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China’s largest propane dehydrogenation unit commissioned

Honeywell (Morris Plains, N.J.; www.honeywell.com) announced today the successful commissioning and operation of the largest operating single-train propane dehydrogenation unit in China. Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes Group Co. Ltd., is using Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex process technology to convert propane into 750,000…

Global chemical production ends Q1 with slight decline, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council’s  (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) shows that the first quarter ended on a soft note, with headline global production slipping back 0.1 percent in March, as measured on a three-month…

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Business News – May 2017

Plant Watch LyondellBasell announces HDPE technology license in Dalian April 12, 2017 — LyondellBasell’s (Rotterdam, the Netherlands; www.lyondellbasell.com) Hostalen ACP process technology was selected by Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Chemical Co. for a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit to be built in…

U.S. specialty chemical market finish Q1 on strong note, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes ended the first quarter on a strong note, rising 0.6 percent in March. This follows a similar 0.6 percent gain in February. Volumes have generally…

Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) shows strong Q2 opening, ACC says

The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), marked the second quarter by posting a robust 5.6 percent year-over-year gain, suggesting continued growth through year-end 2017. The barometer posted…

Current Economic Trends: February 2017 CEPCI

The preliminary value for the February CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) represents a gain from the previous month’s value. Significant increases in the Equipment and Engineering & Supervision subindices offset a small decrease in the Construction…

ABB acquires B&R

ABB today announced the acquisition of B&R, the largest independent provider focused on product- and software-based, open-architecture solutions for machine and factory automation worldwide. B&R, founded in 1979 by Erwin Bernecker and Josef Rainer is headquartered in Eggelsberg, Austria, employs…

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Business News – April 2017

Plant Watch SNC-Lavalin wins EPC contract for ammonia plant in Oman March 9, 2017 — SNC-Lavalin (Montreal, Que., Canada; www.snclavalin.com) has been awarded a contract by Salalah Methanol Co. LLC (SMC) for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of an…

Global production of chemicals continues growth, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) shows that headline global production rose 0.3 percent in February, following a 0.5 percent gain in January, as measured on a three-month moving average (3MMA)…

U.S. specialty chemical markets accelerated in Feb., ACC says

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes rose a strong 0.6 percent in February. This follows an upwardly revised 0.4 percent gain in January. Volumes have generally been moving up since May.…