New Energy expects its graphite anode shipments to reach 40,000 metric tons to 50,000 metric tons in 2025, up from 28,200 metric tons in 2024. The company has projected operating at or near full capacity in 2025, with phase 1 of its Guizhou production base designed for 50,000 metric tons per year of output.

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, assessed natural flake graphite at $405 per metric ton FOB China on Oct. 2, unchanged day over day but down $5 per metric ton week over week. The price reflects the spot value of natural flake graphite with 94%-95% carbon content and a minus 100 mesh size delivered to Qingdao port.

On the same day, Platts assessed natural flake graphite on a CIF Northeast Asia basis at $505 per metric ton, unchanged day over day and down $5 per metric ton week over week. The price reflects material in Northeast Asia, normalized to Japan’s main ports.

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