Mobile Navigation

Business & Economics

Current economic trends: CEPCI March Preliminary numbers

The preliminary value for the March CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) rose compared to the previous month’s value, continuing a string of 6 months of increasing values. All four of the major subindices — Equipment, Construction…

U.S. specialty chemicals rise for 3rd month in a row, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes started the second quarter on a strong note, rising 0.6 percent in April and following similar gains in March and February. Volumes have generally been…

Honeywell PSA units selected for Chinese refinery project

Honeywell UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.; www.uop.com) announced today that Zhejiang Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (ZPC) will use four of its Polybed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) units to supply high-purity hydrogen for its new integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Zhoushan, Zhejiang…

China’s largest propane dehydrogenation unit commissioned

Honeywell (Morris Plains, N.J.; www.honeywell.com) announced today the successful commissioning and operation of the largest operating single-train propane dehydrogenation unit in China. Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes Group Co. Ltd., is using Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex process technology to convert propane into 750,000…

Global chemical production ends Q1 with slight decline, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council’s  (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) shows that the first quarter ended on a soft note, with headline global production slipping back 0.1 percent in March, as measured on a three-month…

Member Exclusive

Business News – May 2017

Plant Watch LyondellBasell announces HDPE technology license in Dalian April 12, 2017 — LyondellBasell’s (Rotterdam, the Netherlands; www.lyondellbasell.com) Hostalen ACP process technology was selected by Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Chemical Co. for a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit to be built in…

U.S. specialty chemical market finish Q1 on strong note, ACC says

The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) reported that U.S. specialty chemicals market volumes ended the first quarter on a strong note, rising 0.6 percent in March. This follows a similar 0.6 percent gain in February. Volumes have generally…

Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) shows strong Q2 opening, ACC says

The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), marked the second quarter by posting a robust 5.6 percent year-over-year gain, suggesting continued growth through year-end 2017. The barometer posted…

Current Economic Trends: February 2017 CEPCI

The preliminary value for the February CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; the most recent available) represents a gain from the previous month’s value. Significant increases in the Equipment and Engineering & Supervision subindices offset a small decrease in the Construction…

ABB acquires B&R

ABB today announced the acquisition of B&R, the largest independent provider focused on product- and software-based, open-architecture solutions for machine and factory automation worldwide. B&R, founded in 1979 by Erwin Bernecker and Josef Rainer is headquartered in Eggelsberg, Austria, employs…