Plant Watch
Teijin Frontier to expand production of polyester filament yarn in Thailand
September 16, 2025 — Teijin Frontier Co. (Osaka, Japan; www.teijin-frontier.com) will expand production capacity for high-tenacity recycled polyester filament yarn used in industrial applications, such as tire cords, reinforcements for rubber products and seat belts. The expansion at Teijin Polyester (Thailand) Ltd. (TPL), a group company in Pathumthani, Thailand that manufactures polyester yarns, will begin in November 2025, and is expected to increase production by 620 metric tons per year (m.t./yr).
Solvay doubles production capacity for high-purity hydrogen peroxide in China
September 15, 2025 — Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) opened a significant expansion at its Zhenjiang, China, facility, doubling its annual production capacity for electronic-grade hydrogen peroxide. Electronic-grade H2O2 is used for cleaning and etching in semiconductor chip production. This expansion builds upon Solvay’s initial launch of electronic grade H2O2 production at this site in 2018.
IFF inaugurates expansion at natural ingredients site in France
September 9, 2025 — International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF; New York City; www.iff.com) inaugurated its expanded LMR Naturals site in Grasse, France, following a €10-million investment. The expansion increases the site’s footprint by 75% and includes a pilot facility designed to accelerate product development.
HIF Global to construct Tasmania e-Fuels facility at former Burnie Paper Mill site
September 9, 2025 — HIF Global, Inc. (Houston; www.hifglobal.com) plans to locate its HIF Tasmania e-Fuels facility at the former Burnie Paper Mill site in South Burnie. The facility is expected to produce more than 200,000 m.t./yr of e-Methanol using renewable hydrogen and recycled CO2.
Lanxess is expanding U.S. production of rubber processing promoters
September 5, 2025 — Lanxess AG (Cologne, Germany; www.lanxess.com) is expanding production capabilities with the addition of rubber processing promoters at its Bushy Park facility in Goose Creek, South Carolina. The expansion project, currently underway, is expected to come online in November 2025. This marks the first time Lanxess will produce processing promoters in the U.S. Currently manufactured in Germany and China, these process additives were previously imported for U.S. customers.
Symrise starts up new pentylene glycol plant in Spain
September 5, 2025 — Symrise AG (Holzminden, Germany; www.symrise.com) opened a new production unit at its facility in Granada, Spain for Hydrolite 5 green, a bio-based pentylene glycol product from the company’s Cosmetic Ingredients division. The new production unit is modeled on the company’s existing Hydrolite 5 green plant in Charleston, South Carolina. A multifunctional ingredient, pentylene glycol is often used in skincare and haircare products.
Borealis to significantly expand compounding capabilities in Austria
September 4, 2025 — Borealis Group (Vienna, Austria; www.borealisgroup.com) announced a major investment in polymer compounding capacity at its production location in Schwechat, Austria. The new polypropylene (PP) compounding line is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2026.
Arkema starts up new fluorospecialties production site in Kentucky
September 2, 2025 — Arkema S.A. (Colombes, France; www.arkema.com) announced the successful startup of its new production unit for low Global Warming Potential (GWP) fluorosecialties in Calvert City, Ky. The new site will produce around 15,000 m.t./yr of Arkema’s Forane 1233zd product, a non-ozone-depleting foam-blowing agent for polyurethane foam.
Evonik inaugurates world-scale alkoxides plant in Singapore
September 2, 2025 — Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) inaugurated its new world-scale alkoxides production facility on Jurong Island, Singapore, marking a major milestone in catalyst supply for biodiesel production, pharmaceutical manufacturing and chemical recycling. The Singapore plant joins Evonik’s global alkoxides production network, which includes sites in Germany, the U.S. and Argentina.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Kemira acquires Water Engineering Inc. for $150 million
September 16, 2025 — Kemira Oyj (Helsinki, Finland; www.kemira.com) signed a purchase agreement to acquire Water Engineering, Inc., a company specialized in water treatment services based in Nebraska. The purchase price is approximately $150 million. Water Engineering, Inc. brings significant expertise in boiler and cooling-tower water treatment formulations, as well as industrial wastewater treatment solutions, in sectors such as food and beverage, manufacturing and healthcare.
ExxonMobil to acquire Superior Graphite assets and technologies
September 12, 2025 — ExxonMobil Corp. (Houston; www.exxonmobil.com) entered into an agreement to acquire the technologies and U.S.-based assets of Superior Graphite, along with select international offices. This move serves to bolster ExxonMobil’s strategy to build a robust supply chain for synthetic graphite for battery anodes.
Technip Energies to acquire Ecovyst’s catalysts business
September 11, 2025 — Technip Energies S.A. (Paris, France; www.technipenergies.com) agreed to acquire the Advanced Materials & Catalysts business from Ecovyst Inc. (Malvern, Pa.; www.ecovyst.com) for a purchase price of $556 million. The acquired business comprises: Advanced Silicas, a manufacturer and supplier of specialty silica-based advanced materials and catalysts; and Zeolyst International, a 50:50 joint venture with Shell Catalysts & Technologies, which is a supplier of custom zeolite-based materials and catalysts.
Phillips 66 to purchase remaining interest in WRB Refining LP
September 10, 2025 — Phillips 66 (Houston, Tex.; www.phillips66.com) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining 50% ownership interest in WRB Refining LP from subsidiaries of Cenovus Energy Inc. (Dublin, Ohio; www.cenovus.com) for total cash consideration of $1.4 billion. WRB Refining LP is a 50-50 joint venture (JV) between Phillips 66 and Cenovus Energy that owns the Wood River refinery in Roxana, Illinois, and the Borger refinery in Borger, Texas.
Saint-Gobain reorganizes chemicals activities in Germany
September 9, 2025 — Saint-Gobain S.A. (Courbevoie, France; www.saint-gobain.com) is transferring its Saint-Gobain Weber GmbH dry mortars business to the long-existing joint venture partner Franken Maxit Mauermörtel GmbH & Co. KG. With the transfer of this business, Franken Maxit will become one of the largest dry mortar manufacturers in Germany, with 17 locations across Germany and the Czech Republic.
Westlake to acquire ACI compounding businesses
September 2, 2025 — Westlake Corp. (Houston; www.westlake.com) entered into an agreement to acquire the global compounding solutions businesses of the ACI/Perplastic Group. ACI is a Portugal-based global manufacturer of specialty materials serving the wire and cable sectors. ACI has four production facilities located in Mexico, Portugal, Romania and Tunisia, which manufacture polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, silicone and thermoplastic rubber compounds.
DuPont sells Aramids business for $1.8 billion
September 2, 2025 — DuPont (Wilmington, Del.; www.dupont.com) announced that Arclin, a portfolio company of an affiliate of TJC, agreed to acquire DuPont’s Aramids business (Kevlar and Nomex) in a transaction valuing the business at around $1.8 billion. With five manufacturing sites, DuPont’s Aramids business had net sales of $1.3 billion in 2024. ■
–Mary Page Bailey