Stahl reopens advanced coatings facility in India

Stahl BV (Waalwijk, the Netherlands), a leading producer of specialty coatings for flexible materials has announced the reopening of its advanced coatings facility at Ranipet, India, as per Chemweek.

Originally inaugurated in April 2000, the facility had been operational until its closure in 2019. With the recent divestment of its wet-end activities, Stahl is refocusing the site on leather finishing, performance coatings, and packaging coatings.

The upgraded Ranipet facility integrates coatings formulations production, research and development, and application laboratory testing capabilities, enabling Stahl to enhance its operational efficiency and innovation potential. A notable feature of the facility is its wastewater treatment system, which recycles all process water, achieving a zero liquid waste output, it added.

The move aligns with India's position as one of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies, making local production a vital advantage for Stahl and its customers.

The reopening of the Ranipet facility not only strengthens Stahl's footprint in India, but also aligns with its customer-centric ‘local for global’ business model. India represents a key growth market across all three of Stahl’s business segments, and the enhanced capabilities of the site will enable the company to serve regional and global customers with greater proximity, agility and impact, said the company.

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DCM Shriram Ltd. (Delhi) has commissioned a new epichlorohydrin (ECH) plant at its site in Jhagadia, Gujarat state, with an initial capacity of 37,000 metric tons per year, as per Chemweek.

The company said it plans to bring an additional 17,000 metric tons per year of capacity online shortly.

ECH plays a crucial role in DCM Shriram’s operations, acting as a vital link between its existing chlor-alkali business and the advanced materials vertical. As a downstream product of chlorine, ECH is essential for the production of liquid epoxy resins.

Unlike traditional plants that rely on propylene — a nonrenewable input — DCM Shriram's ECH plant utilizes glycerine, a byproduct of the biodiesel production process, as its primary raw material, said the company.

According to Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH) by S&P Global Commodity Insights, Epigral Ltd. (Mumbai), formerly known as Meghmani Finechem Ltd., is the other domestic ECH producer in India with a capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year, which began operations in 2022.

CEH said in recent years, another process has been commercialized that uses glycerine as feedstock instead of propylene. The glycerine supply increases significantly as a byproduct from biodiesel production. Thus, ECH made from glycerine can be marketed as a green material since it is derived from renewable sources. Other claimed advantages are lower invested capital and generation of fewer byproducts, added CEH.

DCM Shriram is recognized as India’s second-largest chlor-alkali producer, with its Jhagadia facility being the largest single-location chlor-alkali plant in the country.

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On Tuesday, SM prices dropped in Asia due to bearish upstream energy values and weak regional buying sentiments, as per Polymerupdate.

Lower upstream benzene values further supported the price fall.

FOB Korea SM prices were assessed at the USD 800-810/mt levels, down USD (-10/mt) from Monday's assessed levels.

CFR China SM prices were assessed at the USD 810-820/mt levels, a day on day drop of USD (-10/mt).

Meanwhile, upstream benzene prices on Tuesday were assessed at the USD 670-680/mt FOB Korea levels, a decline of USD (-15/mt) from Monday.

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North American chemical rail traffic showed renewed signs of softening during the week ended Oct. 11, according to new data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), as per Chemweek.

Chemical railcar volume across the region totaled 45,641 carloads, down 3.7% from the previous week and up 4.1% year over year. The four-week moving average (4wma) came to 46,718 carloads, down 2.0% sequentially, up 2.5% year over year and up 6.9% from the seasonal trendline, as represented by the average for 2015–24 (left chart).

The increment over the seasonal trendline was at its lowest level since May, the result of a sharp week-over-week decline in the US (right chart), versus no change in Canada and a fifth sequential gain in Mexico.

In the US, 4wma chemical railcar volume came to 32,063 carloads, down 2.9% sequentially, up 1.5% year over year and up 3.3% from the region’s seasonal trendline. In Canada, 4wma chemical railcar volume came to 13,742 carloads, up 0.2% sequentially, up 3.5% year over year and up 15.0% from the trendline. In Mexico, 4wma chemical railcar volume came to 914 carloads, down 1.7% sequentially, up 26.0% year over year and up 0.7% from the trendline.

For the year to date, chemical railcar volume in North America is up 1.5%, while total railcar volume is up 0.7%. US chemical railcar volume is up 1.6% on the same basis, while Canadian chemical railcar volume is up 2.3% and Mexican chemical railcar volume is down 14.3%.

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Trinseo introduces polystyrene, ABS, and SAN resins made with chemically recycled styrene, advancing circularity and sustainable material solutions globally, as per Chemanalyst.

Trinseo, a global leader in specialty material solutions and manufacturer of plastics and latex binders, has announced the availability of polystyrene (PS), ABS, and SAN resins produced with chemically recycled styrene monomer (rSM). This rSM is sourced through depolymerization from the newly operational recycling facility established by Trinseo’s partner, Indaver, in Antwerp, Belgium. The plant, which commenced production in August 2025, focuses on recovering styrene monomer from post-consumer polystyrene household packaging waste.

Trinseo’s product lines, including STYRON™ Polystyrene, MAGNUM™ ABS, and TYRIL™ SAN resins, can now be manufactured with this chemically recycled monomer under the mass balance principle. This ensures that the materials produced are functionally equivalent to their conventional fossil-based counterparts, including suitability for food contact applications, making them “drop-in” replacements.

For STYRON™ polystyrene resins, the integration of household packaging waste in the depolymerization recycling process represents a significant advancement toward circularity. For instance, commonly used products like yogurt cups can potentially be collected, processed, and recycled back into new containers of the same type. Beyond food packaging, STYRON™ resins also find applications in refrigerator liners, appliance components, and expanded polystyrene food trays.

MAGNUM™ ABS resins, meanwhile, are versatile in application, ranging from household goods such as toys and furniture to automotive components both for interior and exterior use. TYRIL™ SAN resins are suited for personal care products, appliance water tanks, and other durable consumer goods, highlighting the broad applicability of these recycled materials across multiple industries.

Ivan Angelov, Vice President of Polymer Solutions at Trinseo, remarked, “We are excited to begin receiving recycled styrene monomer from our partners at Indaver and incorporate it into our products. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to sustainability while enabling us to offer customers solutions with enhanced environmental credentials.”

The introduction of PS, ABS, and SAN produced using rSM complements Trinseo’s existing portfolio of bio-based, dissolution, and other sustainably advantaged materials. Additionally, Trinseo provides a comprehensive tool to calculate the cradle-to-gate Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) for its resins, offering clients transparent insights into the CO2 footprint of various grades. This approach allows stakeholders to make informed decisions when selecting sustainable materials.

With this initiative, Trinseo takes a notable step toward circularity and decarbonization in the plastics industry, bridging the gap between post-consumer waste and high-performance engineering resins while maintaining performance and regulatory compliance.

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