10 June 2026
Sustainable aviation fuel took center stage this week as the SAF supply chain matured on two fronts: a new European eSAF Coalition (Arcadia eFuels, INERATEC, Norsk e‑Fuel, SkyNRG and ZAFFRA) moved to align e‑fuel standards, while Technip Energies, Airbus, Safran and Tereos launched the Rebound JV to build a 160,000 t/y Alcohol‑to‑Jet plant at Dunkirk—signaling that SAF is shifting from pilot ambition to bankable capacity.
Beyond the runway, decarbonization enablers advanced: Holcim opened its CaptureLab platform and the European Commission unveiled a €1.5bn Battery Booster Facility to shore up Europe's cell supply chain.
On the deal front, GSK's $10.6bn acquisition of Nuvalent and a wave of LNG agreements rounded out a week rich in capital commitments.
Read on for the projects, partnerships and approvals shaping chemicals and adjacent markets.
Industry Trends
Sustainable Feedstocks & Circularity
Brand and converter activity underscored practical circular feedstocks, from a renewable nylon supply chain for THE NORTH FACE using mass‑balance bio‑naphtha to packaging trials where PureCycle and Innovia Films produced white, cavitated BOPP with >40% PCR PP. At PLAST 2026, processors are showcasing an INEOS HDPE grade produced via advanced recycling for cosmetics bottles, aligning with EU recycled‑content mandates. Upstream, Evonik’s Purocel adsorbents and modular units target impurity removal in pyrolysis oils to widen cracker acceptance. Together these moves point to broader mass‑balance adoption and higher PCR incorporation rates as supply chains standardize specifications.
Decarbonization & Low-Carbon Technologies
In hard‑to‑abate cement, Holcim opened the CaptureLab carbon capture test platform, while Air Liquide commissioned a modular Cryocap FG pilot for cement CO₂ capture on site. On hydrogen, Evonik started commercial‑scale production of its anion‑conducting DURAION membrane to support PFAS‑free AEM electrolysis, and Topsoe’s PowerFactor project seeks standardized grid‑integration for Power‑to‑X plants. These initiatives indicate a methodical build‑out of capture and electrolysis enablers that can lower project risk and equipment costs as industrial pilots translate into specifications.
Digital Transformation & AI Integration
Autonomous operations and cyber resilience featured prominently: Honeywell unveiled Experion Cognition, which made actionable predictions minutes ahead of alarms in live pilots, and added AI monitoring and media controls to its expanded OT Cybersecurity Suite. Siemens integrated the HighByte Intelligence Hub into Industrial Edge to contextualize OT/IT data and enable industrial AI at scale. In parallel, Röhm’s Bay City MMA facility runs a daily‑updated digital twin for planning and predictive maintenance, signaling deeper digital twins in continuous chemicals. Expect faster decision cycles and productivity gains where AI agents, data models and operator workflows are tightly coupled.
Energy Transition Investments
LNG remained active across basins: Technip Energies won EPCIC for Mozambique’s Coral Norte FLNG project, Delfin reached FID with Vitol backing on Delfin FLNG 1, and PETRONAS and JERA signed a 20‑year supply agreement. In North America, Uniper outlined long‑term volumes with Ksi Lisims LNG, designed for low grid‑emissions via hydro power. These contracts and project replicas point to continued gas‑infrastructure deployment for supply security and optionality, even as policy and capital increasingly support renewables.
Innovation to Commercialization in Bio & Specialties
Electromobility supply chains continued to evolve: ProLogium and OPmobility advanced module‑level validation for high‑energy solid‑state cells, while BASF introduced the Oppanol N PLUS binder to improve mechanical stability in next‑gen batteries. WACKER broadened BEV thermal management with ELASTOSIL RT 7616 TC and ELASTOSIL RT 7624 TC room‑curing potting compounds. Clariant added e‑mobility‑oriented, ATO‑free halogen‑free grades with Exolit OP 1242 (TP) and Exolit OP 1266 (TP) targeting high‑voltage PBT. As OEM platforms lock designs, supplier readiness at pilot and early commercial scale may influence specification wins and regional sourcing.
