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QPC receives several bids for Qatar LAB project
FOCUS China and both Sanyo and Kao are expanding capacity in Thailand. In China, Nanjing Jintong commissioned a new alkylbenzene plant, making it Asia’s largest producer with capacity of 300,000 tonnes/y. Over the year plans progressed for a number of other LAB/n-paraffin capacity increases in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Dubai, Qatar, Iran, Egypt, India and Vietnam – all positive signs for the future of the surfactants industry. Caroline Edser
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Oleochemicals Ecogreen Oleochemicals to increase production Ecogreen Oleochemicals, Indonesia, one of the world’s biggest producers of natural fatty acids, is to expand its output at Belawan. 60,000 tonne/y will be added to the current 110,000 tonne/y. The raw material is palm kernel oil. Ecogreen has applied for a loan from the International Finance Corp. Kemivarlden, Oct 2003, (10), 15 (in Swedish)
RAW MATERIALS Linear alkylbenzene/ n-paraffins Gulf Petroproducts may build only LAB Plans by Gulf Petroproducts to build an 80,000 tonne/y linear alkylbenzene (LAB) plant and a 100,000 tonne/y n-paraffin facility in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, have been altered. The company has now decided not to proceed with the nparaffin unit, and has postponed the LAB start-up to 2Q 2006 from 1Q 2005, because of discussions on kerosene supply by Saudi Aramco. Gulf may purchase n-paraffin from the merchant market, because n-paraffin from kerosene is more expensive than that produced from GTL. However, a 75,000 tonne/y n-paraffin project may still go ahead if negotiations with Saudi Aramco can be settled successfully. Asian Chemical News, 3 Nov 2003, 10 (422), 19
QPC receives several bids for Qatar LAB project Qatar Petroleum Corp (QPC) has received bids for a contract for an 80,000 tonnes/y n-paraffins plant and a 100,000 tonnes/y LAB plant at Mesaieed, Qatar. The contract is to be awarded in early 2004 and project cost is estimated at $240 M. Completion is due in 4Q 2005. Chemical Week, 12 Nov 2003, 165 (41) (Website: http://www.chemicalweek.com)
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Golden Hope goes full steam in downstream palm oil Golden Hope Plantation Bhd (Golden Hope) is restructuring following its link up with Island & Peninsular Bhd (I&P) [see Focus on Surfactants, Nov 2003]. It plans to hive-off its property activities to I&P and concentrate on developing its downstream palm oil activities by improving its manufacturing capacities for further expansion. Golden Hope recently purchased Unimills BV and aims to acquire more units. The Unimills acquisition enables the company to manufacture vegetable oils and fats. As of 30 Jun 2003, Golden Hope’s agro based business fetched revenue of Ringgit 1 bn of total revenues of Ringgit 2.9 bn. In order to focus on its palm oil business, the company has disposed of its furniture making and rubber footwear-producing units. Golden Hope will begin to produce food ingredients and industrial food products, as well as enhancing its oleochemical activities. To establish a position in the international market, the company is improving its R&D activities and will be converting its plantation land in Morib or Pulau Carey into an R&D unit for palm oil. The Star, 17 Nov 2003 (Website: http://www.thestar.com.my)
Other BASF increases dimethylaminopropylamine capacity in Germany BASF has increased capacity at its dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA)
unit in Ludwigshafen, Germany from 17,000 to 21,000 tonnes/y in order to strengthen its position as the largest producer in the world. The company recently produced its 100 000th tonne of DMAPA at the Ludwigshafen plant. BASF uses the Ludwigshafen unit to supply its European and Asian clients and a unit in Geismar, LA to supply its US customers. DMAPA is an intermediate product used to produce amphoteric surfactants such as cocoamidopropylbetaine which are used in shower gels and gentle shampoos. The launch of liquid soaps in Europe and the US in the late 1980s and early 1990s, combined with rising demand for skin-friendly surfactants, has boosted consumption of DMAPA, the company says. Chimie Hebdo, 3 Nov 2003, (232), 15 (in French) & Chemical Week, 19 Nov 2003, 165 (42) (Website: http://www.chemicalweek.com)
Albemarle to raise prices of tertiary amines Albemarle Corp will increase off-list global prices on all grades of its ADMA and DAMA tertiary amines by 7-12% effective 1 Jan 2004, or as contracts allow. ADMA and DAMA amines are used in the manufacture of quaternary ammonium compounds for biocides, amine oxides and betaines for surfactants, textile chemicals, oilfield chemicals, and other industrial applications. Albemarle Corp serves customers in more than 80 countries, generating annual revenue of more than $1 bn. Press release from: Albemarle Corp, 330, South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 788 6000. Fax: +1 804 388 7686. Website: http://www.albemarle.com (21 Nov 2003)
