The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) for October 2019 decreased from the previous month’s value, the seventh decline in the last nine months. The decrease in the overall CEPCI was driven by…
U.S. chemical production expanded at a slower pace in 2019 due to trade challenges and slower growth in several key end-use markets for chemistry, according to the American Chemistry Council's (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) Year-End 2019 Chemical Industry Situation and…
Standard Lithium Ltd. (Vancouver, B.C.; www.standardlithium.com), a technology and lithium development company, today announced the successful installation of the company’s industrial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction Demonstration Plant at Lanxess’ South Plant facility in southern Arkansas. Standard Lithium’s project team has also…
As chemical process industries (CPI) companies continue to experiment with, invest in, and implement a host of digitalization tools, workforce engagement and involvement is the key determinant of success Chemical process industries (CPI) companies are entering a critical stage in…
This column is based on “Ethylene Oxide Production from Ethylene – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/ethylene-oxide-production-cost. Ethylene oxide (also known as EO, oxirane and epoxyethane) is the simplest cyclic ether. Because it…
Normalized profitability metrics provide a basis for comparing the efficiency of capital investments, but they are often misunderstood. New interpretations of these metrics can help engineers to make more informed decisions In a financial sense, a large capital project can…
Hydrogen’s potential for playing a significant role in the global search for clean, secure energy sources is garnering much attention from a growing number of industries and governments. Driven by concerns about climate change, investors as well as policy makers…
Plant Watch Wacker starts up new silicon-metal production plant in Norway November 15, 2019 — Wacker Chemie AG’s (Munich, Germany; www.wacker.com) new silicon-metal production plant officially went on stream at the Holla site in Norway, following over two years of…
The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), was stable (0.0 percent change) in November on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis following a 0.3 percent decline in October.…
The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes started the fourth quarter on a mixed note, with no change in October. Of the 28 specialty chemical segments ACC monitors, 14 expanded in October,…