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2021 CEPCI updates: January (prelim.) and December 2020 (final)

The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for January 2021 (the most recent available) shows another significant increase from December 2020. The current value is the fourth consecutive monthly increase, and the second consecutive monthly increase of…

Clariant and India Glycols form JV for renewable ethylene oxide derivatives

Clariant AG (Muttenz, Switzerland; www.clariant.com) and India Glycols Limited (IGL), a leading company in the manufacturing of green technology-based chemicals, announced a strategic partnership to establish a 51-49% joint venture in renewable ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives.  By combining production and…

U.S. chemical production rose in January, ACC says

The U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) rose 0.8% in January following a 1.4% gain in December and a 1.1% gain in November, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). During January, chemical output expanded in…

Calling all experts

Do your colleagues often come to you with questions about a particular topic? Do you find yourself assigned to certain types of projects? Do others seek career advice from you? These are all signals that you are an expert in…

U.S. specialty chemical markets expand in January, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes rose 1.2% in January, accelerating slightly from a 1.0% gain in December. Of the 28 specialty chemical segments that ACC monitors, 19 expanded in January,…

Bookshelf March 2021: Recently Published Books for the CPI

The following is a list of recently published books that may be relevant for professionals in the chemical process industries (CPI) Digital Transformation for the Process Industries: A Roadmap. By Osvaldo Bascur (edited by Jim O’Rourke), CRC Press, 2021, 320…

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Business News: March 2021

Plant Watch Austria’s largest green-hydrogen plant being constructed at OMV refinery February 16, 2021 — OMV AG (Vienna, Austria; www.omv.com) and infrastructure bank Kommunalkredit Austria AG announced a joint €25-million investment in the construction of Austria’s largest electrolysis plant at…

Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) rises in Feb., ACC says

The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), rose 1.0% in February on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis following a 1.8% increase in January. On a year-over-year (Y/Y)…

2020 CEPCI Updates: December (prelim.) and November (final)

The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for December 2020 (the most recent available) shows a pronounced increase from the previous month’s value. The current increase is the third consecutive monthly increase, although the November value was…

Eastman starts up new dimethylaminoethanol unit in China

Eastman Chemical Co. (Kingsport, Tenn.; www.eastman.com) is pleased to announce the recent startup of its new dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) unit at its Nanjing, China site. The addition will significantly increase the company’s DMAE capacity, support additional sales in Asia, and further…