BASF has expanded capacity for ethylene oxide (EO) and derivatives at its verbund site in Antwerp, adding 400,000 tonnes/year in total. The €500 million+ investment comprises a second world-scale EO plant, including capacity for purified EO and alkoxylates. About 100 new jobs have been created.

Clariant is to invest CHF 80 million to expand its Care Chemicals facility at Daya Bay in Huizhou, China, by the end of 2024. This will both add capacity for existing products and introduce new products in the pharmaceutical, personal care, home care and industrial sector.

Daya Bay, which has obtained the drug GMP certificate, is the first API site in China certified to produce polyethylene glycol Polyglykol 3350. More generally, it will become new global hub for Clariant’s healthcare business support.

Following three years of work to develop a low carbon ethylene oxide (EO) product and as part of its drive to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, Ineos Oxide has launched and made the first sales of its ‘bio-attributed EO’. Both the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials and International Sustainability & Carbon Certification Plus have certified that this is 100% renewable on a mass balance basis, not competing with food production, and delivers a greenhouse gas saving of over 100% compared to conventionally produced EO.

Clariant has agreed a strategic partnership to establish a 51-49% joint venture with India Glycols (IGL) in renewable ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives, subject to regulatory approvals. U.S. Bhartia has been designated chairman of the JV, which will employ about 200 people in India.