化学工業日報　2004/12/1

伊藤忠、フッ酸の中国合弁２期増設が完成

　伊藤忠商事が中国浙江省・永康市で建設していた無水フッ化水素酸（フッ酸）の第２期増設工事が完了、１２月半ばにも商業生産入りする。年産１万５０００トン能力で、中国最大のフッ酸メーカー・鷹鵬化工との合弁で昨春から稼働した１万トンに続くプラントとなる。製品は日本向けに供給する予定で、年明けにも供給を本格化する。また今回の増設により、伊藤忠・鷹鵬化工グループのフッ酸製造能力は世界トップクラスの年産１０万トンを超える規模に達する。

　伊藤忠と鷹鵬化工は昨年１１月、フッ酸設備増設で合意。両社はすでに昨春から浙江伊鵬化工有限公司（伊藤忠６０％、鷹鵬化工４０％出資）の１万トン設備を稼働しているが、今回、両社均等出資の新合弁会社「浙江藤鵬化工有限公司」（薫事長・石塚新弥伊藤忠無機化学品部長）を設立、永康で工場・プラント建設を進めていた。プラントは１１月半ばに完成、試運転段階に入っており、今月半ばにも商業生産に移行できる見通し。

　立地点となる永康は蛍石の主産地・浙江省に位置し、増設プラントは既設１万トンプラントに隣接して建設。周辺にはパートナーとなる鷹鵬化工のフッ酸および誘導品（代替フロン）工場もある。今回の増設分は伊藤忠が日本向けに供給する計画で、すでに１８トンＩＳＯタンクコンテナを５０基から１１５基に拡大するなど体制も整えた。

中国鷹鵬化工 http://www.yingpengchemical.com/introduction-e.htm

Yingpeng Chemical Co., Ltd. China, a UK-owned venture located on the Land of Fluorspar - Yongkang, Zhejiang, China, is the only large enterprise in China that is specialized in the whole process of fluorite industry from fluorite mining to the manufacture, research, development, and marketing of fluoride chemicals.

Our main products include fluorspar, fluorspar powder for hydrofluoric acid, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, hydrofluoric acid, fluoride cryogen, industrial fluorides, fluoride pharmaceutical and pesticide intermediates, etc.

As an ISO9002 registered company, all our products are produced in accordance with standard specifications. Our products have been marketed across China and exported to Europe, America, and Southeast Asia.

　

2005.01.13 Dow Corning

Dow Corning And Wacker Reach Agreement On Integrated Manufacturing Site In China

PLANT TO BE BUILT IN SHANGHAI AREA

Wacker-Chemie GmbH and Dow Corning Corp., have finalized the master agreement for their planned Asian joint ventures to produce silicone intermediates and fumed silica in the Shanghai area. According to the agreement that has been approved by both Boards of Directors, the partners intend to build a world-scale production complex for siloxane and fumed-silica. The joint ventures will involve capital expenditures totaling several hundred million dollars. Construction work is scheduled to start immediately upon issuing of the necessary licenses by the Chinese authorities.

Dr. Stephanie Burns, President & CEO of Dow Corning and Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker, President & CEO of WACKER Group both emphasize the strategic importance of the planned joint ventures: “China significantly outpaces average market growth. In just a few years from now, China will be one of the largest chemical markets worldwide. It is our goal to leverage the cost and quality advantages of an integrated site in China to benefit our respective local customers and help further develop local markets and communities.”

On the downstream side, WACKER and Dow Corning, independently, will continue to serve their particular customers. Consequently, they will develop and operate separately their own manufacturing facilities for finished products.

About Wacker
WACKER (www.wacker.com) is a globally operating chemical company headquartered in Munich, Germany. Its portfolio focuses on semiconductor technology, silicone chemistry and specialty chemicals. The WACKER Group posted sales of around EUR 2.5 billion in 2003, of which 80 percent were generated outside Germany. WACKER employs 15,600 people at 22 production sites in Europe, the Americas and Asia, and over 100 sales offices worldwide. Ownership of WACKER is 51% held by the Dr. Alexander Wacker Familiengesellschaft mbH, Munich, Germany and 49% by Aventis S.A., Strasbourg, France.

About Dow Corning
Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com ) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.

