Plant engineering is making a small comeback in Europe. But how viable is the trend? — In 2018, European investment projects saw a mini-boom: 134 new plants in the first eight months show the potential in the industry. But now, thanks to trade conflicts, the Brexit and oil price rises, growth is coming to a standstill —  is chemistry running out of steam?

Asahi Kasei has announced the construction of a new plant for the manufacture of plastic compounds in Changshu, Jiangsu, China.

Asahi Glass will increase the PVC production capacity in its plant in Vietnam by 50%. Vietnam is the third largest PVC market in Southeast Asia, and the PVC demand is growing at the similar level as the country’s GDP.

Japan — the Country of the Rising Sun? For the petrochemical industry, this is a thing of the past. While China is boasting with huge downstream projects, Japan is discussing plant closures and consolidations. Only cooperations could stop the downward trend, industry insiders believe.

Asahi Kasei concluded a joint venture agreement with China National Bluestar a subsidiary of Chem China. Furthermore, the company announced plans to increase the capacity of its microfibre suede production in Japan.

Solvay has signed a definitive agreement to sell its 58.77 % stake in its Thai subsidiary Vinythai PCL to Japanese company AGC Asahi Glass (AGC), thereby exiting its Asian polyvinyl chloride (PVC) activities.

Technip, in a consortium with Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation Japan, was awarded by BASF a lump sum turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, for the expansion project of a chlorine plant (chlor-alkali). The plant is situated in Ludwigshafen, Germany, BASF’s largest production site worldwide. The work will include a membrane chlorine plant expansion as well as the integration and implementation of existing equipment and facilities.

Europe’s chlorine industry enters the post-mercury era — The shutdown of the last amalgam systems are taken out of service in December 2017, a technological era will come to an end. However, with membrane electrolysis technology underway, it will not mean the extinction of the industry. Plant operators and engineers are moving on on to the next level of the chlorine (r)evolution, balancing sustainability, energy efficiency and safety.

Mitsubishi Chemical and Asahi Kasei join forces for cracker operations in Japan: Both firms agreed on forming a new joint venture for the operation of a unified naphtha cracker in Mizushima - the old sites of the individual firms will be idled...

Asahi Kasei Medical will construct a new plant for the spinning of cellulose hollow-fiber membranes for Planova virus removal filters in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan, increasing annual production capacity by 40,000 m2/year upon completion in May 2019.