of years (the earliest mention I canfind in Focus on Surfactants is in2008, though the term was firstcoined by economists in 2001).Investment activity in the surfactantsindustry certainly shows a definiteBRIC slant – for example, Evonik isbuilding new surfactants plants inboth Brazil [ibid, Jun 2013] and China(p 3), and Solvay acquired Indiansurfactants producer SunshieldChemicals and is pursuing itscollaboration with Sibur to producesurfactants in Russia [ibid, Dec 2012].Now, however, I gather we need toextend our attention to the ‘MINT’countries – Mexico, Indonesia,Nigeria and Turkey. Looking throughrecent issues, we have Oxiteno’sabove-mentioned expansion andClariant’s new Industrial & ConsumerSpecialties plant in Mexico [ibid, Mar2013]. Kao recently completed a newplant in Indonesia [ibid, Sep 2013]while Evonik expanded its plant there.Only a couple of items in the pastyear mention Nigeria but 9 discussTurkish markets or developments,including the news that Turkey’sEvyap Sabun is due to start up anoleochemicals and personal careproducts plant in Malaysia in thecoming months [ibid, Nov 2013]. So,while I only came across the termMINT about a month back (courtesyof an item on the BBC), it seems thesurfactants industry already has itsfinger on that particular pulse!

Given the amount of investment innew and expanded facilities, perhapsit is not surprising that the level ofmergers & acquisitions (M&A) activityin the surfactants and relatedindustries has been rather muted inthe past 12 or so months – certainlythere have been no ‘scene-stealing’deals such as Solvay’s purchase ofRhodia [ibid, Jun 2011]. However,some smaller-scale M&A transactionshave taken place. Clariant and Crodahave both made acquisitions to boosttheir personal care lines. Clariant ofcourse has also just divested itsdetergents unit to ICIG (p 7).Oxiteno’s bid to buy Uruguay’sAmerican Chemical, which wasreported as complete in Feb 2013,was then scrutinized by Brazil’santitrust regulator CADE [ibid, Jul2013] but given the go-ahead in Nov2013. In Dubai, Anichem acquired aLAS plant as part of its purchase ofSasol subsidiary Sasol Gulf, while

Henkel acquired PZ Cussonshomecare brands in Poland.

There is so much more I coulddiscuss – I haven’t even mentionedthe past year’s healthy crop of newproducts – but space is limited. I wishyou all good fortune in the year aheadand look forward to reporting the up-coming developments in thesurfactants industry.

Caroline Edser

RAWMATERIALS

Linear alkylbenzene/alpha-olefins

Farabi plans petrochemicals complexin Saudi Arabia

Farabi Petrochemicals is planning acomplex in Saudi Arabia called JazanPetrochemicals. This will include aworld-scale linear alkylbenzene (LAB)factory with downstream units makingspeciality chemicals derived fromdiesel feedstock. Farabi recentlysigned a contract to this end withengineering group Foster Wheelercovering concept development,technology recommendations foraromatic solvents production and thetreatment of heavy hydrocarbons,investment cost estimates andproposals for front-end engineeringdesign. The value of the contract wasnot disclosed. Foster Wheelerexpects to submit its findings during1Q 2014. Farabi Petrochemicalscurrently operates in Jubail, SaudiArabia. Its existing chemicalscomplex includes paraffin units andtwo production units for LAB [Focuson Surfactants, Mar & Aug 2012].

Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 28 Oct 2013,(652), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/)(in French) © ETAI Information 2013

Chevron Phillips Chemical completesNAO expansion study at Cedar Bayouplant and advances expansion plans

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co LPannounced the completion of its studyto expand normal alpha-olefin (NAO)capacity at its Cedar Bayou plant inBaytown, TX, USA, and receipt ofapproval to proceed with detailed

engineering, design and procurementof long-lead equipment. The capacityexpansion is targeting a 20%minimum increase in a phasedapproach. Final project approval willbe sought in 1Q 2014. Constructionwould be targeted to commence in1Q 2014, and the project would becompleted in 2Q 2015. Normal alpha-olefins and their derivatives are usedextensively as polyethylene co-monomers, plasticizers, syntheticmotor oils, lubricants, automotiveadditives, surfactants, paper sizing,and in a wide range of specialityapplications.

Original Source: Chevron Philips Chemical Co,website: http://cpchem.com, (5 Nov 2013) © ChevronPhillips Chemical Company 2013

Oleochemicals/other

Palm oil production

While global production of palm oil isforecast to increase 5% from 55.3 Mtonnes in 2012/2013 to 58.1 M tonnesin 2013/2014, palm oil stocks areforecast to grow by 21% year on yearto 9.55 M tonnes due to increasedproduction in Indonesia. Production inthe country is forecast to be 9%higher year on year at 31 M tonnes.

Original Source: Oils and Fats International, Aug-Sep2013, 29 (7), 40 (Website:http://www.oilsandfatsinternational.com) © QuartzBusiness Media Ltd 2013

From fat to fuel

The European Parliament’s environ-ment, public health, and food safetycommittee approved the EuropeanCommission’s amendments to EUdirectives 98/70/EC and 2009/28/ECon 10 Jul 2013. One provisioninvolved doubling the amount ofanimal fats towards the EU’s renew-able energy directive (RED) target,which requires 10% of transportenergy be sourced from renewableenergy. Allied Products Group(APAG) displayed opposition to thisprovision, claiming it would triggerdiversion of rendered animal fats intobiofuels, which would lead theoleochemical industry to shift furtherto palm oil and thus worsenenvironmental problems. The entireparliament was to reconsider thematter on 9 Sep 2013. Germany’sbiofuels policy has already beenamended, putting a limit on crop-

2 JANUARY 2014

F O C U S O N S U R F A C T A N T S