In Brief
Project Updates and Milestones
- Air Liquide launches Cryocap FG pilot for cement CO₂ capture
- ARLANXEO and Covestro reduce Baypren GWP using ISCC PLUS chlorine
- PTT Global Chemical positions Map Ta Phut as regional hub for high‑value, low‑carbon businesses with Toray and Mitsubishi
- QatarEnergy discovers oil at Merlin-1X offshore Namibia
- Plenitude commissions 330 MW Renopool PV plant in Spain
- Merck and Gilead discontinue Phase 3 KEYNOTE‑D46/EVOKE‑03 (Trodelvy + KEYTRUDA) in PD‑L1 ≥50% mNSCLC
- Lilly's Foundayo (orforglipron) outperforms oral semaglutide, dapagliflozin and placebo in ACHIEVE trials
New Projects and Expansions
- thyssenkrupp Uhde wins pre‑FEEDs for Fuella’s 2×400 ktpa green ammonia projects in Brazil
- Evonik opens pilot plant for high-performance AEM membrane
- Holcim launches CaptureLab carbon capture test platform
- Topsoe wins DKK 25m for PowerFactor to standardize Power‑to‑X grid integration
- EIF backs Yield Lab Europe €100m agrifood fund, 30% for Ireland
- Technip Energies, Airbus, Safran and Tereos form Rebound JV to build 160,000 t/y Alcohol‑to‑Jet SAF at Dunkirk
- European Commission launches €1.5bn Battery Booster Facility
Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships
- PETRONAS and JERA sign 20‑year LNG supply deal extending partnership into 2040s
- PETRONAS strengthens partnerships and state participation to sustain upstream value
- ProLogium and OPmobility to co-develop solid‑state EV battery modules
- GSK to acquire Nuvalent for $10.6 billion
- PETRONAS and Eni form Searah JV to boost regional energy security
- Johnson & Johnson to acquire Firefly Bio for $1 billion to add Firelink DAC platform
- Roche and Nurix partner to co-develop and co-commercialise BTK degrader bexobrutideg
Innovation and Product Development
- Evonik’s Ecobiol PRO: faster-germinating probiotic to reduce antibiotics in poultry
- Evonik advances chemical recycling with Purocel adsorbents and modular units
- Evonik launches Innovation Factory to accelerate market-ready innovations
- Honeywell launches Experion Cognition for autonomous control rooms at Borouge Ruwais
- PureCycle & Innovia Films produce white, cavitated BOPP using PureFive Choice™ recycled PP
- Covestro Bayblend T85X R35 CQ (35% PCR PC/ABS) adopted for Lexus ES interiors
- Honeywell expands OT Cybersecurity Suite with AI monitoring and secure media controls
Operational Changes and Investments
- Iberdrola (Neoenergia) to invest €4.5bn in Bahia power networks to 2030
- ORLEN launches small‑scale LNG and bioLNG market demand survey
- WuXi Biologics completes topping‑out of modular drug‑product facility at Singapore CRDMO Hub
- Clariant expands Daya Bay capacity and extends Exolit™ OP range for e-mobility
- European Energy Exchange appointed EU ETS common auction platform from 2027
- Hydrogen value chain forming in North Sea Canal Area
- Toray and T2 commercialize autonomous petrochemical trucking
Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives
- European eSAF Coalition — Arcadia eFuels, INERATEC, Norsk e‑Fuel, SkyNRG, ZAFFRA
- Aurubis Italia first site in Italy awarded The Copper Mark
- AGC wins Syngenta Supplier Award for Waste Reduction
- Neste, Goldwin, Idemitsu and Toray establish renewable nylon supply chain for THE NORTH FACE
- Caleyda: food‑grade approval process begins
- LyondellBasell wins Toyota Motor Europe award for polymers from fishing nets
- Petrobras to invest up to R$23 million in residual oils and fats collection projects
Financial Performance and Strategy
- Honeywell reaffirms 2026 guidance and issues Honeywell Technologies outlook
- Takeda revises FY2025 results after AMITIZA® antitrust verdict
- LanzaTech JV IPO Raises ~$75M, Signals Secure Fuel‑Supply Potential
- Huntsman sells Italian automotive aftermarket unit to Trelleborg
- Honeywell sets June timetable for Aerospace spin-off and 1-for-2 reverse split
Executive Appointments and Governance Changes
- bp simplifies to two business segments and appoints segment chiefs
- PPG appoints John Smith VP, Architectural Coatings EMEA; Steve Pocock to retire
- Braskem brings IG4 and Petrobras into governance and names new executive team
- Equinor ASA elects Jarle Roth as board chair
- Kemira: Nomination Board members named
- Port of Antwerp-Bruges names Rob Smeets CEO
- BASF appoints Steve Arndt Senior VP, Global Automotive Refinish Coatings
Regulatory and Compliance Updates
- Takeda: FDA accepts sBLA for IV ENTYVIO in pediatric UC and Crohn’s
- Lilly gains FDA approval for EBGLYSS every‑eight‑week maintenance dosing
- Novo Nordisk CagriSema Phase 3 trials show large HbA1c and weight reductions
- MOL secures OFAC licence to continue NIS acquisition talks
- Clariant launches Exolit AP 422 A — SVHC‑free ammonium polyphosphate
- Meccanoplastica showcases INEOS recycled HDPE at PLAST 2026
- Gilead and Merck: Phase 3 ISLEND trials show positive topline results for once‑weekly islatravir/lenacapavir
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