- Email: [email protected]
Integration, price constraints, and quality concerns
FOCUS ON SURFACTANTS A MONTHLY REPORT FROM CAROLINE EDSER AUGUST 2011
INTEGRATION, PRICE CONSTRAINTS, AND QUALITY CONCERNS
In this issue
RAW MATERIALS
2
Oleochemicals: EU fatty alcohol buyers hit by antidumping duties for imports from Malaysia, India, and Indonesia
SURFACTANTS
2-3
Rhodia and SIBUR sign letter of intent for joint venture in surfactants in Russia and CIS
APPLICATIONS
3-6
Novozymes: towards zero impact laundering
PATENTS
6
VeruTEK Technologies receives US patent notice of allowance for green-synthesized-nZVI (G-nZVI)
LEGISLATION
6-7
Ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents will improve water quality
COMPANY RESULTS
7
COMPANY NEWS
7
BASF: Nanjing takes off
EVENTS
SURFACTANTS
AN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER MONITORING TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS FOR ALL SURFACE ACTIVE AGENTS ISSN 1351–4210
8
Topics highlighted in this issue of Focus on Surfactants include downstream integration within refinery and chemical complexes, not to mention the ongoing integration between companies. Also considered are concerns about fatty alcohol prices and the impact of surfactants and their applications on water quality. One of the trends in the chemical industry is the increased integration of refinery and petrochemical complexes to include several downstream products, including surfactants. The joint venture announced by Rhodia and SIBUR (p 3) is the latest example in which Rhodia will provide expertise in surfactant technologies, knowledge of formulations and market applications, and its customer network. SIBUR, the leading petrochemical company in Russia, will contribute raw materials, production, and logistics capabilities. The joint venture will enable SIBUR to add surfactants to a portfolio that already includes plastics and synthetic rubber. A similar project is being planned by Petronas in Malaysia (p 2), although in this instance the facility envisaged is one comprising a new oil refinery and downstream petrochemical plants, with products expected to include olefins, ethylene oxide derivatives, and surfactants, among others. The development of these oil-based facilities is in stark contrast to the emphasis highlighted in the previous issue on green, sustainable or renewable raw materials. Joint ventures, such as that mentioned above, together with mergers and acquisitions have long been part of the process by which the
SURFACTANTS
chemical industry is becoming more integrated. Thus, for BASF the full integration of Cognis is now bearing fruit, not just in terms of its overall financial performance (p 7) but also in the way that the two companies are now able to market their products. Press releases from Cognis highlight how this is likely to have proved successful at events in Turkey (p 4-5) and Japan (p 3-4). Concern over the higher price of fatty alcohols will have been further exacerbated by the decision by the European Commission (p 2) to introduce antidumping tariffs on products imported from Malaysia, India, and Indonesia. Cognis and Sasol Olefins & Surfactants, two German companies that account for 27% of fatty alcohol production in the EU, are behind the decision, which is expected to keep prices at elevated levels at a time when supplies are tight. The use of phosphates in many detergent-based household products is already prohibited, and a recent proposal by the European Parliament (p 6-7) could add dishwasher products to the list with the aim of improving water quality. Measures aimed at minimizing adverse impacts on the latter were the driving force behind a newly patented invention (p 6) by which surfactant-enhanced wastewater treatment is made more effective. The introduction of new technology by Novozymes (p 5) is also aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of laundering activities. This issue edited by Dr Alan Skull
SURFACTANTS
SURFACTANTS
INTEGRATION, PRICE CONSTRAINTS, AND QUALITY CONCERNS
In this issue
RAW MATERIALS
2
Oleochemicals: EU fatty alcohol buyers hit by antidumping duties for imports from Malaysia, India, and Indonesia
SURFACTANTS
2-3
Rhodia and SIBUR sign letter of intent for joint venture in surfactants in Russia and CIS
APPLICATIONS
3-6
Novozymes: towards zero impact laundering
PATENTS
6
VeruTEK Technologies receives US patent notice of allowance for green-synthesized-nZVI (G-nZVI)
LEGISLATION
6-7
Ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents will improve water quality
COMPANY RESULTS
7
COMPANY NEWS
7
BASF: Nanjing takes off
EVENTS
SURFACTANTS
AN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER MONITORING TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS FOR ALL SURFACE ACTIVE AGENTS ISSN 1351–4210
8
Topics highlighted in this issue of Focus on Surfactants include downstream integration within refinery and chemical complexes, not to mention the ongoing integration between companies. Also considered are concerns about fatty alcohol prices and the impact of surfactants and their applications on water quality. One of the trends in the chemical industry is the increased integration of refinery and petrochemical complexes to include several downstream products, including surfactants. The joint venture announced by Rhodia and SIBUR (p 3) is the latest example in which Rhodia will provide expertise in surfactant technologies, knowledge of formulations and market applications, and its customer network. SIBUR, the leading petrochemical company in Russia, will contribute raw materials, production, and logistics capabilities. The joint venture will enable SIBUR to add surfactants to a portfolio that already includes plastics and synthetic rubber. A similar project is being planned by Petronas in Malaysia (p 2), although in this instance the facility envisaged is one comprising a new oil refinery and downstream petrochemical plants, with products expected to include olefins, ethylene oxide derivatives, and surfactants, among others. The development of these oil-based facilities is in stark contrast to the emphasis highlighted in the previous issue on green, sustainable or renewable raw materials. Joint ventures, such as that mentioned above, together with mergers and acquisitions have long been part of the process by which the
SURFACTANTS
chemical industry is becoming more integrated. Thus, for BASF the full integration of Cognis is now bearing fruit, not just in terms of its overall financial performance (p 7) but also in the way that the two companies are now able to market their products. Press releases from Cognis highlight how this is likely to have proved successful at events in Turkey (p 4-5) and Japan (p 3-4). Concern over the higher price of fatty alcohols will have been further exacerbated by the decision by the European Commission (p 2) to introduce antidumping tariffs on products imported from Malaysia, India, and Indonesia. Cognis and Sasol Olefins & Surfactants, two German companies that account for 27% of fatty alcohol production in the EU, are behind the decision, which is expected to keep prices at elevated levels at a time when supplies are tight. The use of phosphates in many detergent-based household products is already prohibited, and a recent proposal by the European Parliament (p 6-7) could add dishwasher products to the list with the aim of improving water quality. Measures aimed at minimizing adverse impacts on the latter were the driving force behind a newly patented invention (p 6) by which surfactant-enhanced wastewater treatment is made more effective. The introduction of new technology by Novozymes (p 5) is also aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of laundering activities. This issue edited by Dr Alan Skull
SURFACTANTS
SURFACTANTS