Batteries saw advances across chemistries and production. Nobian and partners launched circular, low‑carbon lithium refining in the Netherlands. CATL introduced TENER Sodium, a field‑validated sodium‑ion BESS platform, while TaiSan funded scale‑up of a solid‑state/quasi‑solid electrolyte for sodium‑ion cells. Manufacturing expanded with Eni breaking ground on a Brindisi LFP gigafactory and BESS. Upstream, Arkema started a PVDF capacity increase in North America, EIB backed Resonac’s sustainable synthetic graphite for battery anodes, and Hycamite scaled battery‑grade graphite output.
Semiconductor materials and utilities expanded in Asia and the U.S. Air Liquide will install two production units to supply SK hynix’s HBM packaging fab in Indiana. Asahi Kasei added Tainan slitting for SUNFORT dry film photoresist, and Hantok started a Pyeongtaek TMAH production plant. Korea’s POSCO Air Solution completed a high‑purity rare gas plant. Complementary materials capacity grew via Dow’s specialty silicones manufacturing projects and WACKER’s new silicone production site in Karlovy Vary.
Critical‑minerals supply advanced. Eni agreed a 25% stake in EnergyX’s Chilean project to deploy Direct Lithium Extraction with closed‑loop brine reinjection. Europe moved to process antimony at ZILS – Sines Industrial and Logistics Zone. Sweden’s LKAB secured an environmental permit enabling expanded mining plus an apatite processing plant for phosphorus and rare earth elements. Base chemicals capacity rose as Nobian opened an electrified mechanical vapor recompression salt facility in Denmark.
Circular‑economy technologies progressed. Evonik is validating a PU hydrolysis process at Hanau to recover monomers from foams. Reju opened a U.S. R&D center to advance Volcat depolymerization technology for textile recycling. NEXTCHEM acquired ETEK, adding TBRC furnaces and hydrometallurgy for complex metal‑bearing wastes. Eni and Hera launched the Ravenna Environmental Hub integrating pretreatment, biorecovery and PV‑coupled storage to reduce landfill reliance and support industrial recovery streams.
Power and advanced polymers progressed alongside portfolio moves. A consortium launched the SupraMarine HTS subsea HVAC demonstrator, while Evonik began pilot production of the DURAION anion‑conducting membrane for AEM electrolysis. Eastman acquired the Jarylec dielectric fluids brand for grid equipment. New materials included SABIC’s LNP ELCRIN DC0051RC1 and Borouge’s Queo 7030LA‑P. Healthcare and electronics intersect with Aptar’s N‑Sorb technology. Corporate activity featured Olin and Huntsman’s all‑stock merger and MAIRE’s purchase of Ballestra Group.
