Industry: Specialty chemicals

Chemical industry summary US and global commodity chemical companies generally reported favorable financial results in the Q2 earnings season, with several companies reporting record results. Commodity chemical prices proved to be relatively stable despite ongoing feedstock price erosion. Demand for polyolefins in all regions was relatively firm and producers’ inventories at the end of Q2 […]

AMERICAS Dunkin’ Donuts seeking replacement of EPS cup Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. has looked for alternatives to expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam cups for its coffee cups. Currently, polypropylene foam cups from Berry Plastics Group have been considered the best alternative to EPS foam cups. Dunkin’ Donuts also seeks a new and recyclable lid to be […]

AMERICAS   Shintech to build new ethylene unit at Iberville Parish facility   Shintech, the largest PVC producer in North America, will invest USD 1.4 billion for a new ethane cracker installed at its facility in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, as well as infrastructures that connect ethylene output to VCM and PVC units. The new plant […]

AMERICAS   Nova Chemicals evaluating new PE plant   Canada-headquartered Nova Chemicals is considering building a new PE plant and might have a final decision within 12-18 months. If this PE project realizes, the PE plant would benefit from its expansion project of cracker in Corunna, Canada which is due on stream in 2017. In […]

AMERICAS   ExxonMobil launches new Vistamaxx grade   ExxonMobil has introduced a new propylene-based elastomers grade, Vistamaxx3588FL. The new material offers good heat seal properties with excellent processability in cPP and BOPP film applications. Comments: Snack, biscuit, and candy packaging in China and Southeast Asia are expected to be some of the highest growth areas […]

AMERICAS Borealis to invest in PP compounding in Brazil Borealis has completed the expansion of its PP compounding facility in Itatiba, Brazil. The expansion was completed with an investment of about USD 48 million. The expansion project included the addition of two new lines; the output from the new lines will be sold to automotive […]

AMERICAS Formosa Plastics to build new PE plant Formosa Plastics’ new PE plant at Point Comfort, Texas will have the capacity to produce 525 KTA. This will be the second PE unit at the Point Comfort complex. Construction for this unit is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the plant is […]

AMERICAS ExxonMobil Chemical introduces new Vistamaxx grade ExxonMobil Chemical is introducing a new grade to its Vistamaxx portfolio. The new grade, Vistamaxx 3588FL provides excellent seal performance in cast PP and heat-sealable BOPP films designed for fast and reliable packaging operations. Comments: Exxon has introduced the new grade to cater to the fast-growing general packaging […]

AMERICAS Formosa considering a new PE unit in Point Comfort Formosa Plastics is considering the construction of a PE unit at its Point Comfort complex in Texas. This will be the second new PE plant to be built at Point Comfort. Construction on the new PE unit is expected to begin in the last quarter […]

AMERICAS  North Dakota to have new PE Facility Badlands NGL is developing a new polyethylene facility in North Dakota with an investment of about USD 4 billion. This facility will use North Dakota’s natural gas liquid-sourced ethane gas coming out of Williston Basin as a byproduct of oil production. Badlands is working with Tecnicas Reunidas […]

AMERICAS  ExxonMobil Chemical divests its stake in Univation Technologies ExxonMobil Chemical has divested its stake in Univation Technologies, a PE licensing joint venture with Dow Chemical. Univation Technologies will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dow Chemical. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2014 and is subject to regulatory approval. Comments: Univation […]

AMERICAS  Borealis to expand in South America Borealis is expanding its activity in its plant at Itatiba, Brazil. The expansion project includes the construction of two PP compounding extruders, besides the improvement of plant facilities. All the improvements along with the expanded PP compounding extruders are expected to be online by the fourth quarter of […]