UK firm wins grant to develop bio-based UPR

Spanish Market: Chemicals, Petrochemicals
18/06/25

UK-based chemical distributor Bowden Chemicals has been awarded a government grant to develop unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) made from bio-based materials.

The company, which supplies raw materials for the polyester resin and phenolic resin industries, aims to develop a UPR over the next 18 months that matches the performance of fossil-based resins while containing more than 50pc renewable content.

UPRs are hard, thermosetting resins used in the construction sector.

The grant was awarded through the UK government's "Smart Grant" scheme, administered by innovation agency Innovate UK. The amount of funding has not been disclosed.

By George Barsted

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08/07/25

EU proposes support package for chemicals sector

Brussels, 8 July (Argus) — The European Commission today proposed a package of measures to support the EU chemicals sector, aiming to address high energy costs, global competition and weak demand. The plan includes extending emissions trading system (ETS) compensation to more producers and simplifying fertilizer registration rules. The commission said the simplification measures could save the sector €363mn/yr. The proposals are part of a broader action plan to boost competitiveness and secure supply chains. A new Critical Chemicals Alliance will identify key production sites in need of policy support, including on trade issues such as supply chain dependencies and market distortions. The commission also pledged to apply trade defence measures more quickly and expand chemical import monitoring under an existing surveillance task force. While the commission stopped short of proposing a Critical Chemicals Act — which would legally define specific chemicals for support — it named steam crackers, ammonia, chlorine and methanol as "essential" to the EU economy. The alliance will aim to align investment and co-ordinate support, including through the bloc's Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) programme. The commission also decided on new rules legally defining low-carbon hydrogen today and said it plans to allow more state aid for electricity-intensive chemical producers by the end of the year. It also encouraged the use of carbon capture, biomass, waste and renewables. EU industry commissioner Stephane Sejourne said the action plan uses "all levers" to put the chemicals sector back on a growth track, with measures to retain steam crackers and other key chemical assets in Europe. He also highlighted efforts to secure domestic demand for "clean and made-in-Europe chemicals". The commission will align fertilizer registration rules with the EU's REACH chemicals framework, applying standard REACH provisions and streamlining the assessment of micro-organisms used in fertilizers. Officials said the changes will maintain safety and agro-economic efficiency standards while allowing a broader range of micro-organisms. For ETS indirect cost compensation, the commission plans to expand the list of eligible chemicals — including organic chemicals and fertilizers — but must first update existing state aid guidelines, a senior EU official said. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US to lay out tariff demands in coming days: Trump

04/07/25

US to lay out tariff demands in coming days: Trump

London, 4 July (Argus) — The US will lay out its tariff demands on foreign trade partners in the coming days, President Donald Trump said today. From tomorrow, 5 July, Trump will send letters to 10-12 countries a day, with the aim that all countries will be "fully covered" by 9 July, Trump said. That rate will not cover the amount of tariff deals still to be done by the US, which to date has struck three deals — of 10pc with the UK and China and of 20pc with Vietnam. "[The tariffs will] range in value from maybe 60pc or 70pc tariffs to 10pc and 20pc tariffs," Trump said. Countries will start paying them on 1 August, he said. Since 5 April Washington has been charging a 10pc extra tariff on imports — energy commodities and critical minerals are exceptions — from nearly every foreign trade partner, and those rates could go higher after 9 July. Trump has justified those tariffs by citing an economic emergency caused by allegedly unfair trade practices in foreign countries, and his administration is engaged in talks with foreign governments with the nominal goal of lowering their trade barriers. By Haik Gugarats and Ben Winkley Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Japanese firms advance LCO2/methanol carrier project

03/07/25

Japanese firms advance LCO2/methanol carrier project

Tokyo, 3 July (Argus) — Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Lines (Mol) and shipbuilder Mitsubishi Shipbuilding have made progress in developing an ocean-going liquified CO2 (LCO2) and methanol carrier, which would play a key role in establishing the country's carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) value chains. Mol and Mitsubishi have obtained approval in-principle (AiP) from Japanese classification society Class NK for their design concept of a LCO2/methanol carrier. The vessel would ship CO2 out of Japan and deliver CO2-based synthetic methanol (e-methanol) on return voyages to the resource-poor country, the companies announced on 30 June. The AiP certifies that the basic design of the vessel meets international regulation standards, such as technical requirements, as well as relevant safety restrictions covering the transportation of dangerous chemicals and liquefied gases in bulk. This is the world's first issuance of an AiP for a LCO2/methanol carrier, Class NK said. The approval is a major step forward for the companies, which hope to develop the vessel for commercialisation. The target date for its commissioning is still unclear. Mol expects the carrier to help meet Japan's growing demand for CO2 exports and e-methane imports with higher transport efficiency, unlike the use of a dedicated vessel for CO2 or methanol, which results in empty-cargo operation on half of the trips. E-methanol can be produced using CO2 and renewable hydrogen, which will contribute to decarbonising a variety of industries including the maritime shipping sector. Mol has previously invested in US synthetic fuel (e-fuel) producer HIF Global, while working with Japanese refiner Idemitsu and HIF subsidiaries HIF USA and HIF Asia Pacific to develop supply chains for synthetic fuel and e-methanol as well as CO2. HIF plans to produce around 4mn t/yr of e-methanol equivalent by 2030 at its production sites in Tasmania in Australia, Matagorda in the US, Magallanes in Chile and Paysandu in Uruguay by using green hydrogen and CO2, Mol has said. CCUS value chains would help fossil fuel-reliant Japan reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60pc by the April 2035 to March 2036 fiscal year and by 73pc by 2040-41, against 2013-14 levels, before achieving the net-zero emissions by 2050. The Mol group, for its part, aims to reduce emissions intensity in transportation by 45pc against 2019 levels by 2035, as it works towards overall net-zero emissions by 2050. Japan's GHG emissions totalled 1.017bn t of CO2 in 2023-24 , down by 4.2pc from a year earlier to the lowest in 34 years, according to the country's environment ministry. This also reflected a 27pc decline against a 2013-14 baseline. By Japan Newsdesk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Alternative-fuel ship orders fall in 1H 25: DNV

