Specialty chemicals

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. However, the sector, which IHS Markit calls “diverse, highly specialized, and technology driven,” is expected to rebound and grow at an annual rate of 4.0–5.4% through 2024.

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.

BASF to sell construction chemicals business to private equity firm Lone Star for $3.5 billion

BASF announced on Saturday that it has agreed to sell its construction chemicals business to private equity firm Lone Star. The purchase price on a cash- and debt-free basis is €3.17 billion ($3.51 billion).

Atotech submits registration for proposed IPO

Atotech (Berlin, Germany), a market leader in plating technologies, on Thursday said that Atotech Limited, an entity that will be its indirect parent, has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form F-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relating to the proposed initial public offering (IPO) of its common shares.

PolyOne to acquire Clariant's masterbatches business for $1.56 billion

Clariant announced today that it had agreed to sell its entire masterbatches business to PolyOne. The transaction values the masterbatches business at $1.56 billion, representing 12.2 times (x) the last 12 months' reported EBITDA, ended September 2019, on a cash- and debt-free basis.

Showa Denko to acquire Hitachi Chemical for more than $8.5 billion

Showa Denko has announced that it will acquire Hitachi Chemical from Hitachi Ltd. and other shareholders through a tender offer. The cost of the planned transaction is ¥964 billion ($8.8 billion) and the deal is subject to regulatory approvals in Japan, China, South Korea, the US, the EU, and Taiwan. 

DuPont to merge nutrition and bioscience business with IFF

DuPont has reached an agreement to merge its nutrition & biosciences business with International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) in a deal that values the DuPont business at $26.2 billion.

BASF to raise production capacity of automotive refinish coatings in China

BASF has announced plans to construct a facility for automotive refinish coatings at its Jiangmen site in Guangdong Province, China, that will start production in the first half of 2022. It says that the investment in Jiangmen will double the production capacity of the site.

Sika opens mortar plant in Indonesia

Sika has commenced operations at its third plant in Bekasi, Indonesia. The new plant will manufacture mortars and concrete admixtures. The company stated that with the new plant, it is expanding production capacity in the Jakarta metropolitan area, ensuring that it can satisfy the growing demand for construction materials in western Indonesia.

China, emerging markets drive growth in biocides

The worldwide market for specialty biocides was worth approximately $6.2 billion in 2018, according to recent research by IHS Markit. The market is anticipated to grow during the period 2018–23 at an average annual rate of 2.9%, IHS Markit says.

Sustainability, environmental concerns drive flame-retardants market

The worldwide market for flame retardants was worth $6.3 billion in 2018, according to IHS Markit. The largest consuming region was China, worth $1.79 billion, or 28% of the total...

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ACC specialty chemicals index declined in late 2019

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