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Cognis invests in Thai Olefins
FOCUS harsh chemicals. Volume increases, while healthy overall, will be partially restrained by the use of higher-value ingredients that are more effective at lower loadings. The increases in average age and ethnicity of the US population are seen as key driving forces, as well as the trend towards using more ‘natural’ products [see also page 5 and Focus on Surfactants, Jun 2005]. As a result, active and plant-derived ingredients will benefit the most; the natural product segment of the US cosmetics sector is projected to expand at 8%/y to $1.1 bn in 2009. According to Freedonia, supplying materials that can improve on existing formulations, or provide product differentiation or opportunities in under-served market niches are the keys to gaining or retaining market share in the cosmetic and toiletry chemicals industry.
ON
S U R FA C TA N T S
company Golden Hope [Focus on Surfactants, Jan 2006]. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 15 May 2006, (340), 9 (in French) & Chemical Market Reporter, 15 May 2006, (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
CPO prices expected to rise With rising demand for vegetable oil as a bio-fuel, and edible oil in China and India, the prices of crude palm oil (CPO) in Malaysia are expected to firm up to Ringgit 1550/tonne by 2006 year-end. And they could rise as high as Ringgit 1600/tonne due to the expected shortage in existing domestic stocks because of the commencement of biodiesel production by Jul 2006 or Aug 2006. As a result, demand for palm oil is poised to increase during the latter part of 2006. The Star, 5 & 16 May 2006 (Website: http://www.thestar.com.my)
Caroline Edser
Ethoxylates/Other Sabic invests in Saudi firm
RAW MATERIALS Oleochemicals Cognis invests in Thai Olefins Cognis Thai Ltd and PTT group affiliate Thai Olefins have agreed a 50:50 joint venture deal to make and market fatty alcohols. The deal creates a new company, Thai Fatty Alcohols Company Ltd, which will erect a 100,000 tons/y fatty alcohols plant at Rayong, to come on stream in early 2008. The new company will be the first of its type in Thailand. Palm and palm kernel oils will serve as feedstocks. The fatty alcohols will be used for downstream activities and also sold mainly to the home and personal care industries. The companies already operate a fatty alcohol ethoxylates joint venture called Thai Ethoxylate Company Ltd. Thai Olefins is also building its own 330,000 tons/y oleochemical plant in Map Ta Phut, comprising methyl ester, fatty alcohol and glycerin. Cognis recently transferred all its oleochemicals operations to a joint venture formed with Malaysian 2
Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) is to invest in Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Corp, a $3.2 bn (Riyal 12 bn) chemical company being formed in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The 4 M tons/y production capacity petrochemicals and speciality chemicals company is due to start operations in 2009. Output will include upstream chemicals such as ethylene, propylene and ethylene glycol as well as a number of other products not made in Saudi Arabia at present, including aminoethanols, dimethylformamide, choline chloride, dimethylethanolamine, ethoxylates, phenol and cumene. Sabic will have a 35% stake in the company and a public offering is to be launched for 45% of the project. The initial public listing could be made within three months. Other current shareholders will hold 20%. Elsewhere, Sabic is believed to be negotiating the construction of a petrochemicals complex with 1 M tonnes/y ethylene capacity with Sinopec in China. Sabic has refused to comment on the rumours, but the group’s president did confirm that the group was looking to invest in major industrial projects in China. Sabic also confirmed that the Chinese
president had discussed with its managers another of the Saudi group’s projects (a $5.2 bn complex based around a 1.3 M tonnes/y ethylene cracker that may be located in Dalian in association with the Shide Group). Chemical and Engineering News, 8 May 2006, 84 (19), 22-23 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org), Chemical Market Reporter, 8 May 2006, (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 9 May 2006, (339), 12 (in French)
Kawasaki Kasei studies capacity expansion for polyester polyol Kawasaki Kasei Chemicals will make plans for the next-phase expansion of its polyester polyol Maximol in fiscal 2H 2006 as it monitors trends in demand. Dioctyl fumarate, a type of Maximol used as an intermediate feedstock for surfactants, is becoming more widely used in a foaming agent for hard polyurethane. The company’s new line in Kawasaki factory was completed in Feb 2006. Demand for succinic acid-based Maximol for use as a foaming-agent feedstock for soft polyurethane is also increasing. Maximol is also seeing extensive application in resin modifiers and additives. It has antistatic properties, a high dispersion effect and enhances sliding and defogging. It is increasingly added to polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets. Japan Chemical Week, 27 Apr/4 May 2006, 47 (2365), 4
