- Email: [email protected]
Chemical makers target catalysts opportunities in the energy market
FOCUS My view is that catalysts are a very special case of ‘chemicals’. Shaped catalysts are anyway better regarded as ‘articles’, rather than ‘chemicals’. I know of no examples of catalysts, used as they are intended, presenting any health hazards. To deliberately expose animals to catalysts for the purpose of administrative box-ticking would be obscene. The costs of complying with REACH will fall disproportionately on the small and medium-sized companies. Its overall effect will undoubtedly be to shift chemical manufacturing from Europe to Asia. Perhaps this is the hidden agenda of its proponents. Alan E. Comyns
Chemical and Engineering News, 21 Nov 2005, 11 & Chemistry and Industry, 5 Dec 2005, (23), 4, 17 & Chemical Week, 23 Nov 2005, 167 (40) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & European Chemical News, 21 Nov 2005, 83 (2172), 6 & 28 Nov 2005, 83 (2173), 28,37 & 5 Dec 2005, 83 (2174), 35 & Chemical Market Reporter, 14 Nov 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 25 Nov 2005, 4 & Het Financieele Dagblad, 18 Nov 2005 (Website: http://www.fd.nl/) (in Dutch) & Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 21 Nov 2005, 68 (225), 8 (in German) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 21 Nov 2005, (318) 1 (in French)
MARKETS AND BUSINESS World enzymes to 2009 The market, presently worth $3.7 bn, will grow at 6.5%/y through 2009. Animal feed enzymes will grow fastest. Price: $5,100; also sold in sections from $30. Freedonia Group Inc, 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, OH 44143-2326, USA. Tel: +1 440 684 9600. Fax: +1 440 646 0484. E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.freedoniagroup.com (1 Jul 2005)
Chemical catalysts to 2009 A survey of the US chemical catalyst market which is expected to reach $1.2 bn in 2009. Fine chemicals will be the largest segment, led by drugs and pesticides. Price: $4,100; also sold in sections from $30. Freedonia Group Inc, 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, OH 44143-2326, USA. Tel: +1 440 684 9600. Fax: +1 440 646 0484. E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.freedoniagroup.com (1 Oct 2005)
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USA: demand for catalysts should rise US demand for catalysts could rise 3.3%/y to $1.2 bn. Growth will be on a relatively wide front as most markets could achieve moderate profits. The fine chemicals segment will remain the largest segment in chemical catalysts, with drugs and pesticides at the top. Growth in fine chemicals demand, which is being driven by the increasing use of chiral catalysts, will thus exceed the average. Despite further strong profits, demand growth in pharmaceuticals catalysts will fall because stricter controls by the FDA will slow down the approvals process for new drugs and because stronger price competition will affect profits. The most rapid growth will be in alcohols, because the ethanol industry is expanding rapidly to meet renewable fuel demands. Demand for inorganic chemical catalysts will fall because of the effect of high natural gas prices on ammonia and thus nitric acid production. Organic synthesis catalysts will make up the bulk of catalysts – this reflecting how often they are used in organic and fine chemicals processes. Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 28 Oct 2005, 68 (209), 10 (in German)
Catalyst prices, demand on the rise Both market demand and prices for refining catalysts are increasing. Two major industry players, UOP LLC and Albemarle Corp, increased their prices by 13% and 6% respectively, and other companies are expected to follow suit. The increase is attributed to the high price for molybdenum which has increased from $8/lb to $30/lb. Market demand for catalysts is expected to continue to increase due to pressures from stricter emissions controls and better fuel economy. In 2004, global catalyst sales were in excess of $2.9 bn and are expected increase further to $3.9 bn by 2009, representing growth of 5.7%/y. New hydrocracking capacity coming onstream in China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Venezuela will increase demand. Recent acquisitions in the catalyst market include Albemarle’s acquisition of Akzo Nobel’s catalyst business in Sep 2005 and Engelhard Corp’s acquisition of Almatis AC Inc in Oct 2005. Albemarle plans to bring onstream 10,000 tonne/y of catalyst
capacity in Texas due to start up at the end of 2006. Other expansions include Advanced Refining Technologies which is increasing hydroprocessing catalyst capacity by 30% at Chicago, IL. Oil and Gas Journal, 17 Oct 2005, 103 (39), 50-51, 53
Chemical makers target catalysts opportunities in the energy market Chemical companies are investing in new technologies to meet the changing needs of the energy sector. The recent 2005 Catalysis for Future Energy and Fuels Demands conference highlighted advances made in the past year in processes for producing alternative fuels, such as gases-to-liquids and coal-to-liquids technologies, converting biomass into ethanol, and manufacturing dimethyl ether and methanol. Power Energy Fuels has come up with a catalyst that can convert any material containing carbon and hydrogen into a mixture of alcohols. The mixture obtained is 4570% ethanol and can be used to replace MTBE in gasoline. Air Products has developed a process to make synthesis gas with significant savings in capital costs. The processes utilizes ion-transport membrane technology. Chemical Week, 2 Nov 2005, 167 (36) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Ionic liquids come to boil There is a growing interest in ionic liquids because of their potential to significantly lower the cost of some processes and reduce waste production. They are being seen as a less environmentally damaging alternative to a range of organic solvents. They can in some reactions also function as catalysts. As production levels rise, the price is coming down. The overall market is put at $1-3 M but is increasing rapidly and could reach $100 M within 5 years. Merck is selling a catalogue of around 250 ionic liquids with a wide range of uses, but mostly used in laboratory research. The company is also custom designing ionic liquids. It is considering dedicated production facilities. Solvent Innovation, a producer of ionic liquids, says its has seen demand for its products take off in 2005. The company can make 5
