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Offering innovative suite of speciality chemicals products
F O C US
RAW MATERIALS Oleochemicals Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil production and the effect on prices
O N
S U R FAC TA N T S
capacity of 0.7 M tonnes/y. Palm-Oleo engages in M&A while strengthening its marketing system to boost competitiveness. The company is considering setting up a base in Indonesia, which has become a major palm-oil manufacturer. The company is also involved in higher alcohols and fatty acid derivatives with marketing operations in China and Malaysia.
Stocks of palm oil were 6.6 M tonnes at the end of Sep 2008. This was 800,000 tonnes more than at the end of Sep 2007. There is concern that there will be insufficient demand to absorb production. Malaysian stocks were at a record high of 2.09 M tonnes at the start of Nov 2008 (+500,000 tonnes on Nov 2007). Indonesian stocks were also up by 1.9 M tonnes on Nov 2007. In terms of prices, demand from the biofuel sector is limited and the industry traditionally focuses on other sources such as rape oil and soybean oil. To respond to these problems and to try to stabilize the price of vegetable oil, Malaysia and Indonesia are accelerating their oil palm transplanting programmes and aiming at a requirement for incorporation into biodiesel in 2009. Due to the long lifecycle for the oil palm, Malaysian palm oil production in 2009 is likely to remain around the 2008 figure of 17.6 M tonnes. Average yields could fall, lowering monthly local stocks to levels below those of Apr-May 2008. The effects of the Indonesia transplanting programme will not be seen before 2010. Indonesian palm oil production is forecast to be 20.8 M tonnes in 2009 compared with 19.33 M tonnes in 2008.
Japan Chemical Week, 11 Dec 2008, 49 (2494), 16
Circuits Culture, Dec 2008, (430), 34 (in French)
Kolkata-based Budge Budge Refineries Ltd (BBRL) is on the verge of setting up soap noodle and stearic acid production plant with an investment of Rup 25 crore. Primarily, the plant will have a production capacity of 50 tonnes/day. Soap noodles and stearic acid will be produced using the crude palm oil waste produced from its edible oil refinery. BBRL has a production unit at Budge Budge, Kolkata, which processes and refines around 300 tonnes/day of crude edible oil. The soap noodle and stearic acid plant will be housed within this refinery. The soap noodles, used by toilet soap
Malaysia’s Palm-Oleo plans huge boost in fat-splitting capacity Palm-Oleo Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian jv for producing fatty acids, has resolved to boost its fat-splitting capacity from around 0.6 M tonnes/y to 1.0 M tonnes/y by 2011-2013. The additional capacity would be equivalent to a twofold increase in annual sales, from about Yen 80 bn ($842 M) currently. The added capacity would also enable the company to be the world’s top player with respect to capacity, surpassing IOI Corp’s current leading 2
Ethoxylates/others Ultrapar’s net income up 374% in 3Q 2008 to $54.8 M: Brazil Brazilian group Ultrapar recorded a 374% increase in net income to R$117 M ($54.8 M) in 3Q 2008 from 3Q 2007. Net revenues stood at R$7.74 bn, up 26% year on year and 11% from 2Q 2008. Ebitda also rose 20% to R$363 M. Meanwhile, Oxiteno, a unit of Ultrapar, posted R$494 M in net revenues for the quarter, up 12% year on year. Oxiteno’s sales dropped 11% to 152,000 tonnes, but Ebitda rose 19% year on year to R$43 M. The firm also finished several expansion ventures that are anticipated to be brought online by end-2008, including a 100,000 tonne/y oleochemical plant, a 38,000 tonne/y expansion of the ethylene oxide unit in Maua, and the expansion of the ethoxylates and ethanolamines facility in Camacari to boost output to 120,000 tonnes/y. BNAmericas Petrochemicals News, 6 Nov 2008, (Business News Americas Ltda. Website: http://www.bnamericas.com)
BBRL to set up stearic acid & soap noodles plant near Kolkata
manufacturers, and stearic acid, used by the rubber industry, are known to have a market of about 250-300 tonnes in eastern India. (1 crore = 10 M, 1 lakh = 100,000). Chemical Weekly, 25 Nov 2008, 54 (15), 126
SURFACTANTS Offering innovative suite of speciality chemicals products Rhodia, a leading producer of speciality chemicals, has hiked its capacities in Asia Pacific by starting new diphenols facility in China and polyamide facility in South Korea. The company introduces a broad range of surfactants, polymers and hydrocolloids. The company has recently introduced AgRho FKC-1500 used in herbicide formulations based on glyphosate-isopropylamine or other salts and Geronol CF-Power, compatible with high concentrated formulations of glyphosate-potassium, to replace present bioactivators as cost effective solutions for formulators. The company is substituting toxic solvents with two environmentally friendly blends called Rhodiasolv Green 21 and Rhodiasolv Green 25. Chemical Engineering World, Nov 2008, 43 (11), 97
An environmentally friendly surfactant for emulsion polymerization Cytec Industries has introduced an eco-friendly surfactant that promises to provide latex makers with a flexible, globally registered solution that is biodegradable and free of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). AEROSOL EF-800 has application as a primary emulsifier for vinyl-acrylic, acrylic and styrene-acrylic latex systems. The versatile, soluble emulsifier allows fast and easy design of new latexes. AEROSOL EF-800 also maintains functionality even in highly charged systems. It is compatible for use with cellulosic and related thickeners in paints. Tables present polymerization of select latex with certain surfactants; and features and benefits of AEROSOL EF-800. Figures illustrate results of studies/tests on the product. APCJ, Asia Pacific Coatings Journal, Dec 2008, 21 (6), 20,22
FEBRUARY 2009
RAW MATERIALS Oleochemicals Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil production and the effect on prices
O N
S U R FAC TA N T S
capacity of 0.7 M tonnes/y. Palm-Oleo engages in M&A while strengthening its marketing system to boost competitiveness. The company is considering setting up a base in Indonesia, which has become a major palm-oil manufacturer. The company is also involved in higher alcohols and fatty acid derivatives with marketing operations in China and Malaysia.
