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Baerlocher USA to expand metal soap production capacity
FOCUS settle at Ringgit 2800-3200/tonne in Jan 2017. According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), stockpiles declined to 1.67 M tonnes as of 10 Jan 2017 against 2.91 M tonnes at end-2015, reflecting robust buying interest. The bullish sentiment is expected to remain amid a weak ringgit, reduced palm oil production, decreased stockpiles and increased biodiesel mandates in the short term. Malaysia's Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) Minister also expects the country's palm oil sector revenues to increase in 2017. CIMB Research anticipates palm oil inventories to drop further to 1.58 M tonnes at end-Jan 2017 on exports and local consumption outpacing production. Meanwhile, Kenanga Research projects CPO prices to trade at Ringgit 2900–3330/tonne in 1Q 2017 and average at Ringgit 2250/ tonne for the entire year in 2017. CPO prices averaged Ringgit 2653/tonne and Ringgit 2600/tonne in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Malaysia constituted 30.4% of worldwide palm oil production and 37.1% of exports in 2016. Malaysia's exports in 2015 totalled Ringgit 60 bn. A volume of 25.37 M tonnes of palm oil products was exported in 2015. This figure fell to 23.29 M tonnes in 2016, primarily because of reduced output, with palm oil output down 13% year on year; however, the MPIC Ministry is positive it will record higher palm oil export revenue in 2017 amid increased prices in the commodity sector. India continues to be Malaysia's largest export market, constituting 17.8% of its overall palm oil exports in 2016, followed by the European Union and China. The country intends to diversify CPO exports to global markets such as South America, Iran, the non-European Union nations and India. Original Source: The Star, 11, 12 & 18 Jan 2017, (Website: http://thestar.com.my) © Star Publications (M) Bhd 2017
Indonesia palm output likely dropped in Dec 2016 Indonesia's production of crude palm oil (CPO) potentially declined to 3.22 M tonnes in Dec 2016 from 3.31 M tonnes in Nov 2016, ending seven consecutive months of increases. This would be consistent with previous projections of a Nov 2016 peak following a recovery from the impacts of drought and El March 2017
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Nino. The country's CPO exports were projected to have increased by 7% to 2.38 M tonnes from 2.23 M tonnes in Nov 2016. According to Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) data, the country's palm oil and palm kernel oil exports totalled 2.41 M tonnes in Oct 2016. Local consumption and stocks were at 0.9–1.10 M tonnes and 1.89 M tonnes, respectively. Original Source: The Star, 18 Jan 2017, (Website: http://thestar.com.my) © Star Publications (M) Bhd 2017
Other European price and market trends for ethanolamines Ethanolamine demand in Europe is not likely to be negatively affected by the uncertain outlook on downstream glyphosate usage in the EU, which is an avenue for di-ethanolamine (DEA) supplies, as the DEA market into glyphosate is relatively small compared to other areas. In case the European Chemical Agency prohibits the use of glyphosate beyond 2017, producers are exploring options on how to counter possible adverse effects, such as converting DEA into tri-ethanolamine (TEA). Some participants project ethanolamines demand to be on a par with that in 2016 while others believe it could hover around GDP growth. One seller expects mono-ethanolamines (MEA) demand to potentially track GDP growth, with TEA 99% likely to increase marginally over GDP in 2017. Real growth potential, however, is projected to come from emerging markets, including the growing demand in Asia and South America as well as the start of trial production for new downstream esterquat operations in Brazil and Asia. Market participants are also unfazed by the anticipated launch of the new ethanolamine capacity in the Middle East in 1H 2017 by the Dow/Saudi Aramco joint venture Sadara. Any impact from the new Sadara capacity is likely to be felt only in 2018. Moreover, the additional volumes are primarily meant for Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Europe's ethanolamines market is projected to be balanced to well-supplied in 2017 provided there are no unanticipated plant reliability concerns. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 6-12 Jan 2017, 291 (1), 21 (Website: http://www. icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2017
SURFACTANTS Baerlocher USA to expand metal soap production capacity Baerlocher USA, part of the Baerlocher Group, is adding a third reactor for the production of calcium, zinc, sodium and other metal soaps at its facility in Cincinnati, OH. The new reactor is expected to be fully operational in Jun 2017. This major capital investment will increase capacity by 50% and further position the company to meet steadily accelerating demand from the North American polyolefin and polyvinyl chloride industries. [Editor's note: Although Baerlocher's metallic stearates are primarily intended for polymer additive applications, research back in the 1970s identified these chemicals as promising emulsifiers in W/O cosmetic formulations. With rising demand for oilrich shower and bath products (eg 'Focus on Surfactants', Dec 2015), and increasing interest in oil dispersions for agrochemical formulations, perhaps it is time to reconsider calcium and other metal soaps.] Original Source: Baerlocher, 25 Jan 2017 (Website: http://www.baerlocher.com) © Baerlocher GmbH 2017
