Specialty chemicals

COVID-19 has uneven impact on specialty chemicals industry

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is having an asymmetrical impact on the specialty chemicals industry. The main effect is negative with specialty chemical producers facing huge falls in demand for their products, struggling to keep their plants operating, and facing financial losses. 

Ecolab confirms first-quarter earnings outlook, COVID-19 impact

Ecolab today confirmed that it expects first-quarter adjusted earnings to total $1.05–1.13/share, up 2–10% year on year (YOY) from $1.03/share in the year-ago quarter. The figure includes a negative impact of 5 cents/share from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

COVID-19: Wacker could see impact of more than €100 million on earnings this year

Wacker Chemie (Munich, Germany) today confirmed its 2019 full-year results, including a net loss of €630 million ($700 million), the largest in the company’s history, on a polysilicon impairment charge of €760 million. 

COVID-19: Asian Paints closes plants

Asian Paints (Mumbai, India) says that in view of the lockdown due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in many states across the country, its operations in most locations have been disrupted. 

COVID-19: Outbreak to squeeze Toyo Ink's earnings

Toyo Ink says the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak will “negatively impact its results for the period and operations, with China bearing the brunt of the fallout at this stage.” The company operates 10 bases and employs a workforce of 2,000 in China.

COVID-19: DIC restarts operations at most sites in China

DIC Corp. (Tokyo, Japan) tells CW that it has restarted operations at most of its sites in China since February. Plants closed for longer than normal at the Lunar New Year due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). 

COVID-19: European firms take measures to protect employees

Leading Europe-based companies are taking measures to protect their employees from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In Italy, the worst-affected European country, the government on Monday extended its emergency COVID-19 measures, which include travel restrictions and a ban on public gatherings, from northern Italy to include the entire country.

SOCMA urges all levels of government to keep specialty chemical plants open

The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) on Friday sent a letter to the White House and state governors reinforcing that specialty chemical manufacturers play a critical role in providing essential products to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Emission-control catalysts market set for steady expansion

The market for emission-control catalysts was worth $13.6 billion in 2019, excluding the value of the precious metals that go into this market, and is expected to grow about 2%/year through 2024, according to a recent report by IHS Markit.

Electronic chemicals market wired for growth

The worldwide market for chemicals used in the production of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and for semiconductor packaging materials declined to $22.9 billion in 2019 from $23.3 billion in 2018, according to a recent report by IHS Markit.

Breen returns to lead DuPont after it removes CEO and CFO

DuPont said today that executive chairman Edward Breen would return to the CEO role as it removed CEO Mark Doyle and CFO Jeanmarie Desmond from their positions. 

Chemicals America 2020: Positive mood despite China supply issues

The mood was generally upbeat at Specialty & Custom Chemicals America, held this week in Fort Worth, Texas.

Digital printing drives demand growth for printing inks

The worldwide market for printing inks was worth $18.6 billion in 2018, and is set to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.3% during the period 2018–23, according to IHS Markit.

Featured data

US specialties markets post gains in January

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported that its US specialty chemicals index declined by 0.4% in November 2019 versus the year-ago figure.