Industry news Archives | Market Krystal

PTT Global Chemical Cuts Debt Through Asset Sales and Leasing Deals

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

GC is strengthening its balance sheet through deleveraging, using extended raw-material payment terms agreed with PTT, subordinated perpetual bonds issued domestically and internationally, and asset monetization. Non-core assets, including ports and product storage facilities, were sold or moved to long-term leasing. Key transactions included a partial share sale in Thai Tank Terminal Co., Ltd. and asset sales from the Buffer Tank Farm and port facilities to PTT Group companies. Proceeds were used to reduce debt, lowering interest costs and improving cash flow stability.

Why it matters

Lower debt and interest costs give GC more capacity to fund specialty chemicals and bioplastics investments, which could affect future competition and supply in those product segments.

Key facts

Companies	PTT Global Chemical, GC, PTT, Thai Tank Terminal Co., Ltd., PTT Group
Chemicals	specialty chemicals, bioplastics
Timing	21 November 2025, aired on November 14, 2025
Partners	PTT, PTT Group companies, Thai Tank Terminal Co., Ltd.

Market context

Specialty chemicals are high-value, application-specific products such as additives, coatings inputs and performance intermediates, sold into automotive, electronics, packaging and consumer goods supply chains. Bioplastics, which are polymers made wholly or partly from renewable feedstocks, serve packaging, food service and single-use products where brand owners seek lower fossil content. Demand in both segments tracks downstream manufacturing cycles and sustainability regulation. For producers, balance-sheet strength determines how readily a company can keep building capacity through a downturn, since capital-intensive plants require steady funding over many years. Asset monetization, such as selling storage terminals or port facilities and leasing them back, typically frees cash for debt repayment while leaving operating capability intact. Lower interest expense generally improves a producer's ability to commit to new projects, which can shape future competitive positioning and regional supply balances in these segments over time.

Source: official release on pttgcgroup.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.

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PTT Global Chemical’s NatureWorks opens 75,000-tonne PLA bioplastics plant in Thailand

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

PTT Global Chemical's joint venture NatureWorks has opened Asia's first fully integrated PLA bioplastics manufacturing facility at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. The plant has an annual production capacity of 75,000 tonnes and is NatureWorks' second manufacturing facility after its plant in the United States. It converts sugar derived from sugarcane into Ingeo PLA biomaterials certified to USDA BioPreferred and ISCC PLUS standards for applications including food packaging, consumer products, hygiene products and 3D-printing filaments.

Why it matters

The 75,000-tonne plant adds regional PLA supply in Asia, giving packaging and consumer-goods makers a sugarcane-based, lower-carbon alternative less exposed to fossil feedstock price swings.

Key facts

Companies	PTT Global Chemical, GC, NatureWorks
Chemicals	Polylactic Acid (PLA), PLA bioplastics, sugar derived from sugarcane
Capacity	75,000 tonnes per year
Location	Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex, Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand
Timing	10 July 2026
End uses	tea bags, coffee capsules, food packaging, electrical appliance components, office supplies, phone cases, cosmetic packaging, diapers, cleaning wipes, face masks, filaments for 3D printing

Market context

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a bio-based, compostable polyester made by fermenting plant sugars into lactic acid and then polymerizing it. It is used mainly in rigid and flexible packaging, disposable food service items, hygiene products, consumer goods and 3D-printing filament. Demand is driven by brand owners and packaging converters seeking renewable or lower-carbon materials, and by regulation and retailer pressure to reduce fossil plastics. Most PLA capacity has historically been concentrated in North America and Europe, so new production in Asia shortens supply chains for regional converters and can ease import dependence. Because PLA is made from sugar crops rather than petroleum or naphtha, its cost tends to track agricultural commodity prices and conversion economics instead of crude oil swings, which can make it more competitive when fossil resin prices rise. Certification to bio-content and mass-balance standards is also important for buyers verifying sustainability claims, and the added capacity may increase competition among PLA producers in the region.

Source: official release on pttgcgroup.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.

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artience unit wins IFCA award for water-based gravure and flexo inks

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Toyo Ink India Pvt. Ltd., a member of the artience Group, won the "Innovations in Ink" category at the IFCA Star Awards 2026, presented at a ceremony in Mumbai on September 24, 2026. The recognized products are the JW252 retort-compatible water-based gravure ink, which significantly reduces VOC emissions and delivers high lamination strength, and the HW870 water-based flexo ink, a fast-drying CI flexo ink with a low-residual-solvent formula for film packaging.

