The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for December 2019 (the most recent available) decreased from the previous month’s value, the ninth decline in the last eleven months. Of the four major subindices comprising the overall CEPCI,…
According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) edged higher by 0.1 percent in January, following a 0.1 percent decline in December and a 0.2 percent decline in November. During…
Towell Engineering Group (Muscat, Oman; www.towellengineering.com) and GF Biochemicals (Geleen, the Netherlands; www.gfbiochemicals.com) announced the formation of a joint venture (JV) for the production and marketing of biochemicals using GF Biochemicals proprietary technology.The aim of the JV, NXTLEVVEL Biochem (Geleen,…
Plant Watch Enterprise Products starts up isobutane dehydrogenation plant January 13, 2020 — Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (Houston; www.enterpriseproducts.com) announced that its isobutane dehydrogenation (iBDH) plant in Mont Belvieu, Tex. began operations. The plant will ultimately have the capability to…
Eighty years after nylon's first commercial production, clean manufacturing technology leader Genomatica (San Diego, Calif.; www.genomatica.com) achieved a new milestone for the material — its production of the world’s first renewably-sourced ton of caprolactam, a key ingredient for nylon-6, made…
The preliminary value for the CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) for November 2019 (the most recent available) decreased from the previous month’s value, the eighth decline in the last ten months. All four major subindices of the overall CEPCI (Equipment,…
The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes ended 2019 on a soft note, with a 0.3 percent decline in December following a 0.1 percent gain in November. All changes in the data…
The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), jumped 0.6 percent in January on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis, following a 0.1 percent gain in December. On a…
Vertellus (Indianapolis, Ind.; www.vertellus.com) announced today it has acquired Bercen Chemicals, a leading U.S. supplier of alkyl succinic anhydrides and additives used in the fuel, lubricant, and paper industries. “This acquisition expands the range of products Vertellus is able to…
Despite a slowdown in global manufacturing, the U.S. chemical process industries (CPI) have continued to expand and remain a positive contributor to growth. In its “Year-End 2019 Chemical Industry Situation and Outlook,” which was issued in December, the American Chemistry…