Page 170 - CW E-Magazine (8-7-2025)
P. 170

Special Report                                                                                                                                                                   Special Report


       sound machines, MRI machines, in-vitro  scaled up  production from 75-ktpa to  involved, especially in the processing                                                             from 60-ktpa to 100-ktpa tonnes by
       diagnostics, as well as orthopaedic and  100-ktpa, running at nameplate capacity.  of sugarcane and cassava bio-plastic                                                           2026.
       dental implants, according to Fitch                                resins. In addition, the  region has
       Solutions.                          Similarly, NatureWorks, a joint  only a limited number of bio-plastics                                                                           With Vietnam’s strategic location,
                                         venture between Thailand’s PTT Global  manufacturers, most of which operate                                                                     low labour costs, and tax incentives, it
          Vietnam is  strengthening its  posi-  Chemical  and Cargill, is building a  on a small scale. Unlike conventional                                                              is an attractive hub for recycling ope-
       tion by  investing in facilities  that  75-ktpa PLA facility in Nakhon Sawan  plastics,  which  benefi t  from  mature                                                             rations and fresh investments. Chinese
       manufacture plastic-based medical  Province, to be in full production this  infrastructure and economies of scale,                                                                recycler Intco Recycling Resources is
       consumables, while the Philippines and  year. It will be an integrated plant with  bio-plastics remain structurally dis-                                                          investing $60-mn to expand its faci-
       Indonesia are focusing on domestic  production sites for lactic acid, lactide,  advantaged.                                                                                       lity in the country to produce recycled
       demand for personal protection equip-  and polymer, to support the Asia Pacifi c                                                                                                   plastics for decorative building materi-
       ment (PPE) and medical supplies.  region in sectors such as 3D printing,   The price volatility  of agricultural                                                                  als, primarily for export to Europe and
                                         nonwovens for hygiene,  compostable  feedstocks such as sugarcane and corn        Target Your Market More Effectively
                                                                                                                                                                                         the US. Intco has six plastics recycling
          In Singapore, the market for medi-  coff ee  capsules/food  serviceware,  tea  also adds to economic  uncertainty,                                                              bases, including a facility for food-
       cal devices is experiencing  rapid  bags and fl exible packaging.   as  prices  are  strongly  infl uenced  by               ChemImpex                                     IndiaChemTrade
                                                                                                                                                                                         grade recycled plastics in Malaysia.
       growth due to the government’s focus                               weather conditions and harvest yields.
                                                                                                                                                                                            In 2024, UK-based Cedo acquired
       on enhancing healthcare infrastructure   Furthermore, Brazilian biopoly-  Meanwhile, not all bio-plastics are bio-           For subscribers only                      Free for subscribers of Chemical Weekly
       and promoting innovation in the medi-  mer producer Braskem and  Thai-  degradable, and even those that are may   ChemImpex, the trade database, tracks, on a daily   IndiaChemTrade provides consolidated trade statistics
                                                                                                                                                                                         Vietnamese recycler Vinatic, boosting
                                                                                                                                                                                         its global recycling capacity to 100-ktpa.
       cal  technology sector. However, the  land’s SCG Chemicals have set up a  require  specifi c  conditions  to  decom-  basis, exports and imports of chemicals and related   of India. The information provided here is based on the
       market faces regulatory hurdles, such as  joint venture, Braskem Siam Com-  pose  eff ectively.  For  instance,  some                                                              The move strengthens Cedo’s foot-
                                                                                                                                                                                         print in  Asia and complements its
       the recently introduced Cybersecurity  pany, and are touting the production  biodegradable plastics require industrial   products through the major ports in India — a vital   annual trade data published by the Directorate General
       Labelling Scheme for Medical Devices,  of  the  “fi rst  of  its  kind  in  Southeast  composting facilities to  break  down,   source of commercial intelligence. Find out on-line   of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Government
                                                                                                                                                                                         operations in the Netherlands.
       which may increase compliance  costs  Asia” bio-ethylene and bio-based  and these are not widely available  in   how international markets are moving; where your   of India. The database can be searched by: Chemical
                                                                                                                        Thailand has strong demand for  with UK-based Plastic Energy Ltd.,  Code to obtain the consolidated
       for manufacturers and limit  market  polyethylene to support regional and  most Asian countries.               competitors are exporting and at what price; where   Name/Harmonised   Elsewhere, countries like Cambodia,
                                                                                                                      imports are coming from and how
                                                                                                                                                       is building an advanced chemical  Laos, and Myanmar  face  surging
       access to unlabelled products.    global demand.                                                              recycled plastics and a national re- their prices are   trade (import or export) in that item; or by Country to
