Plant Watch
LG Chem set to commence production of bio-based acrylic acid
February 13, 2025 — LG Chem Ltd. (Seoul, South Korea; www.lgchem.com) will commence the production of bio-based acrylic acid in the second quarter of 2025, with plans to ramp up production capacity to 100 metric tons per year (m.t./yr). LG Chem’s bio-acrylic acid is made from 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) produced by microbial fermentation of plant-based raw materials. Initial production will target demand in North America and Europe, with special focus on the cosmetics industry.
ALPLA opens new packaging manufacturing plant in Thailand
February 12, 2025 — ALPLA Group (Hard, Austria; www.alpla.com) announced the opening of a new packaging manufacturing plant in Chachoengsao, Thailand, its second in the country, following a year of construction. ALPLA will manufacture high-quality plastic bottles, preforms, matching closures and injection-molded parts at the site.
Lummus announces first commercial deployment of new SAP technology
February 12, 2025 — Lummus Technology LLC (Houston; www.lummustechnology.com) announced an award from SHCCIG Yulin Chemical Co. for its superabsorbent polymer (SAP) technology. This marks the first commercial deployment of Lummus’ SAP technology since it was added to the company’s portfolio in 2023. Lummus’ scope for the award includes the technology license, process design package, technical services and training for a unit producing 40,000 m.t./yr of SAP at SHCCIG Yulin Chemical’s complex in Shaanxi Province, China.
Fujifilm announces major investment in semiconductor-materials capacity
February 6, 2025 — Fujifilm Corp. (Tokyo; www.fujifilm.com) will install new production facilities for chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) slurries, and enhance existing facilities for photolithography-related materials, at its production site in Zwijndrecht, Belgium. Fujifilm is making an investment of approximately €25 million to expand the site to support growing semiconductor demand. Operations at the site are expected to commence in early 2026.
Air Liquide to build ASU in Japan to support Mitsubishi Materials
February 4, 2025 — Air Liquide S.A. (Paris, France; www.airliquide.com) will build, own and operate a large-scale air-separation unit (ASU) on Naoshima Island, Japan. This plant is designed to support the production ramp-up of Mitsubishi Materials, Japan’s leading copper company. In addition to providing large volumes of oxygen with a capacity of up to 1,400 m.t./d, as well as nitrogen, the new ASU will also produce argon and neon, helping to ensure a stable supply to key industries, such as semiconductor manufacturing, transportation equipment and construction.
Repsol investing over €800 million in the Ecoplant renewable methanol project
February 3, 2025 — Repsol S.A. (Madrid, Spain; www.repsol.com) has announced plans to invest over €800 million in the Ecoplant project in Tarragona, Spain, which will be the first plant in Europe to produce renewable methanol from waste through gasification. The new plant will have the capacity to process up to 400,000 m.t./yr of municipal solid waste.
Moeve announces plan to develop 30 biomethane plants in Spain
February 3, 2025 — Moeve (Madrid, Spain; www.moeveglobal.com) announced a €600-million investment plan for the construction, together with several partners, of up to 30 new biomethane plants located throughout Spain by 2030. The company aims to produce biomethane from agricultural and livestock waste, resulting in the reuse of an estimated 10 million m.t./yr of waste at the planned facilities.
Envalior to build new polyphenylene sulfide compounding facility in Germany
January 28, 2025 — Envalior (Düsseldorf, Germany; www.envalior.com) is investing in a new polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) compounding facility in Uerdingen, Germany, which is expected to start operations in late 2025.
Toray to build new plant in China for high-performance resins
January 28, 2025 — Toray Industries, Inc. (Tokyo; www.toray.com) will establish a new production site for high-performance resin compounds at the premises of manufacturing subsidiary Toray Resins (Foshan) Co. in Guangdong Province, China. Operations are expected to be inaugurated in 2025. Common uses for the resins produced at the site are automotive electrical components and electrical and electronic connectors.
Wacker starts up new silicone plants in Japan and South Korea
January 23, 2025 — Wacker Chemie AG (Munich, Germany; www.wacker.com) started up two new production facilities for specialty silicones in Tsukuba, Japan and Jincheon, South Korea. Wacker’s production site in Tsukuba features a production line for manufacturing silicone-based thermal interface materials (TIM), targeting customers from the automotive industry. At the Jincheon site, production capacity is increasing significantly for specialty silicones, liquid silicone rubbers and silicone elastomers.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Mitsubishi Chemical Group sells its pharmaceutical business
February 10, 2025 — Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp. (MCG; Tokyo; www.mcgc.com) announced that it has decided to transfer its consolidated subsidiary Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. (MTPC; Osaka, Japan), which manufactures and sells pharmaceutical products, to a company affiliated with Bain Capital. Transferred subsidiaries include Medicago Inc., Welfide International Corp. and Alpha Therapeutic Corp.
Trelleborg agrees to acquire Aero-Plastics Inc.
February 6, 2025 — Trelleborg Group AB (Trelleborg, Sweden; www.trelleborg.com) has signed an agreement to acquire Aero-Plastics Inc. The U.S.-based company specializes in high-performance plastics and components for the aerospace industry and offers injection molding, thermoforming and machining of high-performance polymer materials.
BP plans to sell its Ruhr Oel GmbH – BP Gelsenkirchen business
February 6, 2025 — Bp plc (London; www.bp.com) announced its intention to market its Ruhr Oel GmbH – BP Gelsenkirchen operation in Germany for potential sale. Its assets include the petroleum refinery in Gelsenkirchen and DHC Solvent Chemie GmbH in Mülheim an der Ruhr. Ruhr Oel GmbH – BP Gelsenkirchen (ROG) operates two plants in Gelsenkirchen as an integrated refining and petrochemical site, as well as the Bottrop tank farm. The refinery has a processing capacity of around 12 million m.t./yr of crude oil.
Sumitomo acquires ownership of two agricultural subsidiaries
February 3, 2025 — Sumitomo Chemical Co. (Tokyo, Japan; www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp) has acquired all shares of Philagro Holding, S.A., its France-based consolidated subsidiary that sells crop-protection products. In addition, Sumitomo Chemical plans to acquire all shares of another of its consolidated subsidiaries, the Spanish crop-protection specialist Kenogard S.A.
Evonik forms hydrogen peroxide JV in China
January 23, 2025 — Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) and Fuhua Tongda Chemicals Co. have established a joint venture (JV) in Leshan, Sichuan Province to produce and market hydrogen peroxide in China. Evonik holds 51% of the shares in the new company, Evonik Fuhua New Materials (Sichuan) Co., with the other 49% held by Fuhua. Supplied by Fuhua’s industrial-grade hydrogen peroxide, the JV will produce specialty-grade hydrogen peroxide for many applications, including solar panels, semiconductors and packaging. The initial production volumes are expected to enter the market in the first half of 2026. ■