Platts 2005/2/18

ExxonMobil, Sinopec in preliminary talks on ethylene project

US major ExxonMobil and China Petroleum and Chemical Corp have conducted a few rounds of preliminary discussions about the joint development of an ethylene project in China's southern Guangdong province, a source close to the Hong Kong- and New York-listed Chinese integrated oil group said Friday.

The Guangzhou branch of Sinopec operates a refining and petrochemical complex in the Huangpu district of Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong. The complex centers around a refinery with 7.7-mil mt/yr (154,000 b/d) of crude processing capacity and a naphtha cracker with 200,000mt/yr of ethylene output capacity. Sinopec Guangzhou Co is already carrying out a refining capacity expansion program which will lift its designed crude processing capacity to 10-mil mt/yr by end-2005 or the first quarter of 2006 at the latest. The blueprint of SGC and its parent Sinopec is to ultimately lift SGC's refining capacity to 18-mil mt/yr and ethylene output capacity to 800,000mt/yr.

CRI.com February 16, 2005

Exxon, Sinopec to Build Refining Complex
http://www.china.org.cn/english/BAT/120407.htm

The world's largest oil company Exxon Mobil Corporation says it has early discussions with Chinese oil producer Sinopec to build an integrated refining complex in China's Guangdong Province. 

The move would be part of Exxon's plans to expand refining operations in China.

The proposed refining complex would be somewhat similar to a $3.6 billion refining complex in Fujian Province that Exxon has agreed to develop with Sinopec.

The Guangdong complex would build upon and expand an existing chemical plant and smaller refinery there.

There is no timetable for when such a complex might come to fruition, since the talks are still at an early stage.

2005/3/15 BP

BP and Sinopec to Sign a Joint Venture Contract for their Nanjing Acetic Acid Plant
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7004865&PC=102aabfeb8d00

BP and Sinopec announced today in Beijing that they had signed a joint venture contract to build a 500,000 tonne per year acetic acid plant in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

Located in Nanjing, at the heart of the Yangtzi Delta - one of the most dynamic regions in economic development in China, this world-scale joint venture is expected to be on stream in the second half of 2007. The plant will incorporate BP’s world leading CATIVAR technology and the equity split between BP and Sinopec is 50:50. The Sinopec investment will take place through the Yangtzi Petrochemical Company, a majority owned Sinopec Corporation subsidiary.

Lord Browne, group chief executive of BP plc. said: “Working together, Sinopec and BP have demonstrated their capability to deliver world class investment opportunities at the world class standards to supply the rapidly expanding petrochemicals market in China. Our joint investment in a new acetic acid plant serves as a further evidence of BP’s long term commitment to China and our strategic partnership with Sinopec.”

“Building on the success of YARACO and SECCO, this investment demonstrated once again BP’s strong commitment to build a material presence in China, the most important emerging chemicals market in the world. The use of BP's world-leading CATIVAR technology, and the logistic advantages Sinopec brings in East China will make this a very competitive source of acetic acid,” Lord Browne continued.

Mr. Wang Jiming, President of Sinopec Corporation said: “The global petrochemical sector is on the up cycle and Chinese market demand is growing rapidly. SINOPEC, as a biggest petrochemical manufacturer and supplier in the region, is capturing market opportunity and taking the advanced technology to build world-class chemical facilities. The co-operation of the project in Nanjing will obviously enhance both parties' existing strategic partnership which will contribute to the rapid growth of the Chinese economy.”

Notes to editors:
BP and Sinopec announced on 10th May 2004 that they had signed a heads of agreement in London for the joint venture in Nanjing, during the Chinese Premier Wen Jiao Bao's visit to the UK.
The Nanjing plant will become part of BP’s high growth acetyls and aromatics petrochemicals business, retained in BP’s Refining and Marketing business segment.
Acetic acid is used as an intermediate in a wide range of products including fibres, paints, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and printing inks. The plant will use methanol and carbon monoxide as a feedstock.
BP and Sinopec already operate the YARACO acetic acid joint venture in Chongqing, China. This plant’s capacity is currently being expanded from 200,000 to 350,000 tonnes per annum. The investment in Nanjing will consolidate BP and Sinopec’s leadership position in China’s acetic acid market.

