Sulzer Chemtech has plans to launch a portfolio of licensing technologies which will help in carbon-neutral polymer recycling. The move is in line with the growing demand for a circular economy of plastics.

Neste has begun the gradual transformation of its crude oil refinery in Porvoo, Finland into a leading renewable and circular solutions refining hub. The full transformation of the refinery is expected to be completed in 2030.

Cefic has predicted a possible 1.0 % growth in EU27 chemical output for 2024. The small growth comes after a prolonged and challenging period in 2023 and 2022.

Versalis has started the construction of its demo plant in Mantua, Italy to develop Hoop, its proprietary technology for chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste. The technology is expected to complement mechanical recycling by transforming mixed plastic waste into raw materials to produce new virgin polymers.

Lanxess will supply brine to Standard Lithium for industrial production of battery-grade lithium at its site in El Dorado, Arkansas, USA. Lanxess also aims at leasing a plot of land to Standard Lithium for the development of a production facility.

Maag Group has announced new services in Malaysia for Maag Ettlinger melt filters. The move is in line with the company’s plan to grow capacity in strategic markets where it expects strong long-term demand.

Lyondell Basell has plans to use its proprietary Moretec technology for the development of an industrial-scale advanced recycling plant in Germany. The project is expected to have an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year and will recycle plastic packaging waste from the country.

Orion has successfully completed the development of a carbon black plant in eastern China which is also the firm’s first greenfield project. The plant is expected to meet the growing demand of carbon black in Asia.

Lummus Technology and Citroniq Chemicals have entered into licensing and engineering agreements for the development of green polypropylene plants in the U.S. The first unit is expected to produce 400kta of bio-polypropylene.

Exxonmobil’s two new chemical production units at its Baytown, Texas manufacturing facility in the USA are expected to produce 400,000 metric tons per year of polymer modifiers and 350,000 tons per year of linear alpha olefins respectively.