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS Builders Zeolite 4A market worth more than $2 bn by 2024 The global market for Zeolite 4A is likely to exceed $2 bn by 2024, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights Inc entitled 'Global Zeolite 4A Market Size by Application, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 – 2024'. The main application areas for Zeolite 4A are detergents, where it is used as a builder in detergent powders and tablets, adsorbents and catalysts. The growing preference for phosphate-free ingredients in detergent formulations will favour Zeolite 4A. Detergent manufacture is the largest end-use consumer of Zeolite 4A; however, according to the report, market growth to 2024 is being pushed by its increasing use as an adsorbent in the oil
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Indonesia palm output likely dropped in Dec 2016 Indonesia's production of crude palm oil (CPO) potentially declined to 3.22 M tonnes in Dec 2016 from 3.31 M tonnes in Nov 2016, ending seven consecutive months of increases. This would be consistent with previous projections of a Nov 2016 peak following a recovery from the impacts of drought and El March 2017
ON
S U R FAC TA N T S
Nino. The country's CPO exports were projected to have increased by 7% to 2.38 M tonnes from 2.23 M tonnes in Nov 2016. According to Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) data, the country's palm oil and palm kernel oil exports totalled 2.41 M tonnes in Oct 2016. Local consumption and stocks were at 0.9–1.10 M tonnes and 1.89 M tonnes, respectively. Original Source: The Star, 18 Jan 2017, (Website: http://thestar.com.my) © Star Publications (M) Bhd 2017
Other European price and market trends for ethanolamines Ethanolamine demand in Europe is not likely to be negatively affected by the uncertain outlook on downstream glyphosate usage in the EU, which is an avenue for di-ethanolamine (DEA) supplies, as the DEA market into glyphosate is relatively small compared to other areas. In case the European Chemical Agency prohibits the use of glyphosate beyond 2017, producers are exploring options on how to counter possible adverse effects, such as converting DEA into tri-ethanolamine (TEA). Some participants project ethanolamines demand to be on a par with that in 2016 while others believe it could hover around GDP growth. One seller expects mono-ethanolamines (MEA) demand to potentially track GDP growth, with TEA 99% likely to increase marginally over GDP in 2017. Real growth potential, however, is projected to come from emerging markets, including the growing demand in Asia and South America as well as the start of trial production for new downstream esterquat operations in Brazil and Asia. Market participants are also unfazed by the anticipated launch of the new ethanolamine capacity in the Middle East in 1H 2017 by the Dow/Saudi Aramco joint venture Sadara. Any impact from the new Sadara capacity is likely to be felt only in 2018. Moreover, the additional volumes are primarily meant for Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Europe's ethanolamines market is projected to be balanced to well-supplied in 2017 provided there are no unanticipated plant reliability concerns. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 6-12 Jan 2017, 291 (1), 21 (Website: http://www. icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2017
SURFACTANTS Baerlocher USA to expand metal soap production capacity Baerlocher USA, part of the Baerlocher Group, is adding a third reactor for the production of calcium, zinc, sodium and other metal soaps at its facility in Cincinnati, OH. The new reactor is expected to be fully operational in Jun 2017. This major capital investment will increase capacity by 50% and further position the company to meet steadily accelerating demand from the North American polyolefin and polyvinyl chloride industries. [Editor's note: Although Baerlocher's metallic stearates are primarily intended for polymer additive applications, research back in the 1970s identified these chemicals as promising emulsifiers in W/O cosmetic formulations. With rising demand for oilrich shower and bath products (eg 'Focus on Surfactants', Dec 2015), and increasing interest in oil dispersions for agrochemical formulations, perhaps it is time to reconsider calcium and other metal soaps.] Original Source: Baerlocher, 25 Jan 2017 (Website: http://www.baerlocher.com) © Baerlocher GmbH 2017
ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS Builders Zeolite 4A market worth more than $2 bn by 2024 The global market for Zeolite 4A is likely to exceed $2 bn by 2024, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights Inc entitled 'Global Zeolite 4A Market Size by Application, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 – 2024'. The main application areas for Zeolite 4A are detergents, where it is used as a builder in detergent powders and tablets, adsorbents and catalysts. The growing preference for phosphate-free ingredients in detergent formulations will favour Zeolite 4A. Detergent manufacture is the largest end-use consumer of Zeolite 4A; however, according to the report, market growth to 2024 is being pushed by its increasing use as an adsorbent in the oil
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