Japan’s Ube has revealed that is has been studying the feasibility of commercializing dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) in the US and has also decided to build an additional plant for high-purity nitric acid in Japan. Both moves are described as in line with its medium- and its longer-term plans.

The company is now beginning basic design for a plant in Louisiana, which would have capacities of 100,000 tonnes/year for DMC and 40,000 of downstream EMC. A final investment decision is to be made in 1H fiscal 2023. Operations would commence in 2H fiscal 2025.

W. R. Grace & Co. has announced plans to expand its CDMO facility in South Haven, Michigan, by January 2024. It will add an 18 m³ multi-purpose glass-lined and stainless steel reactor train to two existing trains of the same size, as well as a Hastelloy centrifuge to facilitate product isolation.

Manuchar, an Antwerp-based distributor of chemicals in emerging markets, has agreed to Cosmoquímica Indústria e Comércio and Cosmolog Logística subject to regulatory approval. Both are based in São Paulo, Brazil, where Manuchar has been active since 1939 and now employs about 300 at six regional offices, including its headquarters at Rio de Janeiro.

Wacker Chemie has announced plans to invest “a double-digit million euro amount” on it the new Biotechnology Centre at its corporate research facility in Munich, which is due to be operational in 2024. CEO Christian Hartel said that building it “will allow us to concentrate and intensify our research activities in the area of biotechnology. The additional capacity we will create here will accelerate the growth of our life-sciences division.”

Andrew Ramsey, head of regulatory at Airedale Chemical, advises on how to navigate the regulations associated with supply chain intentions between the UK and EU and the sourcing of raw materials

International trade became significantly more complex after 1 January 2021 with the end of the Brexit transition period. Now, there are now many trade barriers to consider, overcome and pay for, which vary depending on where you are getting your materials from.

Marko Lange, product manager for SAP, looks at the need to measure the carbon footprint of your entire supply chain

Amid a global push for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and more responsible resource stewardship, newcomers like German data analytics start-up Carbon Minds, along with some of the biggest names in the chemicals business, are mobilising to meet that challenge.

The European Commission (EC) is proposing a Regulation that will impose legally binding targets to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50% from the average level consumed in 2015-17 by 2030. This is part of the Farm to Fork Strategy objective of delivering “a fair, healthy and environmentally respectful food system”.