European Oxo expands isononanoic acid output European Oxo’s isononanoic acid capacity at Marl, Germany, will be increased, adding 12,000 tonnes/y initially and eventually reaching 15,000 tonnes/y, depending on market conditions. The project is due for completion at the end of 2006. The site has a carboxylic acid capacity of 20,000 tonnes/y, including 2-ethylhexanoic acid, n-butyric acid and isobutyric acid. Isononanoic acid or trimethyl hexanoic acid is used in synthetic flavours, surfactants, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and corrosion inhibitors. Chemical Week, 10 May 2006, (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
JULY 2006
ON
S U R FA C TA N T S
company Golden Hope [Focus on Surfactants, Jan 2006]. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 15 May 2006, (340), 9 (in French) & Chemical Market Reporter, 15 May 2006, (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
CPO prices expected to rise With rising demand for vegetable oil as a bio-fuel, and edible oil in China and India, the prices of crude palm oil (CPO) in Malaysia are expected to firm up to Ringgit 1550/tonne by 2006 year-end. And they could rise as high as Ringgit 1600/tonne due to the expected shortage in existing domestic stocks because of the commencement of biodiesel production by Jul 2006 or Aug 2006. As a result, demand for palm oil is poised to increase during the latter part of 2006. The Star, 5 & 16 May 2006 (Website: http://www.thestar.com.my)
Caroline Edser
Ethoxylates/Other Sabic invests in Saudi firm
RAW MATERIALS Oleochemicals Cognis invests in Thai Olefins Cognis Thai Ltd and PTT group affiliate Thai Olefins have agreed a 50:50 joint venture deal to make and market fatty alcohols. The deal creates a new company, Thai Fatty Alcohols Company Ltd, which will erect a 100,000 tons/y fatty alcohols plant at Rayong, to come on stream in early 2008. The new company will be the first of its type in Thailand. Palm and palm kernel oils will serve as feedstocks. The fatty alcohols will be used for downstream activities and also sold mainly to the home and personal care industries. The companies already operate a fatty alcohol ethoxylates joint venture called Thai Ethoxylate Company Ltd. Thai Olefins is also building its own 330,000 tons/y oleochemical plant in Map Ta Phut, comprising methyl ester, fatty alcohol and glycerin. Cognis recently transferred all its oleochemicals operations to a joint venture formed with Malaysian 2
Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) is to invest in Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Corp, a $3.2 bn (Riyal 12 bn) chemical company being formed in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The 4 M tons/y production capacity petrochemicals and speciality chemicals company is due to start operations in 2009. Output will include upstream chemicals such as ethylene, propylene and ethylene glycol as well as a number of other products not made in Saudi Arabia at present, including aminoethanols, dimethylformamide, choline chloride, dimethylethanolamine, ethoxylates, phenol and cumene. Sabic will have a 35% stake in the company and a public offering is to be launched for 45% of the project. The initial public listing could be made within three months. Other current shareholders will hold 20%. Elsewhere, Sabic is believed to be negotiating the construction of a petrochemicals complex with 1 M tonnes/y ethylene capacity with Sinopec in China. Sabic has refused to comment on the rumours, but the group’s president did confirm that the group was looking to invest in major industrial projects in China. Sabic also confirmed that the Chinese
president had discussed with its managers another of the Saudi group’s projects (a $5.2 bn complex based around a 1.3 M tonnes/y ethylene cracker that may be located in Dalian in association with the Shide Group). Chemical and Engineering News, 8 May 2006, 84 (19), 22-23 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org), Chemical Market Reporter, 8 May 2006, (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 9 May 2006, (339), 12 (in French)
Kawasaki Kasei studies capacity expansion for polyester polyol Kawasaki Kasei Chemicals will make plans for the next-phase expansion of its polyester polyol Maximol in fiscal 2H 2006 as it monitors trends in demand. Dioctyl fumarate, a type of Maximol used as an intermediate feedstock for surfactants, is becoming more widely used in a foaming agent for hard polyurethane. The company’s new line in Kawasaki factory was completed in Feb 2006. Demand for succinic acid-based Maximol for use as a foaming-agent feedstock for soft polyurethane is also increasing. Maximol is also seeing extensive application in resin modifiers and additives. It has antistatic properties, a high dispersion effect and enhances sliding and defogging. It is increasingly added to polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets. Japan Chemical Week, 27 Apr/4 May 2006, 47 (2365), 4
European Oxo expands isononanoic acid output European Oxo’s isononanoic acid capacity at Marl, Germany, will be increased, adding 12,000 tonnes/y initially and eventually reaching 15,000 tonnes/y, depending on market conditions. The project is due for completion at the end of 2006. The site has a carboxylic acid capacity of 20,000 tonnes/y, including 2-ethylhexanoic acid, n-butyric acid and isobutyric acid. Isononanoic acid or trimethyl hexanoic acid is used in synthetic flavours, surfactants, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and corrosion inhibitors. Chemical Week, 10 May 2006, (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
JULY 2006