                                                                                                                      moving. Download all this data, seamlessly, for a
                                                                          Boom in recycling investments in           cycling infrastructure, especially in  recycling plant in Pengerang, Johor.  plastic consumption but lack suffi  cient
                                                                                                                                                                       obtain the trade (import or export) in all chemicals and
       Hotspots for sustainable plastics   Meanwhile, PTT MCC, a joint ven-  Southeast Asia                          Bangkok, Chon Buri, and Rayong –  Expected to be operational by 2026,  recycling  systems. In Phnom Penh
                                                                                                                                                                       related products between India and that country
                                                                                                                      small fee — online, anytime, with no hassles.
       solutions                         ture between PTT Global Chemical and   As  plastic waste increasingly pol-  though it still relies on the infor-  the facility will process 33-ktpa of  alone, 10-mn plastic bags are used
                                                                                                                                                         ChemXchange
          In terms  of sustainable plastics,  Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Corpora-  lutes  Southeast Asia’s  environment,   mal sector for collection. In Rayong,  end-of-life plastics.  daily, underscoring the urgent need
       Malaysia and Thailand are leading the  tion, has since 2017 produced bio-poly-  there is a growing emphasis on plastic   Indorama  and Austria’s Alpla  jointly                   for action.
                                                                                                                                               Open to all registered users — no subscription required
       Southeast Asian market.           butylene succinate (bio-PBS), which  waste recycling.                       produce 30-ktpa of food-grade rPET   Vietnam generates around 3.7-mt
                                                                                                                      ChemXchange — the chemical exchange with a difference — is where you can identify your buyers and sup-
                                         consists of succinic acid derived from                                      and 15-ktpa of rHDPE. SCG and Dow  of  plastic  waste  annually,  yet  only  Southeast Asia at K 2025
                                                                                                                      plyers on-line, any time. This unique platform is free to all advertisers in the print version of Chemical Weekly.
          Malaysia utilises empty fruit bunches  sugar/cassava and 1,4-butanediol.  Indonesia, where only 10% of plastic   target 200-ktpa of plastic recycling  11% is recycled. However, this is   Fifty exhibitors from Southeast
       (EFBs) and palm oil waste to produce                               waste is currently recycled, is  targeting   by 2030 through advanced sorting  changing. Duytan Recycling, in coope-  Asia will  be participating  in K 2025
                                                                                                                                     For more information contact: 022-24044477. Fax: 022-24044450
       bio-plastics such  as  polylactic  acid  Challenges to the growth of bio-plastics   a 70% reduction in marine plastic   technologies.  Email: corporate@chemicalweekly.com or log on to chemicalweekly.com
                                                                                                                                                       ration with Ajinomoto Vietnam under  from October 8-15, 2025 in Dusseldorf,
       (PLA),  polysaccharides, lignin, and  in Asia                      through a government-backed  $18-bn                                          the Extended Producer Responsibility  Germany. Malaysia is the most strongly
       polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)  through   Though the market for bio-plastics  strategy (2017–2040) to expand collec-  In Malaysia, the country’s national  (EPR) scheme, collected and recycled  represented country with 15 exhibitors,
       microbial  fermentation. The  country  in Asia is driven by growing environ-  tion, boost  recycling capacity,  and   petrochemical  fi rm,  Petronas  Chemi-  94-tonnes of plastic in 2023 and aims  followed by  Thailand and Singapore
       positions  itself  as a  strong competi-  mental concerns  and changing con-  improve disposal systems.       cals Group Berhad, in partnership  to increase its PET recycling capacity  with 11 exhibitors each.
       tor to  Thailand in sustainable plastics,  sumer preferences, especially  in the
       according  to the Malaysian  Palm Oil  packaging  sector, its growth could be   Key  initiatives include a 36-ktpa
       Council. On the other hand, Thailand,  hindered by a variety of factors.  rPET facility by PT Alba Tridi Plastics
       exports 90% of its bio-plastics to mar-                            Recycling  (a joint venture with  Alba
       kets including Italy,  the Netherlands,   A key barrier is the lack of cohe-  Group  Asia) and a large-scale PET                                      Missed a copy !!!
       China, South Korea, and the US.   rent government policies related to bio-  recycling plant in East Java by Danone-                   For Digital Edition of this month’s issue & all other past issues
                                         plastics production, usage, and waste  Aqua  and Veolia.  Indorama Ventures                                   Visit www.hpicindia.com
          Major investors in Thailand include  management.  This regulatory uncer-  is also building a site in Karawang to
       French  energy major Total  and Dutch  tainty makes it diffi  cult for stakeholders  recycle 2-billion PET bottles/year and                           PDF copies available for download
       biochemical giant Corbion’s joint ven-  to plan strategically or invest in  has secured a $200-mn  IFC loan  to                                          Register Now
       ture, Total Corbion PLA, which manu-  value  chain  improvements.  Another  expand facilities in Nakhon Pathom           Contact: For Subscription   : Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com
       factures sugarcane-based PLA, and has  major deterrent is the high costs  and Rayong (Thailand).                                         For Advertising   : Mr. Vijay Raghavan - vijay@hpicindia.com

       170                                                                       Chemical Weekly  July 8, 2025       Chemical Weekly  July 8, 2025               Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com                   171


                                      Contents    Index to Advertisers    Index to Products Advertised
   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175