JANUARY 2006
Chemical and Engineering News, 21 Nov 2005, 11 & Chemistry and Industry, 5 Dec 2005, (23), 4, 17 & Chemical Week, 23 Nov 2005, 167 (40) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & European Chemical News, 21 Nov 2005, 83 (2172), 6 & 28 Nov 2005, 83 (2173), 28,37 & 5 Dec 2005, 83 (2174), 35 & Chemical Market Reporter, 14 Nov 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Plastics and Rubber Weekly, 25 Nov 2005, 4 & Het Financieele Dagblad, 18 Nov 2005 (Website: http://www.fd.nl/) (in Dutch) & Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 21 Nov 2005, 68 (225), 8 (in German) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 21 Nov 2005, (318) 1 (in French)
MARKETS AND BUSINESS World enzymes to 2009 The market, presently worth $3.7 bn, will grow at 6.5%/y through 2009. Animal feed enzymes will grow fastest. Price: $5,100; also sold in sections from $30. Freedonia Group Inc, 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, OH 44143-2326, USA. Tel: +1 440 684 9600. Fax: +1 440 646 0484. E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.freedoniagroup.com (1 Jul 2005)
Chemical catalysts to 2009 A survey of the US chemical catalyst market which is expected to reach $1.2 bn in 2009. Fine chemicals will be the largest segment, led by drugs and pesticides. Price: $4,100; also sold in sections from $30. Freedonia Group Inc, 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, OH 44143-2326, USA. Tel: +1 440 684 9600. Fax: +1 440 646 0484. E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.freedoniagroup.com (1 Oct 2005)
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USA: demand for catalysts should rise US demand for catalysts could rise 3.3%/y to $1.2 bn. Growth will be on a relatively wide front as most markets could achieve moderate profits. The fine chemicals segment will remain the largest segment in chemical catalysts, with drugs and pesticides at the top. Growth in fine chemicals demand, which is being driven by the increasing use of chiral catalysts, will thus exceed the average. Despite further strong profits, demand growth in pharmaceuticals catalysts will fall because stricter controls by the FDA will slow down the approvals process for new drugs and because stronger price competition will affect profits. The most rapid growth will be in alcohols, because the ethanol industry is expanding rapidly to meet renewable fuel demands. Demand for inorganic chemical catalysts will fall because of the effect of high natural gas prices on ammonia and thus nitric acid production. Organic synthesis catalysts will make up the bulk of catalysts – this reflecting how often they are used in organic and fine chemicals processes. Nachrichten für Aussenhandel, 28 Oct 2005, 68 (209), 10 (in German)
Catalyst prices, demand on the rise Both market demand and prices for refining catalysts are increasing. Two major industry players, UOP LLC and Albemarle Corp, increased their prices by 13% and 6% respectively, and other companies are expected to follow suit. The increase is attributed to the high price for molybdenum which has increased from $8/lb to $30/lb. Market demand for catalysts is expected to continue to increase due to pressures from stricter emissions controls and better fuel economy. In 2004, global catalyst sales were in excess of $2.9 bn and are expected increase further to $3.9 bn by 2009, representing growth of 5.7%/y. New hydrocracking capacity coming onstream in China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Venezuela will increase demand. Recent acquisitions in the catalyst market include Albemarle’s acquisition of Akzo Nobel’s catalyst business in Sep 2005 and Engelhard Corp’s acquisition of Almatis AC Inc in Oct 2005. Albemarle plans to bring onstream 10,000 tonne/y of catalyst
capacity in Texas due to start up at the end of 2006. Other expansions include Advanced Refining Technologies which is increasing hydroprocessing catalyst capacity by 30% at Chicago, IL. Oil and Gas Journal, 17 Oct 2005, 103 (39), 50-51, 53
Chemical makers target catalysts opportunities in the energy market Chemical companies are investing in new technologies to meet the changing needs of the energy sector. The recent 2005 Catalysis for Future Energy and Fuels Demands conference highlighted advances made in the past year in processes for producing alternative fuels, such as gases-to-liquids and coal-to-liquids technologies, converting biomass into ethanol, and manufacturing dimethyl ether and methanol. Power Energy Fuels has come up with a catalyst that can convert any material containing carbon and hydrogen into a mixture of alcohols. The mixture obtained is 4570% ethanol and can be used to replace MTBE in gasoline. Air Products has developed a process to make synthesis gas with significant savings in capital costs. The processes utilizes ion-transport membrane technology. Chemical Week, 2 Nov 2005, 167 (36) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
Ionic liquids come to boil There is a growing interest in ionic liquids because of their potential to significantly lower the cost of some processes and reduce waste production. They are being seen as a less environmentally damaging alternative to a range of organic solvents. They can in some reactions also function as catalysts. As production levels rise, the price is coming down. The overall market is put at $1-3 M but is increasing rapidly and could reach $100 M within 5 years. Merck is selling a catalogue of around 250 ionic liquids with a wide range of uses, but mostly used in laboratory research. The company is also custom designing ionic liquids. It is considering dedicated production facilities. Solvent Innovation, a producer of ionic liquids, says its has seen demand for its products take off in 2005. The company can make 5
JANUARY 2006