Why it matters

Packaging converters and brand owners gain low-VOC, retort-capable water-based gravure and flexo alternatives to solvent-based inks, supporting tighter environmental and hygiene requirements in flexible packaging supply chains.

Key facts

Companies	artience, Toyo Ink India Pvt. Ltd., Indian Flexible Packaging & Folding Carton Association (IFCA)
Chemicals	water-based gravure ink JW252 series, water-based flexo ink HW870 series
Location	Delhi, India
Timing	2026-09-24, 2026-10-21
Partners	Indian Flexible Packaging & Folding Carton Association (IFCA)
End uses	flexible packaging, film packaging, retort packaging, brand owners, packaging converters

Market context

Gravure and flexographic inks are used to print graphics and barrier-relevant layers on flexible packaging films, labels and cartons. Traditional versions rely on solvents, so demand for water-based alternatives has grown as converters seek lower volatile organic compound emissions and cleaner workplaces. Flexible packaging serves food, snack, beverage and pharmaceutical brands, and retort-capable structures, which must withstand high-temperature sterilization, add a demanding performance requirement for laminating inks. Lamination strength, drying speed and low residual solvent content determine whether a converter can run water-based systems at production speeds. Growth in packaging demand in India and other fast-growing markets supports interest in these formulations. Ink suppliers that can match solvent-based performance with water-based chemistry tend to gain qualification with converters and brand owners, while the broader shift can reshape competition among ink makers and the pricing of conventional solvent-based products.

Source: official release on artiencegroup.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.

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Umicore highlights manganese role in steel, EV batteries and catalysis

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Umicore highlights manganese's central role in steelmaking, EV batteries and industrial catalysis, noting that around 90% of refining capacity, particularly for battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM), is concentrated in China. The company says it uses manganese in nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cathode materials and has developed lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) cathode-active materials that can be produced at its sites in Finland and Poland. Manganese acetate and manganese carbonate from its Cobalt and Specialty Materials business are used mainly as catalysts, including in purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production.

Key facts

Companies	Umicore
Chemicals	manganese, high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM), nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cathode materials, lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) cathode-active materials, manganese acetate, manganese carbonate, purified terephthalic acid (PTA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Capacity	Around 90% of global manganese refining capacity, particularly for battery-grade HPMSM, is concentrated in China
Location	Finland and Poland (Umicore sites producing LMR cathode-active materials)
End uses	steelmaking, electric vehicle batteries, energy storage, chemical catalysts for PTA production, PET polymers, coatings and inks driers, fertilizers, animal feed, agrochemicals

Market context

Manganese is used mainly in steelmaking, where it removes impurities and improves strength, and it is also a key input for lithium-ion battery cathodes, especially nickel manganese cobalt chemistries used in electric vehicles and energy storage. Manganese compounds such as acetate and carbonate serve as catalysts and driers, including in the production of purified terephthalic acid, a building block for PET polymers. Other uses include coatings and inks, fertilizers, animal feed and agrochemicals. Battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate is a specialised intermediate, and refining capacity for it is heavily concentrated in one country, which makes supply chains sensitive to trade policy, export controls and shifts in regional refining investment. Buyers and investors typically watch such concentration when assessing security of supply and price volatility, particularly as battery demand grows and cathode producers look for alternative chemistries that reduce cobalt or nickel content.

Source: official release on umicore.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.

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PTT Global Chemical produces sustainable aviation fuel from used cooking oil

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

PTT Global Chemical reports that it became the first company in Thailand to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel for aviation, using used cooking oil as feedstock in its existing production process without building a new facility. The company says this also expanded its output into Biochemicals and Bioplastics. GC reports cutting cumulative greenhouse gas emissions by more than 400,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent between 2021 and 2025, targets Net Zero by 2050, and says its wastewater reverse osmosis reuse system can cut freshwater withdrawal by up to 1.8 million cubic meters per year.

Why it matters

Using used cooking oil in existing units shows a route to added SAF and bio-based chemical supply without new capacity, which may affect feedstock demand for used cooking oil and competition with fossil-based inputs.

