Page 159 - CW E-Magazine (24-12-2024)

News from Abroad

“We have integrated our pharmaceuti- in the US, where we plan to further acce- and enhance our market presence. These
cal businesses worldwide to better achieve lerate activities that drive growth and inno- initiatives are key to Asahi Kasei’s goal
our mid- and long-term goals,” said vation. Additionally, the acquisition of of reaching $3-bn in annual pharmaceuti-
Mr. Yoshikazu Aoki, President of Asahi Kasei Calliditas strengthens our business foun- cal sales by 2030 through specialising in
Pharma. “This effort includes consolidat- dation, enabling us to expand the scale of immunology, transplantation, and related
ing our business development functions our pharmaceutical operations in the US diseases,” he added.

TRADING TROUBLES
China bans export of critical minerals to US

China has banned exports to the materials to the US shall not be permit- October shipments of antimony prod-
US of the critical minerals – gallium, ted,” the ministry said. ucts plunged by 97% from September
germanium and antimony. after China’s move to limit its exports
Gallium and germanium are used took effect.
The curbs strengthen enforcement in semiconductors, while germanium is
of existing limits on critical minerals also used in infrared technology, fibre China accounted last year for 48%
exports that China began rolling out optic cables and solar cells. Antimony of globally mined antimony, which is
last year, but apply only to the US is used in bullets and other weaponry, used in ammunition, infrared missiles,
market, in the latest escalation of trade while graphite is the largest component nuclear weapons and night-vision gog-
tensions between the world’s two largest by volume of electric vehicle batteries. gles, as well as in batteries and photo-
economies. voltaic equipment. This year, China has
The move has sparked fresh concern accounted for 59.2% of refined germa-
A Chinese Commerce Ministry that China could next target other criti- nium output and 98.8% of refined gallium
directive on dual-use items with both cal minerals, including those with even production, according to consultancy
military and civilian applications cited broader usage such as nickel or cobalt. Project Blue.
national security concerns. The order, Chinese customs data show there have
which takes immediate effect, also been no shipments of wrought and un- China’s announcement comes after
requires stricter review of end-usage wrought germanium or gallium to the US launched its third crackdown in
for graphite items shipped to the US. US this year through October, although three years on China’s semiconductor
it was the fourth and fifth-largest market industry on, curbing exports to 140
“In principle, the export of gallium, for the minerals, respectively, a year companies, including chip equipment
germanium, antimony, and superhard earlier. Similarly, China’s overall maker Naura Technology Group.

FOCUS ON LIGHTER CRUDES
Chevron upgrades Pasadena Refinery in US

Chevron USA, Inc., a wholly owned the company to process more equity “This refinery now firmly integrates
subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, crude from the Permian Basin, supply our upstream and downstream busi-
has completed a retrofit of its refinery more products to customers in the US nesses as we aim to optimise the value
in Pasadena, Texas (USA), which is Gulf Coast and realise synergies with chain,” said Chevron Manufacturing
expected to increase product flexibi- the company’s Pascagoula refinery. President, Mr. Chris Cavote.
lity and expand the processing capacity
of lighter crudes by nearly 15% to The ‘Light Tight Oil (LTO) Project’ Planning for the LTO Project began
125,000 barrels per day. aims to enhance facility reliability and in 2019 with work beginning in early
safety and will ultimately result in an 2020. The phased start-up of the asset is
Chevron acquired the Pasadena increase in the supply of refined pro- expected to last through Q1 of 2025 as
Refinery in 2019 with the strategic intent ducts domestically. The refinery will also project team members work to confirm
to expand its Gulf Coast refining sys- begin producing jet fuel and exporting all plants are operating as planned and
tem. This project is expected to allow gas oil. products are developed to specification.

Chemical Weekly December 24, 2024 159

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