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Global Bioenergies secures EU funding for its new value chain
FOCUS segments consumed with the volume share of 47.2% in 2015. The global nanosilica demand was 3,348,300 tonnes in 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2016 to 2025. P-type nanosilica was estimated as the largest product segment in 2015 and is projected to account for $2.55 bn by 2025. Global nanosilica demand in rubber industry was $810.4 M in 2015 and is anticipated to witness substantial growth over the next nine years. The US nanosilica market in coating industry was 85,400 tonnes in 2015 and is projected to reach a total volume of over 150,700 tonnes by 2025. The industry in Asia-Pacific is projected to witness substantial growth, with the regional market in terms of revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2016 to 2025. Key players including Evonik Industries, AkzoNobel NV, EI du Pont de Nemours and Company, Cabot Corporation, NanoPore Incorporated, Nanostructured & Amorphous Materials Inc, Fuso Chemical Co Ltd and others dominated the global nanosilica market. Original Source: Grand View Research, 2017. Found on SpecialChem Plastics and Elastomers Formulation, 8 May 2017, (Website: http://www.specialchem4polymers. com).
China could form new chemical giants China's state-run companies Sinochem Group and ChemChina are planning to merge in 2018, resulting in the formation of the world's largest chemical player with approximately $100 bn in sales. The merged entity would outperform the global market leader BASF. ChemChina is also planning to acquire Swiss seed and crop protection specialist Syngenta for $43 bn in a transaction scheduled for 7 Jun 2017. Original Source: Handelsblatt Wirtschafts- und Finanzzeitung, 9 May 2017, (Website: http://www. handelsblatt.com) © Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt GmbH & Co KG 2017.
COMPANY NEWS Clariant starts 2017 with strong sales growth and a significantly improved absolute EBITDA Clariant announced 1Q 2017 sales of SFR 1.602 bn compared to SFR 1.478 bn in 1Q 2016. In 1Q 2017, local currency sales growth was strong in Europe at 12%, Asia at 11% and the Middle East & Africa at 7%, while North America grew by 11% driven by acquisitions. The growth in Asia was supported by China and Southeast Asia. In Latin America, demand declined by 5% in local currency against a strong comparable base and as a result of the weaker economic environment mainly in Brazil. Care Chemicals and Plastics & Coatings continued their robust growth trends. Care Chemicals sales rose by 9% in local currency to SFR 440 M supported by growth in both the Consumer Care and the Industrial Applications businesses. Sales in Plastics & Coatings increased by 6% in local currency to SFR 673 M with a
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particularly strong regional development in Europe. Sales in Catalysis were up by 2% in local currency to SFR 142 M with a soft demand recovery in the Asian and European markets. The EBITDA before exceptional items significantly increased by 10% in local currency and reached SFR 250 M, compared to SFR 229 M in 1Q 2016. As a result, the corresponding EBITDA margin before exceptional items increased to 15.6% versus the previous year's level of 15.5%. For 2017, in spite of a continued challenging economic environment, Clariant is confident to be able to achieve growth in local currency, as well as progression in operating cash flow, absolute EBITDA and EBITDA margin before exceptional items. Clariant confirms its mid-term target of reaching a position in the top tier of the speciality chemicals industry. This corresponds to an EBITDA margin before exceptional items in the range of 16% to 19% and a return on invested capital (ROIC) above the peer group average. Original Source: Clariant, 27 Apr 2017, (Website: http:// www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
Clariant catalysts contribute significantly to emission control in China Clariant, a world leader in speciality chemicals, is among the foremost catalyst suppliers supporting Chinese producers in stationary emission control. The company combines high-performance EnviCat catalysts with 40 years of global expertise in catalytic air and gas purification to offer highly effective solutions for the market. Most importantly, Clariant's strong presence in China enables close cooperation between the company's technical specialists and customers in the creation of tailormade catalyst solutions, which not only solve emission challenges, but also improve production processes. This has enhanced Clariant's status as a preferred partner for China's largest environmental engineering companies, and supplier to a broad range of well-known enterprises. Under