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The article focuses on the chemical industry's progress towards net zero goals, with the top 100 chemical makers committing to carbon neutral or net-zero goals by 2050, but there is still a need for steeper progress to curb rising carbon emissions to limit climate warming to 1.5°C by mid-century.

The article reports that the petrochemical industry faces significant challenges in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 due to its heavy dependence on hydrocarbon-based feedstocks and energy. Despite ongoing efforts, reliance on fossil-based materials is expected to continue for decades, with the industry exploring technologies like electrically-powered crackers and renewable power supply arrangements to address decarbonization challenges.

The article provides several news briefs, including Technip Energies being selected for Dow's net-zero ethylene cracker project in Alberta, PQ LLC planning a high-efficiency sodium silicate furnace installation in Georgia, and IMCD Colombia acquiring the distribution business of Joli Foods SAS in Colombia. Additionally, former Dow executive Howard Ungerleider joins private equity firm CD&R.

The article offers information on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the U.S. petrochemical industries. It mentions that ethylene investments outside the U.S. Gulf Coast has been increasingly, along with mentions that multiple cracker projects have been proposed to exploit the large volumes of stranded ethane available in the Bakken, located in North Dakota, and the Marcellus and Utica.

The article focuses on the state of the global refinery catalysts market in 2023, discussing the effect of China's reopening, and highlighting sustainability, regulations, and cleaner fuels as topics of interest. The article also mentions that the use of renewable feedstocks is set to grow but growth in the refinery catalysts market is expected to be minimal over the next five years.

The article informs that journey of the chemical industry toward net zero, the global commodities shock, sanctions on Russia, and pressured supply chains were among the main topics highlighted during the World Petrochemical Conference 2022, held recently in Houston, Texas. Panelists agreed that the optimal mix of technologies and infrastructure will vary for each company and location.

The article presents several news briefs related to chemical industry. It mentions that Renewable chemicals producer Origin Materials (West Sacramento, California) and Mitsui have formed a partnership to expand access to Origin's biobased materials in Japan and international markets. It discusses that Perstorp has acquired the dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) business of GEO Specialty Chemicals.

The article informs that chemical industry earnings are outperforming expectations, despite a global capacity surplus in base chemicals, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and market volatility as demand growth aggravates already-stressed supply chains and keeps markets tight. Demand in early 2022 remains healthy despite higher energy and raw material costs and the impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The article focuses on the growing demand for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and hydroprocessing catalysts (HPC) as the post-recession refinery market improves. Demand growth in the developing countries and their adoption of stricter fuel standards are driving the refinery catalysts' expected moderate growth in the next five years. Changing feedstock slates, rare earth market volatility, new refinery product mixes, price competition, and industry consolidation are also discussed.

This article looks a the growing chemical industry in Jurong Island, Singapore. It notes that the island has attracted 96 different companies through its provision of innovative integrated services. Heah Soon Poh of JTC Corporation explains the history of the island and its chemical industry. Some of the multinational corporations in the island are Chevron Philips, Eastman Chemical and ExxonMobil. Feedstock to the island is supplied by three crackers. It also notes the growth opportunities presented by the advent of cheaper and more varied feedstock.

The article discusses the global petroleum refining catalysts market as of March 2014, noting that the industry is driven by the demand for diesel fuel, environmental regulations, and refinery capacity. The discussion topics include the outlook for greater utilization of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units, the demand for FCC catalysts, and the projected growth for refinery catalysts in various regions including China. The sales volume of chemical companies such as W.R. Grace are noted.

The article reports that Motiva Enterprises has filed separate applications with the Port Arthur Independent School District to build a steam cracker and aromatics complex at Port Arthur, Texas. It mentions views of Brian Coffman, president at Motiva, on expansion of Motiva to petrochemicals. It presents information on investment made on construction project of steam cracker and aromatics complex.

The article reports that the Taiwanese state-owned energy companies CPC Corp. and Pertamina are considering forming a joint venture to construct a naphtha industrial factory for chemical cracking in Indonesia.

The article focuses on a study by IHS Chemical, a provider of data, analytics, and consulting services, regarding the economic potential of cracker feedslates in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EMEA). Topics discussed include the predominance of naphtha as feedstock in Western Europe, the variation in volumes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cracking, and the prediction on the decline in the volumes of C5 and C9 streams.

The article examines the impact of changing cracker feedslates on the availability of resin formers' mononer worldwide as of June 2015. It states that the decreasing prices of crude oil has slowed progress in the market while the presence of shale gas in North America has led to the decline of liquids cracking for ethylene production. Other topics include cracker feedslates in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and C5 and C9 value streams.

The article discusses the decline of butadiene and C4 olefins production in Asia due to the increased cracking for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and mentions the cost advantage offered by the imports of LPG. Topics include the supply of butadiene depends on the ethylene market, the response of several chemical companies in South Korea and Taiwan to the increased LPG cracking, and remarks from senior director Bill Hyde at market research company IHS Markit about the issue.

The article reports that LPG in northeastern Asia has been selling at a discount to naphtha, with many steam crackers in the region consuming more of the feedstock to boost margins. Cracker operators in South Korea, such as LG Chem, Hanwha Total Petrochemical, and Lotte Chemical, increased their LPG consumption in 2016. Cracker projects in China aimed at consuming imported ethane from the U.S. will also likely include propane and butane in their feedslates.

The article discusses the use of the process technology steam cracking within the petrochemical industry to produce ethylene as of July 14, 2014. Topics include the feedstock for steam cracking such as the natural gas liquids (NGLs) ethane and butane, the cooling of reactor effluent by transfer-line exchangers, and the influence on product yields by varying the steam/hydrocarbon ratio.