2005/11/3 Sinopec

Sinopec and BP Celebrate the Establishment of Nanjing Acetic Acid JV
http://english.sinopec.com/en-newsevent/en-news/2828.shtml

On November 3, 2005, Sinopec Corp. and BP held a ceremony at The Diaoyutai State Guest House today to celebrate the establishment of BP YPC Acetyls Company (Nanjing) Ltd., an acetic acid joint venture between BP and Sinopec Corp.. At the ceremony, Lord Browne, Group Chief Executive of BP and Chen Tong Hai, Sinopec Corp. Chairman, unveiled the plague for the Joint Venture Company.

Located in Nanjing, at the heart of the Yangtzi Delta - one of the most dynamic regions in economic development in China, this world-scale joint venture will build a 500,000 tonne per year acetic acid plant which is expected to be on stream in the 2nd half of 2007. The plant will incorporate BP’s world leading Cativa(R) technology and the equity split between Sinopec Corp. and BP is 50:50. The Sinopec Corp. investment will take place through the Yangzi Petrochemical Company, a majority owned Sinopec Corp. subsidiary.

The establishment of the new joint venture serves as a further example of Sinopec Corp.’s and BP existing strategic partnership in petrochemicals and will contribute to the rapid growth of the Chinese economy by meeting domestic market growth demand. The use of BP's world-leading CativaR technology and the logistic advantages Sinopec Corp. brings in East China will make the Nanjing acetic acid plant a very competitive source of acetic acid, further consolidating their leading position in China’s acetic acid business.

Acetic acid is used as an intermediate in a wide range of products including fibres, paints, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and printing inks. The plant will use methanol and carbon monoxide as a feedstock.

Sinopec Corp. and BP announced on 10th May 2004 that they had signed a heads of agreement in London for the joint venture in Nanjing, during the Chinese Premier Wen Jiao Bao's visit to the UK. In March 2005, the two companies signed the joint venture contract. Besides the new acetic acid joint venture in Nanjing, Sinopec Corp. and BP already operate the YARACO acetic acid joint venture in Chongqing, China. This plant’s capacity is currently being expanded from 200,000 to 350,000 tonnes per annum.

2005/11/10 Asia Chemical Weekly

Acetic acid projects in Nanjing: BP vs. Celanese

Recently, BP and Sinopec have revealed the name of their jv as BP YPC Acetyls Company, to build an acetic acid project in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.
To be based on BP¨s Cativa technology, the 50:50 jv will has acetic acid capacity of 500,000 t/a and located in Nanjing Chemical Industry Park (NCIP).

At the same site, Celanese, another acetic acid major, also planned a world scale project with acetic acid capacity of 600,000 t/a.

The Acetic acid projects of BP-YPC and Celanese compare as below.

　 BP -YPC Celanese (Nanjing)
Capacity 500,000 t/a 600,000 t/a
Start-up date H2 of 2007 H1 of 2007
Technology used Cativa AO Plus
Feedstock supply Source from market * Source from Wison's methanol and carbon Monoxide projects in NCIP
Products offtake Partly offtake by Sinopec, and the rest will be sale to domestic market Partly offtake by Celanese's derivatives projects in China, and the rest will be sale to domestic market

*The supplier of methanol and CO to BP is not known. But industrial sources revealed that Wison has the plan to build another 300,000 methanol project in the same site depending on the demands in NCIP in the future.

Both BP and Celanese would use their respective leading acetic acid technology. Methanol and carbon monoxide would be feedstock for their projects in Nanjing.

As to feedstock, Celanese has signed a long-term agreement with Wison to secure the feedstock supply. Wison has planned a 300,000 t/a methanol and 300,000 t/a CO project in NCIP. BP will source its feedstock from market.

In 2004, China imported 525,000 tonne acetic acid. In general, China¨s acetic acid market would shift from shortage to oversupply with the two projects start-up in 2007, unless some China domestic high cost acetylene-based plants to be closed.

Both BP and Celanese have acetic acid project in other Asia countries, such as Celanese in Singapore, and BP in Malaysia and S. Korea, whatever, the start-up of these two projects in Nanjing would change the current supply-demand balance in china and even in Asia area.

Cativa

Developed in-house for the BP acetic acid carbonylation process, Cativa offers high selectivity, high reaction rates and reduced by-products. It is capable of retrofitting to existing plants and also offers significant advantages for new builds. High catalyst solubility limits and a greater stability allow a wider operating range, particularly the use of low water concentrations.