Croda poised to expand Singapore ethoxylation plant Capacity at the 15,000 tonne/y ethoxylation facility of Croda International in Singapore is to be increased by an unspecified amount. Work is due for completion by the end of 2004. The plant is part of a new integrated esterification, ethoxylation and blending facility being built to service the Asia Pacific region. Japan Chemical Week, 20 Nov 2003, 44 (2246), 12
JANUARY 2004
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Oleochemicals Ecogreen Oleochemicals to increase production Ecogreen Oleochemicals, Indonesia, one of the world’s biggest producers of natural fatty acids, is to expand its output at Belawan. 60,000 tonne/y will be added to the current 110,000 tonne/y. The raw material is palm kernel oil. Ecogreen has applied for a loan from the International Finance Corp. Kemivarlden, Oct 2003, (10), 15 (in Swedish)
RAW MATERIALS Linear alkylbenzene/ n-paraffins Gulf Petroproducts may build only LAB Plans by Gulf Petroproducts to build an 80,000 tonne/y linear alkylbenzene (LAB) plant and a 100,000 tonne/y n-paraffin facility in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, have been altered. The company has now decided not to proceed with the nparaffin unit, and has postponed the LAB start-up to 2Q 2006 from 1Q 2005, because of discussions on kerosene supply by Saudi Aramco. Gulf may purchase n-paraffin from the merchant market, because n-paraffin from kerosene is more expensive than that produced from GTL. However, a 75,000 tonne/y n-paraffin project may still go ahead if negotiations with Saudi Aramco can be settled successfully. Asian Chemical News, 3 Nov 2003, 10 (422), 19
QPC receives several bids for Qatar LAB project Qatar Petroleum Corp (QPC) has received bids for a contract for an 80,000 tonnes/y n-paraffins plant and a 100,000 tonnes/y LAB plant at Mesaieed, Qatar. The contract is to be awarded in early 2004 and project cost is estimated at $240 M. Completion is due in 4Q 2005. Chemical Week, 12 Nov 2003, 165 (41) (Website: http://www.chemicalweek.com)
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Golden Hope goes full steam in downstream palm oil Golden Hope Plantation Bhd (Golden Hope) is restructuring following its link up with Island & Peninsular Bhd (I&P) [see Focus on Surfactants, Nov 2003]. It plans to hive-off its property activities to I&P and concentrate on developing its downstream palm oil activities by improving its manufacturing capacities for further expansion. Golden Hope recently purchased Unimills BV and aims to acquire more units. The Unimills acquisition enables the company to manufacture vegetable oils and fats. As of 30 Jun 2003, Golden Hope’s agro based business fetched revenue of Ringgit 1 bn of total revenues of Ringgit 2.9 bn. In order to focus on its palm oil business, the company has disposed of its furniture making and rubber footwear-producing units. Golden Hope will begin to produce food ingredients and industrial food products, as well as enhancing its oleochemical activities. To establish a position in the international market, the company is improving its R&D activities and will be converting its plantation land in Morib or Pulau Carey into an R&D unit for palm oil. The Star, 17 Nov 2003 (Website: http://www.thestar.com.my)
Other BASF increases dimethylaminopropylamine capacity in Germany BASF has increased capacity at its dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA)
unit in Ludwigshafen, Germany from 17,000 to 21,000 tonnes/y in order to strengthen its position as the largest producer in the world. The company recently produced its 100 000th tonne of DMAPA at the Ludwigshafen plant. BASF uses the Ludwigshafen unit to supply its European and Asian clients and a unit in Geismar, LA to supply its US customers. DMAPA is an intermediate product used to produce amphoteric surfactants such as cocoamidopropylbetaine which are used in shower gels and gentle shampoos. The launch of liquid soaps in Europe and the US in the late 1980s and early 1990s, combined with rising demand for skin-friendly surfactants, has boosted consumption of DMAPA, the company says. Chimie Hebdo, 3 Nov 2003, (232), 15 (in French) & Chemical Week, 19 Nov 2003, 165 (42) (Website: http://www.chemicalweek.com)
Albemarle to raise prices of tertiary amines Albemarle Corp will increase off-list global prices on all grades of its ADMA and DAMA tertiary amines by 7-12% effective 1 Jan 2004, or as contracts allow. ADMA and DAMA amines are used in the manufacture of quaternary ammonium compounds for biocides, amine oxides and betaines for surfactants, textile chemicals, oilfield chemicals, and other industrial applications. Albemarle Corp serves customers in more than 80 countries, generating annual revenue of more than $1 bn. Press release from: Albemarle Corp, 330, South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 788 6000. Fax: +1 804 388 7686. Website: http://www.albemarle.com (21 Nov 2003)
Croda poised to expand Singapore ethoxylation plant Capacity at the 15,000 tonne/y ethoxylation facility of Croda International in Singapore is to be increased by an unspecified amount. Work is due for completion by the end of 2004. The plant is part of a new integrated esterification, ethoxylation and blending facility being built to service the Asia Pacific region. Japan Chemical Week, 20 Nov 2003, 44 (2246), 12
JANUARY 2004