China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), industries are required to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The government has introduced new environmental assessment methods, which have already demonstrated notable progress. One important technology needed to achieve China's ambitious targets is catalytic reduction of pollutants. Clariant optimally fulfills this requirement through its EnviCat catalyst series. The range comprises specialized catalysts for removing a variety of gases and manufacturing by-products, such as volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, nitrous oxide, ammonia, metal hydrides and halogens. Original Source: Clariant, 9 May 2017, (Website: http:// www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
Clariant highlights sustainabilityand efficiency-focused gas processing adsorbents at GPA GCC 2017 Clariant presented new additions to its gas processing catalysts and absorbents product lines at the Gas Processors Association (GPA) GCC 25th Annual Technical Conference in Abu Dhabi. Clariant's ActiSorb GP Series of high performance
adsorbent technologies for gas purification supports customers in improving efficiency, operability and total cost of ownership. Based on environmentally acceptable technology, the products for the removal of sulfur, carbonyl sulfide (COS), arsine, mercury and oxygen are designed to optimize contaminant pickup. At GPA GCC, Clariant will highlight two new products from its comprehensive portfolio: ActiSorb GP 108 for sulfur removal of gas streams; and ActiSorb GP 418, an innovative adsorbent for the removal of all forms of mercury from dry gas streams. Original Source: Clariant, 9 May 2017, (Website: http:// www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
Global Bioenergies secures EU funding for its new value chain Global Bioenergies has announced the signature of a grant agreement aimed at demonstrating a new value chain combining its Isobutene process with technologies developed by Clariant and INEOS, two of Europe's leading chemical companies. The aim is to convert currently poorly valorized residual wheat straw into secondgeneration renewable isobutene for subsequent conversion into oligomers usable in the lubricants, rubbers, solvents, plastics or fuels. The intense R&D cooperation for the next 48 months starts on 1 Jun 2017. The agreement signed recently between the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI-JU) and the project partners focuses on the demonstration of a new value chain, based on the combination of the technologies and know-how of the participants from four EU member states. Conversion of straw into glucose- and xylose-rich hydrolysates will be done using Clariant Sunliquid technology (Germany). Fermentation of the straw hydrolysates into bio-isobutene will be done by Global Bioenergies (France and Germany). Conversion of bio-isobutene to oligomers will be done by INEOS (a world leader in Belgium and France). Preliminary engineering of a hydrolysate-toisobutene plant and overall integration with a straw-to-hydrolysate plant will be done by TechnipFMC and IPSB (France). Assessment of the sustainability and environmental benefits will be done by the Energy Institute at the University of Linz (Austria). Original Source: Global Bioenergies, 2017. Found on SpecialChem Adhesives and Sealants Formulation, 11 May 2017, (Website: http://www. specialchem4adhesives.com).
CB&I inaugurates PP technology pilot plant CB&I has launched its Novolen technology polypropylene (PP) pilot facility. The new unit is a new section of its R&D facility in Pasadena, TX, US. It will play a significant role in the development and commercialization of new products and catalysts. It will evaluate the catalyst systems created in the labs of CB&I. It complements its PP catalyst manufacturing facility in Louisville, KY. With the latest investment, CB&I will be able to collaborate with customers to create new speciality grade PP. Original Source: European Plastics News, 10 May 2017, (Website: http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc. 2017.
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China could form new chemical giants China's state-run companies Sinochem Group and ChemChina are planning to merge in 2018, resulting in the formation of the world's largest chemical player with approximately $100 bn in sales. The merged entity would outperform the global market leader BASF. ChemChina is also planning to acquire Swiss seed and crop protection specialist Syngenta for $43 bn in a transaction scheduled for 7 Jun 2017. Original Source: Handelsblatt Wirtschafts- und Finanzzeitung, 9 May 2017, (Website: http://www. handelsblatt.com) © Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt GmbH & Co KG 2017.
