Cover Story

US chemical firm ExxonMobil and Riyadh-headquartered Sabic have received final environmental regulatory approval to proceed with the construction of their 50:50 joint venture project in San Patricio County, Texas. Known as the Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, the US$20 billion project will include one of the world’s largest ethane crackers, designed…

Dutch specialty polymers supplier DSM has launched a new production line for Arnitel thermoplastic copolyesters (TPCs) in Emmen, the Netherlands. The capacity will be expanded by 20%. The new production line will allow DSM to meet the growing demand for its TPCs. These materials are known for their combination of…

German materials supplier BASF and automotive parts manufacturer Liyang Shanhu Industry Auto Trim Material Co., have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement to develop lightweight and low-emission polyurethane (PU) system product applications. “There is an increasing demand in China for composite products that make automotive parts lighter for fuel efficiency,…

With the global thermoplastics polyurethane (TPU) market expected to grow at 6% between 2017 and 2022, and the majority of such growth to come from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, German materials supplier Covestro has completed a capacity expansion for TPU at its Changhua manufacturing site in Taiwan by 30%.…

German materials supplier Covestro has delivered its first commercial order of polyurethane (PU) raw materials for wind blades to China. China is the world’s largest wind power market with 221 GW of installed capacity at the end of 2018, according to the World Wind Energy Association.(1) The blades, produced by…

UK chemical firm Inoes has signed an agreement with Saudi Aramco and France’s Total to build three new plants in the Middle East, as part of the Jubail 2 complex in Saudi Arabia. The three world-scale plants will produce the key building blocks for carbon fibre, engineering polymers and synthetic…

Innovative packaging designs for easier sorting are being sought as the initial basis for effective recycling, says Angelica Buan in this article. Flexible packaging offers many benefits: it uses less energy and materials than other packaging options, helps extend food shelf life and minimise spoilage, and reduces waste by preserving…

The still young and fast growing bioplastics market, with an estimated growth of 20% a year, is continuously being updated to cater to new innovations and further the sustainability issues. Old hand PLA gets into the swing of things Swedish firm Perstorp has introduced renewable Capa for Bioplastics, the world’s…

The numerous potential applications for industrial hemp match the nearly utopian dream of the composites industry that is on the look out for stronger yet cheaper materials, with a lower carbon footprint, says Angelica Buan in this report. Potential, but outlawed The cannabis plant, commonly known as marijuana, is a…

Petrochemical markets are heavily impacted by changes in the crude oil price, since crude oil and its derivative naphtha, are essential steam-cracker feedstocks for the production of numerous chemicals. Changes in crude oil prices influence not only the overall price level for petrochemicals like olefins and aromatics, but are also…