The article reports on the mixed feed cracker (MFC), a chemical manufacturing unit, that has been started by Sadara Chemical Co., a joint venture between (JV) Saudi Arabian Chemical Co. (Saudi Aramco) and Dow Chemical Co., in Al-Jubail, a city in Saudi Arabia. It states that the Technip-process MFC is designed to crack ethane gas, as well as to generate ethylene and propylene. It mentions that the JV will source its raw materials naphtha and ethane from Aramco.

The article focuses on steam cracker outages in Europe. Topics covered include the declaration by chemical company Borealis of force majeure on its cracker products, the planned outage at the chemical company LyondellBasell Industries' cracker and the factors driving the limited supply of ethylene. Also mentioned is the healthy demand level for polyethylene and ethylene oxide.

The article focuses on the scarcity of para-xylene (p-xylene) for aromatics derivative projects, the decline in returns for feedstock complexes, and the introduction of chemical products in the Middle East region. Topics discussed include a chart showing the shift on p-xylene 's capacity in the Mideast, the addition of toluene capacity and the convertion of benzene, and the availability of cracker feedstocks.

The author comments on ways on how Mideast countries resolved problems associated with ethane. The author states that ethane is considered a problem to numerous petrochemical companies due to its very low prices despite the high cost of cracking feedstock. Moreover, the challenges experienced by several Mideast nations and how they solve the issue are also stated.

The article reports that ExxonMobile Chemical company opened an ethylene plant in Singapore on January 8, 2014 which reportedly can crack crude oil as feedstock and simplify naphtha production. The remarks of company president Stephen Pryor about the range of feedstocks that the Singapore unit can produce and about crude cracking are noted. Chief executive officer Rex Tillerson's comment on the global demand for chemicals is noted.

The article reports that ExxonMobil Chemical company has filed permits with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to build an ethane cracker and two high-performance polyethylene (PE) lines at the company's sites in Baytown and Mont Belvieu, Texas, respectively. A chart listing ethylene expansions in North America and an overview of ExxonMobil's cracker's ethylene capacity are presented.

The article discusses the growth potential in North America's polymer-grade (PG) and chemical-grade (CG) propylene industry. Industry officials cite the steady growth of the propylene market as a result of an abundant supply of refinery grade (RG) propylene to both direct consumers and large merchant market crackers purifying the RG to PG and CG. Statistics on planned industrial capacity expansions of several companies and pie charts showing propylene supply and demand for 2011 are presented.

This article focuses on the plan of Dow Chemical to increase ethane cracking capability on the U.S. Gulf Coast by 20-30% within the 2010-13 period. Also, joint venture options are being considered by the firm for building a natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionator to secure ethane supplies. The objective of these moves is to capitalize on a more favorable natural gas cost position in North America. Raja Zeidan of Dow Hydrocarbons cites the benefits of increasing Dow's ethane cracking capabilities.

The article presents a forecast from KPMG that capacity being developed in other regions could render 14 of Europe's 23 steam crackers uneconomic by 2015.

This article reports that Shell Eastern Petroleum will make a final decision in the second quarter on whether to proceed with a previously announced steam cracker at Bukom Island, Singapore, according to Thierry Capelle, business manager/lower olefins, Asia, Pacific, and Middle East at Shell Chemicals as of March 2006.

Reports on the cracking process developed by Asahi Kasei Chemicals for the conversion of raffinate streams from petrochemical plants and refineries for the production of propylene and ethylene. Impact of the process on the ratio of the chemical production; Use of the process with feedstock streams; Significance of the process to the operating costs and emissions of the firm.

Reports on the impact of cracker outages on the chemical industry in Europe as of January 2005. Reason behind the temporary shutdown of cracker plant of British Petroleum in Great Britain; Mechanical problems encountered by Dow Chemicals in its plant in Netherlands; Effect of the cracker outages on the ethylene market.

Reports on a study being conducted by BASF and Total Petrochemicals on the addition of a furnace at a Port Arthur, Texas cracker complex to address furnace constraints and boost production as of January 2005. Capacity of the liquid cracker; Significance of the additional furnace.

Reports that Huntsman has restarted its ethane-based ethylene plant in Port Neches, Texas. Reasons behind the operational lag of the plant in June 2001; Effects of the increasing demand for ethylene products on cracker operating rates; Plan of Chevron Phillips Chemicals and Equistar Chemicals for their idled cracking plants.

Reports on the development of a catalytic process technology by Shell to produce propylene oxide (PO) via the oxidation of cumene. Advantage of the process over conventional technologies; Statement issued by principal innovator Garo Vaporciyan; Efforts of producers to replace conventional PO processes.

Reports the halting of production at the Porvoo, Finland ethylene cracker unit of Borealis in June 2002.

Focuses on the plans of petrochemical company Sibur to build an ethylene plant at BorsodChem's Kazincbarcika, Hungary site. Countries in Europe to be linked to the plant via a pipeline network; Plans of Sibur for BorsodChem; Expected capacity of the BorsodChem cracker.

Reports on a catalytic ethane-to-ethylene oxidation process developed by scientists at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to compete with traditional steam cracking. How it differs from earlier oxidation efforts; Capabilities of the process; Problems with the technology's practical use.

Reports on a process developed by researchers at the Michigan State University at East Lansing for making ultralarge-pore molecular sieves which holds promise for petroleum cracking and catalysis. Potential of the method in overcoming costs and toxicity issues; Features of the process; Rise in interest in mesoporous molecular sieves.

Reports on the alliance formed by Brown & Root Braun (B&RB) and Kinetics Technology International to combine their cracking technology with the ethylene recovery process. B&RB's offering of the Braun cracking technology separately for gas-feed cracker.