News and industry insights on High-value, specialized chemicals for niche applications, such as coatings, adhesives, and catalysts.
Coatings and catalyst portfolios shifted. Covestro expanded via acquisition of the former Vencorex production sites in Rayong and Freeport to boost HDI derivatives. The creation of Surventis (formerly BASF Coatings) refocused BASF on other areas. ICIG set a two-site European platform for alkoxide supply. Axens and Egyptian Refining Company extended long‑term collaboration across technologies and catalysts.
Electronics materials capacity grew with Asahi Kasei adding slitting capacity for SUNFORT dry film photoresist in Tainan to support advanced packaging. Air Liquide will supply SK hynix’s first U.S. fab with ultra‑pure gases from on‑site units in Indiana. Messer’s acquisitions in Singapore and Malaysia expand packaged gases and services for semiconductor and electronics customers.
Battery chemicals and CCU progressed. The LiSA consortium launched a pilot for a circular, low‑carbon route for lithium refining. Eni invested in EnergyX’s Black Giant lithium project in Chile using DLE and broke ground on the Brindisi LFP gigafactory and BESS assembly plant. TaiSan funded a proprietary solid‑state/quasi‑solid electrolyte. Avantium spun out Volta into Carbeau, as Al Baleed Petrochemical joined Carbeau to target glycolic acid and PLGA.
AkzoNobel reached its Scope 1–2 halving target early. Symrise secured a China patent for SymSave H and received recognition for Closing the Hydrogen Loop. Trinseo’s FY2025 sustainability report raised climate and renewable targets. The EU opened an antidumping investigation into Chinese polyether polyols. Tessenderlo agreed a $400M minority equity investment in FMC, signaling continued agchem portfolio positioning.
Top 5 companies involved as owner and/or investor in current and planned Specialties projects:
BASF , Arkema , Evonik , Vulcan Energy , PowerCo , Borealis , WACKER , Mitsui Chemicals , Toray , and Mitsubishi .
