Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP (The Woodlands, Tex.; www.cpchem.com) announced the completion of its leading-edge polyethylene pilot plant at its research and technology facility in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The pilot plant enables polyethylene research, such as new catalyst and polymer development,…
Air Liquide (Paris, France; www.airliquide.com) has commissioned a large helium storage facility in Gronau-Epe in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, 120 km from Düsseldorf, Germany. This initiative will allow Air Liquide, leader of the helium worldwide market since the Airgas acquisition, to better…
The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) shows that the second quarter ended on a soft note, with the headline index rising only 0.1 percent on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis…
ExxonMobil Corp. (Irving, Tex.; www.exxonmobil.com) announced plans to increase production of ultra-low sulfur fuels at its Beaumont refinery by approximately 40,000 barrels per day, further strengthening its integrated downstream portfolio while meeting environmental standards. Construction is scheduled during the second…
Akzo Nobel N.V. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.akzonobel.com) has raised its stake in Akzo Nobel Powder Coatings SAE in Egypt from 60 to 100%. The transaction forms part of the company's accelerated growth strategy for Egypt and the wider North Africa…
The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), expanded 0.4 percent in July following a revised 0.7 percent increase in June, 0.8 percent increase in May and 0.6 percent…
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG (Essen, Germany; www.thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com) and Maschinenfabrik Gustav Eirich GmbH & Co. KG (Hardheim, Germany; www.eirich.de) have agreed to cooperate on the further development of the Eirich TowerMill, a highly energy-efficient agitated media mill for the wet grinding…
SABIC (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; www.sabic.com) and an affiliate of ExxonMobil Chemical Co. (Houston; www.exxonmobilchemical.com) are considering the potential development of a jointly owned petrochemical complex on the U.S. Gulf Coast. If developed, the project would be located in Texas or…
CB&I (The Woodlands, Tex.; www.cbi.com) announced it has been awarded the license and engineering design of a grassroots alkylation unit by PT Pertamina (Persero). The unit will use CB&I's CDAlky advanced sulfuric-acid alkylation technology and Haldor Topsoe's WSA (Wet-gas Sulfuric…
U.S. specialty chemical market volumes declined in June by 0.4%, according to the latest Weekly Chemistry and Economic Report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com). The June decline follows a 0.3% drop in May and a 1.1%…