The BP Amoco Cativa process uses methanol carbonylation with carbon monoxide at low pressure and temperature. It is the only commercial large-scale methanol-based process which has been successfully licensed. It was developed by BP Amoco from Monsanto’s rhodium-based process which was acquired by BP Amoco in the mid-1980s.

AO Plus technology
http://www.chemicals-technology.com/projects/celanese2/celanese21.html

Celanese's AO Plus technology uses carbon monoxide and methanol which are synthesised from gaseous methane. Rhodium and iodide are used as catalysts. The reaction to produce acetic acid is very fast.

Feb 03 2005 Celanese Corporation

Celanese Signs Key Raw Material Contract for Nanjing Site
http://www.celanese.de/mr_news_fullpage?id=26521

Celanese Corporation today announced the signing of a long-term contract for the supply of carbon monoxide (CO) to its 600,000 metric ton acetic acid plant now under construction in the Nanjing Chemical Industry Park, Nanjing City, in eastern China (Jiangsu Province). CO is a key raw material in the production of acetic acid. Details of the contract were not disclosed.

The supplier, WISON (Nanjing) Chemical Company, Ltd., will build its plant in the Nanjing Chemical Industry Park to produce CO and methanol using a clean-burning coal gasification process. WISON will sell the methanol into the merchant market. The CO/methanol facility is slated to be ready for production in late 2006 or early 2007 and will be managed by a team of experienced operators that have been recruited by WISON.

“This agreement will allow us to diversify our raw material sourcing globally and work with a supplier who has been involved in many successful projects in China,” said George McGinn, President, Celanese China. “At the same time, it gives Celanese a CO supply source that is based on readily-available coal processed by state-of-the-art environment-friendly technologies.”

As previously announced, Celanese has completed the substantial portion of its engineering work for the facility, ordered the reactor and other long lead-time equipment, signed a terminal and logistical services contract, and secured a natural gas-based CO source. The facility project is funded by equity and bank financing secured from the Bank of China.

Acetic acid is a basic chemical that becomes part of paints, adhesives, plastic bottles, foods, construction materials and hundreds of other products that will play a role in the an expanding Chinese economy. Celanese is a world leader in acetic acid production.

Nanjing City, in the commercial heart of China, is situated on the lower Yangtze River and offers superior logistics provided by a vast network of rail, road and waterways. The Nanjing Chemical Industry Park is one of the two State-level petrochemical parks in China.

WISON (Nanjing) Chemical

The operator of Methanol and CO project in NCIP is Wison (惠生) (Nanjing) Chemical Company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kong based Wison Group Holding Limited.
Wison Group has 4 subsidiaries in China, include Wison (Shanghai) Chemical Engineering Co., Wison (Nanjing) Chemical Co., Wison Nantong Heavy Industry Co. and Wison Biology Co.

BTW, Wison (Nanjing) Chemical Company will use coal as the feedstock with the Texaco Coal Gasification technology. It is so called as "cleaning and environment-friendly".

natural gas-based CO

There are two Industrial Gas companies invested in NCIP, BOC and Air Products.
BOC would be the natural gas-based CO supplier for Celanese; and Air Products would supply onsite gases oxygen and nitrogen to Wison’s carbon monoxide (CO) and methanol plant.

Platts 2005/3/17

China's Shenhua delays SBR plant start-up on high butadiene costs 申華

China's Shenhua Chemical plans to delay the start-up of its new styrene butadiene rubber line in Nantong to June due to high butadiene cost, a company source said Thursday. Shenhua originally planned to start up its new 50,000mt/yr SBR line in April, bringing its total SBR nameplate capacity to 170,000mt/yr. Prices for butadiene, a key SBR feedstock, have spiked about $250/mt since late-December on the back of tight supply brought on by a confluence of planned and unplanned shutdowns globally. Within Asia, plants in Korea, India, Taiwan and Japan are currently undergoing turnarounds. Unplanned outages and turnarounds in the US and NWE, combined with strong domestic demand in the West, have reduced the volume of deep-sea cargoes into Asia, hence putting upward pressure on prices. This week, Shenhua said it hoped to buy a H2Apr-H1May delivered cargo at $1,350/mt CFR. Selling interest was around $1,400/mt CFR China/Taiwan however there have been few offers due to tight supply.

申華 http://www.shen-hua.com/index_bg.htm