01/07/25

Alternative-fuel ship orders fall in 1H 25: DNV

Sao Paulo, 1 July (Argus) — Orders for new alternative-fuelled vessels fell in the first half of 2025 from a year earlier, according to Norway-based classification agency DNV. It said 151 new alternative-fueled vessels were ordered, down from 179 in the same period in 2024. These orders represented 19.8mn gross tonnes (GT), up by 78pc from the same period in 2024. LNG-fueled vessels accounted for 87 of the new orders in the first half, followed by methanol-fueled ships, with 40. DNV said 17 were LPG-fueled vessels, followed by hydrogen with four orders and ammonia with three. Orders for alternative-fueled vessels totaled 19 in June, up from 16 in May. The orders included 11 LNG-fueled vessels, four methanol-fueled ships, two hydrogen-fueled vessels, and two LPG carriers. By Natália Coelho New orders, 1H 2025 Fuel Number of vessels LNG-fueled 87 Methanol-fueled 40 LPG-fueled 17 Hydrogen-fueled 4 Ammonia-fueled 3 DNV Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US Senate bill cuts 45Z extension, boosts crops

30/06/25

US Senate bill cuts 45Z extension, boosts crops

New York, 30 June (Argus) — The latest Senate draft of a major US budget bill would extend a biofuels tax break for an additional two years, down from four years in the prior draft, and set far more sweeping limits on foreign feedstocks. The "45Z" clean fuel production credit would last until 2029 and be available for only domestically produced fuels produced from North American feedstocks starting next year, according to a draft released over the weekend by Senate leaders that could be voted on as soon as Monday. An earlier Senate draft proposed extending the incentive through 2031 and cutting credit values for foreign feedstocks by just 20pc. The incentive, part of the Inflation Reduction Act, kicked off this year and currently offers a sliding scale of subsidy to US-made alternative fuels through 2027 based on their greenhouse gas emissions. The updated language is a win for farm groups, which have worried that imports of used cooking oil, tallow, and sugarcane ethanol are hurting demand for home-grown crops that can also be turned into biofuels. Refiners that had previously looked abroad for renewable diesel inputs, expanding US production to record levels last year, would have to pay up for scarcer domestic options. A shorter credit extension could frustrate corners of the industry that had emphasized the need for policy certainty — including companies with plans to start producing novel fuels later this decade — although biofuel incentives have a long history of extensions. For instance, the Senate bill would revive an expired tax credit for small biodiesel producers in a major change from earlier drafts. Facilities with capacities of no more than 60mn USG/yr could claim a 20¢/USG subsidy for up to 15mn USG of annual production this year and next year, supplementing tax breaks they can already claim under 45Z. That could keep more biodiesel plants, which have struggled to adapt to policy changes and competition from larger renewable diesel producers, running after a difficult start to the year. Smaller producers also would benefit from the latest Senate draft preserving the ability of companies without enough tax liability to sell tax credits to others. The bill is otherwise similar to earlier versions. It would still bar regulators next year from considering indirect emissions from land use changes, a shift from current law that in effect ups subsidies for fuels made from crops, another top priority for farm groups. If passed, the typical gallon of US dry mill corn ethanol and canola biodiesel would likely qualify for some 45Z subsidy — unlike under current rules — and soybean-based road fuels would earn larger credits next year. Aviation fuels conversely would see slimmer subsidies starting next year, since the bill would eliminate extra credit under current law for jet fuels over road fuels. That would be a major disruption to airlines and to those refiners that have invested in upgrading more of their renewable diesel output to instead produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Trucking groups had argued that the imbalance was diverting feedstocks away from road markets to costlier SAF production — and that treating fuel types equally was one way conservative lawmakers could reduce the credit's price-tag. More changes possible The bill could be changed further Monday as the Senate proceeds with a process in which lawmakers can propose amendments. If the bill passes, it would go back to the House for approval. President Donald Trump has pushed lawmakers to finalize the sprawling package this week, an ambitious timeline given lawmakers still disagree on key issues. Any revised 45Z credit would also need final rules from the US Department of Treasury, which still has questions to answer about eligibility this year. The ultimate profitability of biofuels will depend on interactions between the tax credit and other policies that are also in flux. That includes a federal biofuel blend mandate, which the Trump administration wants to revamp to discourage foreign feedstocks, and newly tougher carbon intensity targets in California's influential low-carbon fuel standard market. By Cole Martin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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UK firm wins grant to develop bio-based UPR

Related news posts

EU proposes support package for chemicals sector

EU proposes support package for chemicals sector

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Alternative-fuel ship orders fall in 1H 25: DNV

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US Senate bill cuts 45Z extension, boosts crops

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