ADI provided ongoing market intelligence on catalyst innovations and licensing trends across the petrochemical value chain. The analysis focused on technology scale-up for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), renewable diesel, and advanced plastics recycling. Strategic risks, including the impact of IMO 2020 on refinery configurations and the growth of crude-to-chemicals (COTC) projects, were evaluated.
The client
Global specialty chemical provider
The situation
Decision risk regarding R&D investment in renewable fuel catalysts and competitive threats from COTC projects.
ADI’s contributions
Technology trend monitoring
Tracked patent filings and pilot project announcements to identify emerging leaders in chemical recycling technologies.
Impact analysis of COTC
Evaluated how integrated crude-to-chemicals complexes disrupt traditional catalyst and licensing business models.
Renewable fuels deep-dive
Analyzed catalyst requirements and process step constraints for HVO and HEFA-based sustainable fuel production.
Peer benchmarking
Benchmarked the financial performance and R&D spend of top-tier catalyst and technology licensors.
Key outcomes
- Supported long-term innovation strategy and prioritized catalyst development for bio-based feedstock conversion.
More insights
Japan vs. South Korea: SAF projects diverge
Japan and South Korea are moving from aspirational sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) targets toward blending mandates. In July 2026, Japan announced plans to mandate a 1% SAF blend in fiscal year (FY) 2030, rising to at least 3% in FY2031 and 5% or more from FY2032–34. South Korea announced its phased SAF mandate in 2025, […]
What recent M&A reveals about the catalyst industry
The catalyst industry is entering a new phase, with 2026 marking a period of significant portfolio realignment and expansion into adjacent catalyst technologies and services across refining, petrochemical, polymer, and emissions-control markets. The transactions shown in Exhibit 1 highlight a broader shift in how companies are positioning themselves across the catalyst value chain. For instance, […]
ADI insights featured in Enterprise AM
ADI Analytics is pleased to share that our CEO, Uday Turaga, was quoted in Enterprise AM discussing Kuwait’s Project Peregrine and the growing trend of infrastructure monetization across the global energy sector. Kuwait’s transaction is the latest in a series of deals involving companies such as ADNOC Group, Aramco, OQ, and Bapco Energies. These transactions […]