Key facts

Companies	PTT Global Chemical, GC, S&P Global, CDP, SET ESG Ratings, Stock Exchange of Thailand
Chemicals	Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Used Cooking Oil, Biochemicals, Bioplastics
Location	Thailand
Timing	2021-2025, 2050, 30 March 2026
Partners	S&P Global, CDP, Stock Exchange of Thailand
End uses	Aviation industry, Post-consumer plastic recycling

Market context

Sustainable aviation fuel is a drop-in alternative to conventional jet fuel, used to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions from air travel, and it is typically made by hydroprocessing waste or renewable oils and fats. Used cooking oil is a common low-carbon feedstock because it is a waste stream that would otherwise be discarded. Biochemicals and bioplastics serve packaging, consumer goods, and automotive applications where brand owners and regulators are pushing for lower fossil content. Demand is driven by airline decarbonization mandates, blending requirements, and corporate sustainability procurement. When a producer can switch existing units to these feedstocks, it can add bio-based output without new construction, which tends to tighten competition for used cooking oil and related waste oils and can put pressure on the relative economics of fossil-based feedstocks and conventional products.

Source: official release on pttgcgroup.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.

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AkzoNobel agrees to sell Deco Paints South East Asia for $1.35 billion

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AkzoNobel reported Q3 2026 organic sales growth of 2% on pricing, with revenue flat at €2,538 million and adjusted EBITDA up €15 million to €388 million, lifting the adjusted margin to 15.3%. The company signed binding agreements to sell its Deco Paints South East Asia business for $1.35 billion, equal to 21 times FY25 EBITDA. Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA is guided to about €1.47 billion, and the Axalta merger closing is expected in early 2027.

Why it matters

The Deco Paints South East Asia sale exits a regional paints portfolio and reshapes competition in Asian decorative coatings, while the Axalta merger would consolidate two major coatings suppliers.

Key facts

Companies	AkzoNobel, Axalta
Investment	$1.35 billion (sale of Deco Paints South East Asia)
Location	South East Asia
Timing	Q3 2026, Q3 2025, FY25, early 2027, full-year 2026
Partners	Axalta
End uses	paints and coatings, decorative paints
Chemicals	Titanium dioxide (CAS 13463-67-7), Alkyd resin, Acrylic resin

Market context

Decorative paints are water-based or solvent-based coatings sold for walls, ceilings, trim and other buildings surfaces, and their demand tracks residential construction, renovation activity and household spending. Coatings makers rely on raw materials such as titanium dioxide pigment, resins, binders, solvents and additives, so pricing moves in these inputs feed directly into margins. Companies in this segment typically defend profit through pricing actions and product mix, which is why the organic growth tied to pricing in this quarter matters for investors. A divestment of a regional decorative paints business changes local supply and competitive dynamics, since buyers and remaining rivals may gain share, distribution networks and brand presence in fast-growing Asian markets. Large mergers among coatings suppliers can also shift purchasing leverage with raw material vendors and influence how contract customers source products across regions.

Source: official release on akzonobel.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.

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CHT Group to showcase SMART textile care concepts at EXPOdetergo Milan

admin — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

CHT Group will present its SMART WASH, SMART UV POWER and SMART PROTECTION concepts for professional textile care at EXPOdetergo International in Milan from 23 to 26 October 2026, at Hall 3, Stand B19. SMART WASH uses a modular system of five coordinated modules for cleaning, performance boosting, fibre protection, stain removal and pH balance. SMART UV POWER combines UV-C with hydrogen peroxide to generate hydroxyl radicals that lower COD and TOC loads in wastewater. SMART PROTECTION is listed under § 18 IfSG for areas A and B.

Key facts

Companies	CHT Group, EXPOdetergo International
Chemicals	hydrogen peroxide
Location	Milan, Italy (EXPOdetergo venue); Hall 3, Stand B19
Timing	20.10.2026, 23.10.2026 – 26.10.2026
End uses	professional textile care, commercial laundries (Wäschereien)

Market context

Professional textile care relies on detergent formulations and process chemistry that clean, protect and finish fabrics in commercial laundries, hospitality, healthcare and industrial textile services. Hydrogen peroxide is a widely used oxidant in laundry and wastewater treatment, valued for bleaching and for breaking down organic load when combined with UV light, which generates hydroxyl radicals capable of oxidising persistent compounds. Demand for such approaches tends to track hygiene standards, water and effluent regulations, and the cost of energy and water in laundry operations. Equipment and chemical suppliers compete on dosing accuracy, process efficiency and compliance support, so modular dosing systems and advanced oxidation options can shape purchasing decisions among laundry operators. Trade fairs like EXPOdetergo are common venues where suppliers present such concepts to professional buyers, though product launches at shows do not by themselves change near-term supply or pricing for the underlying chemicals.

Source: official release on cht.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.

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