Stocks of palm oil were 6.6 M tonnes at the end of Sep 2008. This was 800,000 tonnes more than at the end of Sep 2007. There is concern that there will be insufficient demand to absorb production. Malaysian stocks were at a record high of 2.09 M tonnes at the start of Nov 2008 (+500,000 tonnes on Nov 2007). Indonesian stocks were also up by 1.9 M tonnes on Nov 2007. In terms of prices, demand from the biofuel sector is limited and the industry traditionally focuses on other sources such as rape oil and soybean oil. To respond to these problems and to try to stabilize the price of vegetable oil, Malaysia and Indonesia are accelerating their oil palm transplanting programmes and aiming at a requirement for incorporation into biodiesel in 2009. Due to the long lifecycle for the oil palm, Malaysian palm oil production in 2009 is likely to remain around the 2008 figure of 17.6 M tonnes. Average yields could fall, lowering monthly local stocks to levels below those of Apr-May 2008. The effects of the Indonesia transplanting programme will not be seen before 2010. Indonesian palm oil production is forecast to be 20.8 M tonnes in 2009 compared with 19.33 M tonnes in 2008.
Japan Chemical Week, 11 Dec 2008, 49 (2494), 16
Circuits Culture, Dec 2008, (430), 34 (in French)
Kolkata-based Budge Budge Refineries Ltd (BBRL) is on the verge of setting up soap noodle and stearic acid production plant with an investment of Rup 25 crore. Primarily, the plant will have a production capacity of 50 tonnes/day. Soap noodles and stearic acid will be produced using the crude palm oil waste produced from its edible oil refinery. BBRL has a production unit at Budge Budge, Kolkata, which processes and refines around 300 tonnes/day of crude edible oil. The soap noodle and stearic acid plant will be housed within this refinery. The soap noodles, used by toilet soap
Malaysia’s Palm-Oleo plans huge boost in fat-splitting capacity Palm-Oleo Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian jv for producing fatty acids, has resolved to boost its fat-splitting capacity from around 0.6 M tonnes/y to 1.0 M tonnes/y by 2011-2013. The additional capacity would be equivalent to a twofold increase in annual sales, from about Yen 80 bn ($842 M) currently. The added capacity would also enable the company to be the world’s top player with respect to capacity, surpassing IOI Corp’s current leading 2
Ethoxylates/others Ultrapar’s net income up 374% in 3Q 2008 to $54.8 M: Brazil Brazilian group Ultrapar recorded a 374% increase in net income to R$117 M ($54.8 M) in 3Q 2008 from 3Q 2007. Net revenues stood at R$7.74 bn, up 26% year on year and 11% from 2Q 2008. Ebitda also rose 20% to R$363 M. Meanwhile, Oxiteno, a unit of Ultrapar, posted R$494 M in net revenues for the quarter, up 12% year on year. Oxiteno’s sales dropped 11% to 152,000 tonnes, but Ebitda rose 19% year on year to R$43 M. The firm also finished several expansion ventures that are anticipated to be brought online by end-2008, including a 100,000 tonne/y oleochemical plant, a 38,000 tonne/y expansion of the ethylene oxide unit in Maua, and the expansion of the ethoxylates and ethanolamines facility in Camacari to boost output to 120,000 tonnes/y. BNAmericas Petrochemicals News, 6 Nov 2008, (Business News Americas Ltda. Website: http://www.bnamericas.com)
BBRL to set up stearic acid & soap noodles plant near Kolkata
manufacturers, and stearic acid, used by the rubber industry, are known to have a market of about 250-300 tonnes in eastern India. (1 crore = 10 M, 1 lakh = 100,000). Chemical Weekly, 25 Nov 2008, 54 (15), 126
SURFACTANTS Offering innovative suite of speciality chemicals products Rhodia, a leading producer of speciality chemicals, has hiked its capacities in Asia Pacific by starting new diphenols facility in China and polyamide facility in South Korea. The company introduces a broad range of surfactants, polymers and hydrocolloids. The company has recently introduced AgRho FKC-1500 used in herbicide formulations based on glyphosate-isopropylamine or other salts and Geronol CF-Power, compatible with high concentrated formulations of glyphosate-potassium, to replace present bioactivators as cost effective solutions for formulators. The company is substituting toxic solvents with two environmentally friendly blends called Rhodiasolv Green 21 and Rhodiasolv Green 25. Chemical Engineering World, Nov 2008, 43 (11), 97
An environmentally friendly surfactant for emulsion polymerization Cytec Industries has introduced an eco-friendly surfactant that promises to provide latex makers with a flexible, globally registered solution that is biodegradable and free of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). AEROSOL EF-800 has application as a primary emulsifier for vinyl-acrylic, acrylic and styrene-acrylic latex systems. The versatile, soluble emulsifier allows fast and easy design of new latexes. AEROSOL EF-800 also maintains functionality even in highly charged systems. It is compatible for use with cellulosic and related thickeners in paints. Tables present polymerization of select latex with certain surfactants; and features and benefits of AEROSOL EF-800. Figures illustrate results of studies/tests on the product. APCJ, Asia Pacific Coatings Journal, Dec 2008, 21 (6), 20,22
FEBRUARY 2009