DuPont launched an end‑to‑end DLE portfolio integrating sorbents, membranes and ion exchange to tailor brine processing. Eni bought 25% of EnergyX’s Black Giant lithium project in Chile, a closed‑loop DLE development. In the EU, the LiSA consortium will pilot a low‑carbon LiCl‑to‑LiOH/Li2CO3 route with internal caustic regeneration. POSCO HOLDINGS’ Triple‑core business framework targets 173 kt/y lithium by 2033.
Eni Storage Systems broke ground on the Brindisi LFP gigafactory and BESS assembly plant, part of a 16 GWh Italy capacity by 2030. Arkema started a 15% PVDF capacity increase in Kentucky for batteries, cables and semiconductors. Anode localization progressed as Resonac secured EIB support for the A Coruña synthetic graphite project to cut imported footprint.
CATL introduced TENER Sodium, a modular sodium‑ion BESS with mass‑production lines and China deliveries from September 2026, international from 2027. TaiSan raised funding to commercialize sodium‑ion using a proprietary solid‑state/quasi‑solid electrolyte targeting LEVs and early OEM pilots.
Air Liquide will invest over $170M in Indiana to supply SK hynix U.S. HBM fab with ultra‑pure gases for HBM packaging. Korea strengthened rare gases as POSCO Air Solution completed a high‑purity rare gas plant at Gwangyang covering about half of local Xe/Kr/Ne demand. Hantok began a tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) production plant in Pyeongtaek. For packaging photoresists, Asahi Kasei added a SUNFORT dry film photoresist slitting facility in Tainan to bolster quality and responsiveness.
Dow committed approximately $100 million to expand specialty silicones for power electronics, semiconductor packaging and thermal solutions. WACKER opened a new silicone production site in Karlovy Vary. Covestro finalized the acquisition of former Vencorex HDI‑derivative sites in Rayong and Freeport for coatings intermediates. New polymers included Borouge’s Queo 7030LA‑P POE, SABIC’s LNP ELCRIN DC0051RC1 75% PCR CF‑PC for electronics housings, and Michelin/Axens plans to commercialize 5‑hydroxymethylfurfural (5‑HMF).
Evonik advanced a hydrolysis process to recycle polyurethane at Hanau toward industrial scale. Reju opened a Research & Development Center in Conshohocken to accelerate catalytic polyester depolymerization. Air Liquide, Nexans and partners launched the SupraMarine HTS subsea HVAC demonstrator using nitrogen‑cooled superconducting cables. Toray was selected by JAXA for on‑orbit 3D printing and advanced materials, developing high‑performance resin powders for space manufacturing.
