Page 155 - CW E-Magazine (12-12-2023)

News from Abroad

UNCOMPETITIVE ASSET
Ineos Aromatics mulls mothballing one of its PTA

plants in Belgium

Ineos Aromatics is proposing
to mothball one of its purified tere-
phthalic acid (PTA) units in Belgium.
The smaller and older of two of the
company’s PTA units at the integrated
para-xylene (PX) and PTA production
facility in Geel has been off-line since
2022 and a review of its long-term
future has been pending for some time,
UK-based Ineos said.

“Despite the company’s best efforts
to make the unit competitive, difficult
market conditions have brought things
to a head. An increase in energy, raw
material and labour costs has made
European production increasingly Ineos said its customers will not be carbons. The EU’s imposition of provi-
uncompetitive relative to exports from affected as both the PX unit and the sional anti-dumping duties on Chinese
new PTA and derivative capacity com- second, larger PTA unit at the site, PET resin is a step in the right direc-
missioned in Asia,” the company said which is newer and more efficient, will tion, but European industry urgently
in a press note. continue to operate. needs more help. At the EU level, fur-
ther action is still required against other
PTA is an essential raw material Commenting on the development, artificially low-cost PTA and PET
for the manufacture of polyethylene Mr. Steve Dossett, Ineos Aromatics resin importers.”
terephthalate (PET), used principally CEO, said, “High energy and operating
to make textiles, fabrics and food and costs have put European PTA produc- Ineos Aromatics operates PTA and
beverage packaging materials, as well tion at a major disadvantage relative to PX production facilities in the US,
as many other items found in homes exporters from Asia, who benefit from Belgium, Indonesia, Taiwan and Main-
and businesses. access to discounted Russian hydro- land China.

Vink Chemicals breaks ground for new biocides

facility in Germany

Vink Chemicals, the German bio- in Germany. This will shorten transport
cides maker, has begun work in a new routes and supply chains, such as to the
facility at its Schwerin site in Germany. company headquarters in Kakenstorf.
The family-owned firm, said it is The proximity to the port of Hamburg
continuing to focus on Germany as a also means sea routes, which are also
production location, and will invest important for the company’s interna-
over €30-mn for the new plant. tional business, can be reached quickly.
Furthermore, at the new site the raw
With the construction of the new materials will be produced more effi-
plant, the company will, in future, pro- ciently than at the current foreign sup-
duce the majority of its raw materials pliers, the company said.

Chemical Weekly December 12, 2023 155
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