Plant Watch
Solstice announces manufacturing expansions in Germany and the U.S.
January 15, 2026 — Solstice Advanced Materials (Morris Plains, N.J.; www.solstice.com) has completed two significant manufacturing expansions: a recently completed €5.5-million expansion of its stannous fluoride manufacturing facility in Seelze, Germany; and a $220-million investment in multiple projects to expand production at its existing fiber-manufacturing facility in Colonial Heights, Va. The expansion in Seelze increases Solstice’s production capacity for stannous fluoride, a key ingredient in oral-care products, by approximately 45%. The Colonial Heights plant expansion is expected to be complete in 2030, and will provide fiber and composite materials for defense, marine and industrial applications.
Arkema starts up new polyamide production unit in Singapore
January 13, 2026 — Arkema S.A. (Paris la Defense, France; www.arkema.com) announced that its new transparent polyamide production unit, located in Singapore, is now fully operational. This investment of around $20 million will enable Arkema to meet growing demand for transparent materials across key markets, such as eyewear, consumer electronics, industrial filtration, healthcare devices and more. The startup of the new unit triples Arkema’s global production capacity.
Outokumpu and Norsk e-Fuel collaborating to convert CO into SAF
January 9, 2026 — Outokumpu (Helsinki, Finland; www.outokumpu.com) and Norsk e-Fuel AS (Oslo, Norway; www.norsk-e-fuel.com) plan to collaborate on a CO-to-SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) production plant to be located next to Outokumpu’s stainless steel mill in Koivuluoto, Finland. Norsk e-Fuel will start a feasibility study in 2026. If the study leads to positive results, Norsk e-Fuel anticipates making an investment decision around 2028, with production start planned for 2032. Outokumpu would provide carbon monoxide (CO) side streams from its ferrochrome production as a feedstock for production of 80,000–100,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of SAF.
Metso to build a new production plant in China for rubber products
January 9, 2026 — Metso Corp. (Espoo, Finland; www.metso.com) is investing in a new rubber products plant in Quzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The new factory will offer rubber mill linings and screening media. Screening media production at the new plant is scheduled to start during the first quarter of 2026, with mill lining production commencing afterwards.
BASF starts up steam cracker at new Verbund site in South China
January 7, 2026 — BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) has commissioned the steam cracker at its newly built Verbund site in Zhanjiang in South China as scheduled. This is said to be the first cracker in the world using 100% renewable energy to drive its main compressors. The steam cracker supplies important basic chemicals, such as ethylene and propylene, to multiple plants at the Verbund site.
Moeve signs agreement with Pretium Renovables to build biomethane plants
January 5, 2026 — Moeve (Madrid, Spain; www.moeveglobal.com) signed a strategic agreement with Pretium Renovables for the construction of biomethane production plants in Spain, primarily in the Andalusia region. The strategic partners are planning the development of four to six new biomethane plants, each with an estimated capacity of 60 GWh/yr.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Chemours agrees to sell former titanium dioxide site in Taiwan
January 16, 2025 — The Chemours Co. (Wilmington, Del.; www.chemours.com) signed a set of definitive agreements to sell the remaining land at its former titanium dioxide manufacturing location in Kuan Yin, Taiwan to an ownership group that includes Century Wind Power Co., Century Iron & Steel Industrial Co. and Century Huaxin Wind Energy, Co. Dismantling procedures for the Kuan Yin site were completed in the first quarter of 2025. The land sale will generate approximately $360 million in gross cash proceeds, prior to customary taxes and fees. The transactions are expected to substantially close by mid-year 2026.
Air Liquide completes the acquisition of DIG Airgas
January 13, 2026 — Air Liquide S.A. (Paris; www.airliquide.com) announced the successful completion of its acquisition of DIG Airgas, a leading integrated gas player in South Korea. With this strategic step, Air Liquide will double its workforce in South Korea and reach around €900 million of combined sales.
HF Sinclair closes acquisition of Industrial Oils Unlimited
January 13, 2026 — HF Sinclair Corp. (Dallas, Tex.; www.hfsinclair.com) closed its acquisition of Industrial Oils Unlimited, LLC (IOU), a manufacturer of industrial lubricants and specialty fluids. Based in Tulsa, Okla., IOU operates a robust network of regional manufacturing capabilities.
SABIC to divest select businesses in Europe and the Americas
January 8, 2026 — The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; www.sabic.com) signed two strategic transactions to divest its European Petrochemicals (EP) business to Aequita and its Engineering Thermoplastics (ETP) business in the Americas and Europe to Mutares for a total combined enterprise value of $950 million ($500 million for EP and $450 million for the ETP). EP operates manufacturing sites in the U.K., Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. ETP produces polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and manages manufacturing sites in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands.
Corteva and bp launch biofuels JV called Etlas
January 7, 2026 — Corteva Inc. (Indianapolis, Ind.; www.corteva.com) and bp plc (London; www.bp.com) announced the launch of Etlas, their new 50-50 joint venture (JV) that will produce oil from crops, including canola, mustard and sunflower, for use in the production of biofuels. Etlas aims to produce 1 million m.t./yr of feedstock, which could produce over 800,000 m.t./yr of biofuels, including SAF and renewable diesel. Initial supply is scheduled to begin in 2027 for use in co-processing at refineries, as well as at dedicated biofuels plants.
Westlake completes acquisition of ACI compounding businesses
January 6, 2026 — Westlake Corp. (Houston; www.Westlake.com) has acquired the global compounding solutions businesses of the ACI/Perplastic Group (collectively, ACI). Headquartered in Portugal, ACI is a global manufacturer of specialty materials, primarily serving the wire and cable sectors. The acquisition expands Westlake Global Compounds’ manufacturing footprint into Portugal, Romania and Tunisia, and adds to its existing operations in Mexico.
Syensqo and Axens launch new firm to develop solid-state batteries
January 6, 2026 — Syensqo S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.syensqo.com) and Axens (Rueil-Malmaison, France; www.axens.net) announced the launch of Argylium, a new company dedicated to developing and scaling-up commercial demonstration of advanced materials for solid-state batteries in Europe.
Syensqo completes divestiture of Oil & Gas business unit
January 5, 2026 — Syensqo completed the divestment of its Oil & Gas business unit to SNF Group (Andrézieux-Bouthéon, France; www.snf.com) for €135 million. Syensqo’s Oil & Gas business unit generated net sales of approximately €400 million in 2024.
Bp sells its majority stake in Castrol lubricants business
December 26, 2025 — Bp has reached an agreement to sell a 65% shareholding in lubricants business Castrol to Stonepeak, at an enterprise value of $10.1 billion. Upon completion of the transaction, a new joint venture will be incorporated comprising a 65% Stonepeak and 35% bp ownership. The transaction is expected to be complete by the end of 2026. ■