COMPANY NEWS Clariant starts 2017 with strong sales growth and a significantly improved absolute EBITDA Clariant announced 1Q 2017 sales of SFR 1.602 bn compared to SFR 1.478 bn in 1Q 2016. In 1Q 2017, local currency sales growth was strong in Europe at 12%, Asia at 11% and the Middle East & Africa at 7%, while North America grew by 11% driven by acquisitions. The growth in Asia was supported by China and Southeast Asia. In Latin America, demand declined by 5% in local currency against a strong comparable base and as a result of the weaker economic environment mainly in Brazil. Care Chemicals and Plastics & Coatings continued their robust growth trends. Care Chemicals sales rose by 9% in local currency to SFR 440 M supported by growth in both the Consumer Care and the Industrial Applications businesses. Sales in Plastics & Coatings increased by 6% in local currency to SFR 673 M with a
June 2017
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C ATA LY S T S
particularly strong regional development in Europe. Sales in Catalysis were up by 2% in local currency to SFR 142 M with a soft demand recovery in the Asian and European markets. The EBITDA before exceptional items significantly increased by 10% in local currency and reached SFR 250 M, compared to SFR 229 M in 1Q 2016. As a result, the corresponding EBITDA margin before exceptional items increased to 15.6% versus the previous year's level of 15.5%. For 2017, in spite of a continued challenging economic environment, Clariant is confident to be able to achieve growth in local currency, as well as progression in operating cash flow, absolute EBITDA and EBITDA margin before exceptional items. Clariant confirms its mid-term target of reaching a position in the top tier of the speciality chemicals industry. This corresponds to an EBITDA margin before exceptional items in the range of 16% to 19% and a return on invested capital (ROIC) above the peer group average. Original Source: Clariant, 27 Apr 2017, (Website: http:// www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
Clariant catalysts contribute significantly to emission control in China Clariant, a world leader in speciality chemicals, is among the foremost catalyst suppliers supporting Chinese producers in stationary emission control. The company combines high-performance EnviCat catalysts with 40 years of global expertise in catalytic air and gas purification to offer highly effective solutions for the market. Most importantly, Clariant's strong presence in China enables close cooperation between the company's technical specialists and customers in the creation of tailormade catalyst solutions, which not only solve emission challenges, but also improve production processes. This has enhanced Clariant's status as a preferred partner for China's largest environmental engineering companies, and supplier to a broad range of well-known enterprises. Under China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), industries are required to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The government has introduced new environmental assessment methods, which have already demonstrated notable progress. One important technology needed to achieve China's ambitious targets is catalytic reduction of pollutants. Clariant optimally fulfills this requirement through its EnviCat catalyst series. The range comprises specialized catalysts for removing a variety of gases and manufacturing by-products, such as volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, nitrous oxide, ammonia, metal hydrides and halogens. Original Source: Clariant, 9 May 2017, (Website: http:// www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
Clariant highlights sustainabilityand efficiency-focused gas processing adsorbents at GPA GCC 2017 Clariant presented new additions to its gas processing catalysts and absorbents product lines at the Gas Processors Association (GPA) GCC 25th Annual Technical Conference in Abu Dhabi. Clariant's ActiSorb GP Series of high performance
adsorbent technologies for gas purification supports customers in improving efficiency, operability and total cost of ownership. Based on environmentally acceptable technology, the products for the removal of sulfur, carbonyl sulfide (COS), arsine, mercury and oxygen are designed to optimize contaminant pickup. At GPA GCC, Clariant will highlight two new products from its comprehensive portfolio: ActiSorb GP 108 for sulfur removal of gas streams; and ActiSorb GP 418, an innovative adsorbent for the removal of all forms of mercury from dry gas streams. Original Source: Clariant, 9 May 2017, (Website: http:// www.clariant.com) © Clariant 2017.
Global Bioenergies secures EU funding for its new value chain Global Bioenergies has announced the signature of a grant agreement aimed at demonstrating a new value chain combining its Isobutene process with technologies developed by Clariant and INEOS, two of Europe's leading chemical companies. The aim is to convert currently poorly valorized residual wheat straw into secondgeneration renewable isobutene for subsequent conversion into oligomers usable in the lubricants, rubbers, solvents, plastics or fuels. The intense R&D cooperation for the next 48 months starts on 1 Jun 2017. The agreement signed recently between the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI-JU) and the project partners focuses on the demonstration of a new value chain, based on the combination of the technologies and know-how of the participants from four EU member states. Conversion of straw into glucose- and xylose-rich hydrolysates will be done using Clariant Sunliquid technology (Germany). Fermentation of the straw hydrolysates into bio-isobutene will be done by Global Bioenergies (France and Germany). Conversion of bio-isobutene to oligomers will be done by INEOS (a world leader in Belgium and France). Preliminary engineering of a hydrolysate-toisobutene plant and overall integration with a straw-to-hydrolysate plant will be done by TechnipFMC and IPSB (France). Assessment of the sustainability and environmental benefits will be done by the Energy Institute at the University of Linz (Austria). Original Source: Global Bioenergies, 2017. Found on SpecialChem Adhesives and Sealants Formulation, 11 May 2017, (Website: http://www. specialchem4adhesives.com).
CB&I inaugurates PP technology pilot plant CB&I has launched its Novolen technology polypropylene (PP) pilot facility. The new unit is a new section of its R&D facility in Pasadena, TX, US. It will play a significant role in the development and commercialization of new products and catalysts. It will evaluate the catalyst systems created in the labs of CB&I. It complements its PP catalyst manufacturing facility in Louisville, KY. With the latest investment, CB&I will be able to collaborate with customers to create new speciality grade PP. Original Source: European Plastics News, 10 May 2017, (Website: http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com) © Crain Communications Inc. 2017.
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