Page 159 - CW E-Magazine (30-7-2024)

News from Abroad

“The ASU assets at these locations Industrial gas products produced trial gas business and our commitment
have served Air Products very well and at Conyers and Reidsville will include is evidenced by the investment in these
its customers very reliably. Now is the liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and two new ASUs. We can ensure en-
time to install new ASUs, which will liquid argon for the regional supply of hanced product reliability to regional
have an even greater level of reliability, the established and growing merchant customers in that these new units can
production, sustainability efficiencies markets. act as back-ups to each other, as well as
and additional market growth,” said for other company facilities producing
Mr. Francesco Maione, Air Products’ Mr. Maione added, “Air Products the same products in neighbouring and
President, Americas. is committed to its terrific base indus- nearby states.”
RESTRUCTURING
Tokai Carbon to cut graphite electrode production

in Japan and Europe

Japan’s Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. is table to ensure a stable supply of products The production capacity at the
restructuring its graphite electrode pro- to customers in the future.” European site will be reduced by approxi-
duction by reducing capacities in Japan mately 30%, from 30-ktpa to 20-ktpa
and Europe from 56-ktpa to 32-ktpa by Tokai Carbon has been operating (scheduled for July 2025). There will
July 2025. two production sites in Japan (at Shiga be no change in production capacity in
and Hofu), and acquired European North America (40-ktpa), the company
“In addition to a decline in graphite (Tokai Erftcarbon GmbH)/North American informed.
electrode demand caused by the sluggish (Tokai Carbon GE LLC) operations to
global steel production, the influx of low- globally expand the graphite electrode Tokai Carbon remains optimistic of
priced products from China/India into business through three locations. growth of graphite electrode demand
Asia (including Japan), Europe, and the towards 2030, especially for large-
Middle East have significantly deterio- To reduce capacity, production in diameter products. “Through the restruc-
rated the market conditions, leading to a Japan will be consolidated into the Hofu turing of our production capacity, we
structural recession of the graphite elec- plant, and the Shiga plant will be moth- aim to fundamentally reform our busi-
trode business,” the company said in a balled by the end of July 2025. As a result, ness structure to improve our competi-
press note. graphite electrode production capacity in tiveness, and meet the large-diameter
Japan will be reduced by approximately and high-quality graphite electrode
Tokai Carbon added that the cut in 50%, and shipping capacity will be demand in the North American, Asian,
production at Japan and Europe is “inevi- reduced from 26-ktpa to 12-ktpa. and European markets,” it said.
DIVESTMENT
DSM-Firmenich to sell fish oil business to KD Pharma

Group

DSM-Firmenich, a leading play- 29% in KD Pharma’s parent company, oils for the early life nutrition mar-
er in nutrition, health, and beauty, has O³ Holding GmbH. kets as well as MEG-3 powders. The
announced the sale of its MEG-3 branded transaction includes DSM-Firmenich’s
fish oil business to KD Pharma Group Following its portfolio restructuring MEG-3 business for the food & beve-
SA, a Swiss contract development and announced in June this year, DSM- rage, dietary supplement and pharma
manufacturing organisation (CDMO) Firmenich decided to de-prioritise certain markets, together with production facili-
active in pharmaceutical and nutritional business segments, including the MEG-3 ties in Piura, Peru and Mulgrave, Canada.
lipids. business. This will allow DSM- The business represented approximately
Firmenich to focus its lipids activities €170-mn sales in 2023, with approxi-
As part of the transaction, DSM- on its algae-based Omega-3 portfolio, mately 200 employees who will transfer
Firmenich will obtain a minority stake of while continuing to offer MEG-3 fish to KD Pharma.

Chemical Weekly July 30, 2024 159

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