—Europe’s chemical industry confronts shrinkage “Asian growth, U.S. cost advantage lead to declining sales for third year in a row” Europe’s chemical industry is confronting the hard truth that it is shrinking—both in absolute terms and as a share of the global chemical market. Cefic, Europe’s main trade association for chemical companies, released its latest economic report at its annual meeting, held in Florence, Italy, earlier this month, and the top-line figures are stark.
by Michael McCoy | October 12, 2016
—Europe’s Energy Costs “Citing diminished competitiveness, chemical industry begins a push to explore shale gas in the EU” For decades, the Middle East has had it. North America has just gotten hold of it again. And now Europe needs it: cheap energy. If the region doesn’t find an inexpensive source soon, it will fail to compete globally, Europe’s business leaders say.
by Alex Scott | June 03, 2013
—Europe’s output recovers “” It has taken almost 10 years, but Europe’s chemical industry has finally exceeded its output from before the economic crash of 2008, according to Eurostat, a European Commission agency. European Union chemical production in the fourth quarter of 2017 was 0.3% above that of the first quarter of 2008.
by Alex Scott | March 12, 2018
—Europe proposes big new research program “” The European Commission says Horizon 2020, its program to fund research and innovation from 2014 to 2020, is a success. So much so that the EC wants to up the ante for its next program. It is proposing a new program, Horizon Europe, to fund research in the European Union from 2021 to 2027. The EC wants to devote 100 billion euros (about $117 billion) to research through Horizon Europe, up 25% from Horizon 2020. Making the case for Horizon Europe, the EC points to achievements from the current program, such as graphene-based supercapacitors from the Estonian company Skeleton and a project by the Italian chemical companies Novamont and Matrica to turn thistle into biobased monomers for plastics and cosmetics. /business/Europe-proposes-big-new-research/96/i25 20180617 Concentrates 96 25 /magazine/96/09625.html Europe proposes big new research program Research funding, European Commission, Novamont con bus Michael McCoy business policy research-funding Europe proposes big new innovation program Chemical & Engineering News Europe proposes big new research program Europe proposes big new research program
by Michael McCoy | June 17, 2018
—Europe: Tougher times ahead as offshore competition nears “” Europe’s chemical sector emerged from a long-term recession in the second and third quarters of 2013—the latest periods for which data are available–with a slight uplift in chemical sales, says CEFIC, Europe’s leading chemical industry association.
by Alex Scott | January 13, 2014
—Ineos plans vinyl acetate in Europe “” Ineos plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to build a 300,000-metric-ton–per-year vinyl acetate plant in Europe. The project marks Ineos’s return to vinyl acetate production in the bloc after the closure of a plant in Hull, England, in 2013. Vinyl acetate, known as VAM, is an intermediate for polymers used in coatings, films, and adhesives.
by Alex Scott | September 11, 2017
—SABIC Europe taps new CEO “” Litjens Credit: SABIC Europe Photo Saudi Basic Industries Corp. has appointed Boy Litjens, 54, as the new chairman and CEO of SABIC Europe, effective Sept. 9. Litjens will succeed Frans Noteborn, who will retire after having led the business since SABIC acquired it from DSM in 2002.
July 17, 2006
—A stall coming for Germany, Europe’s engine “” European chemical production will show no growth in 2020 after a 1% decline in 2019, according to a downbeat assessment by the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), Europe’s largest chemical industry association. The region’s manufacturing sector is strongly exposed to the global economic slowdown and weak manufacturing growth, explains Moncef Hadhri, Cefic’s chief economist.
by Alex Scott | January 13, 2020
Six European plastics recycling industry organizations, including Plastics Recyclers Europe and European Plastics Converters, say they welcome the Commission’s strategy. They pledge to launch new initiatives in a bid to recycle 50% of all plastics waste—including packaging—in Europe by 2040. PlasticsEurope, an industry association whose members make new plastic, says it is committed to ensuring 60% of plastic packaging is reused or recycled by 2030.
by Alex Scott | January 22, 2018