Plant Watch
Air Liquide starts up CO2-capture pilot unit at Holcim cement facility
June 11, 2026 — Air Liquide S.A. (Paris, France; www.airliquide.com) started up its first industrial-scale pilot unit specifically designed for the cement sector, based on its proprietary technology. This pilot is located at the CaptureLab launched by Holcim (Zug, Switzerland; www.holcim.com). With a capacity of 3,000 Nm³/h of fluegas, the unit enables the removal of impurities from the fluegas and preconcentration of CO2 prior to final CO2 purification.
Sasol invests €60 million to expand chemicals production site in Germany
June 5, 2026 — Sasol International Chemicals, a business of Sasol Ltd. (Johannesburg, South Africa; www.sasol.com), announced a €60-million investment at its Brunsbüttel, Germany site to expand its advanced materials and specialty chemicals capabilities. The project will debottleneck and expand Sasol’s existing Advanced Materials alumina asset base, strengthening its role as a supplier of spherical alumina supports for advanced catalyst systems and other high‑value applications. Beneficial operation of the project is expected in 2029.
Nissan Chemical to construct new herbicide plant in India
June 3, 2026 — Nissan Chemical Corp. (Tokyo; www.nissanchem.co.jp) plans to establish a manufacturing facility for the company’s new iptriazopyrid herbicide at its consolidated subsidiary in India, Nissan Bharat Rasayan Pvt. Ltd. The new facility is scheduled to begin operations in fiscal year 2028.
Repsol begins large-scale production of 100% renewable fuels in Puertollano
June 1, 2026 — Repsol S.A. (Madrid, Spain; www.repsol.com) announced the launch of its second 100% renewable-fuels plant on the Iberian peninsula, located at its Puertollano industrial complex in Ciudad Real, Spain. The facility has the capacity to produce 200,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of renewable diesel from biological feedstocks, representing a €130-million investment.
EuroChem launches major sulfuric acid plant in Kazakhstan
May 28, 2026 — EuroChem Group (Zug, Switzerland; www.eurochemgroup.com) started operation at a sulfuric-acid production plant in the Zhambyl Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The facility ranks among the largest of its kind in the country, with a design capacity of 800,000 m.t./yr.
Formosa-Tokuyama JV to construct new plant for isopropyl alcohol in Taiwan
Tokuyama Corp. (Tokyo; www.tokuyama.co.jp) announced plans to construct a second plant for high-purity isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for electronic manufacturing at Formosa Tokuyama Advanced Chemicals Co., Ltd. (FTAC), a 50-50 joint venture (JV) with Formosa Plastics Corp. located in Taiwan. The new IPA plant will have a production capacity of 30,000 m.t./yr. FTAC plans to commence operations in September 2028.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Elementis completes sale of its pharmaceutical manufacturing business
June 3, 2026 — Elementis plc (London; www.elementis.com) completed the sale of its pharmaceutical manufacturing business to Associated British Foods (ABF). Under the terms of the transaction, the business was sold for an enterprise value of €34.3 million (equivalent to around $39.8 million). The transaction repositions Elementis as a pure-play specialty chemicals manufacturer focused on value-added additives in the personal-care and coatings markets.
Saint-Gobain finalizes sale of textile and insulation business
June 1, 2026 —Saint-Gobain S.A. (Courbevoie, France; www.saint-gobain.com) completed the sale of HKO — its business manufacturing technical textile materials for high-temperature insulation — to a fund managed by Dubag Group. HKO has industrial plants located in Oberhausen, Beuren and Leinefelde, Germany; and in Wattignies, France. The business had sales of approximately €45 million in 2025.
IFF to sell its Food Ingredients business for $4.3 billion
June 1, 2026 — International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF; New York City; www.iff.com) has entered into an agreement to sell its Food Ingredients business to funds advised by CVC Capital Partners in a transaction that values the business at approximately $4.3 billion. IFF’s Food Ingredients business manufactures texturants, emulsifiers, plant-based solutions and other specialty ingredients serving multinational food-and-beverage customers.
Johnson Matthey agrees to acquire SCR catalyst producer Cormetech
May 28, 2026 — Johnson Matthey Plc (JM; London, U.K.; www.matthey.com) agreed to acquire Cormetech Inc. (Durham, N.C.), a manufacturer of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts providing emissions control, for an enterprise value of $360 million. ■
–Mary Page Bailey