It’s not so many weeks back that a shortage of trucks and containers, low water on the Rhine, meant that producers could not meet demand. More recently, the production of energy-intensive chemicals such as ammonia, methanol, VCM and so on has been slashed by 30% to 50% and more in some cases. As ICIS reported recent shutdowns and premature turnarounds are everywhere.
As you say, the European petchem sector is readying for some tough quarters ahead as industrial activity and consumer demand turns down. It’s a different picture in the US where demand remains strong and low-priced product is finding its way to Europe.
So is this the best time ever to find a new role in the chemical industry – if you are in Europe, you would expect me to say probably not. But actually, it depends. So let me give you four answers to this question:
By Andrew Kris, Borderless
Source: linkedin.com
Eastman Chemical Co. (Kingsport, Tenn.) announced it has acquired Ai-Red Technology (Dalian) Co., Ltd., a manufacturer and supplier of paint protection and window film for auto and architectural markets in the Asia Pacific region.
BASF and Israeli packager StePac have joined forces to create the “next generation” of fresh produce packaging. BASF will provide StePac with greater flexibility to advance contact-sensitive packaging formats to a higher sustainability standard by supplying StePac with Ultramid Ccycled – a chemically recycled polyamide 6.
TotalEnergies’ biorefinery in La Mède, France, allows direct access to renewable feedstock for its drop-in RE:newable polymer range derived from bio-based products. The company claims these polymers retain virgin-like properties.