Chemical Catalyst Producers Invest in Future Demand

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Investments by producers of chemical catalysts have been strong during recent years, with current and ongoing investments totaling more than $230 million. In addition to these projects, another $160 million or more has been identified as part of Industrial Info's North American Project Database with plans to begin construction during 2009. These catalysts serve a broad market including petroleum refiners, chemical plastics and resins, pharmaceuticals and many other industries. Most of these end markets have enjoyed strong demand in recent years with a very favorable future outlook.

The largest among ongoing projects is no doubt the expansion of a hydrotreating catalysts plant located in Port Allen, Louisiana, owned by Criterion Catalysts & Technologies LP (Houston, Texas). Criterion began construction of a nearly $200 million catalyst unit addition early this year and is currently on schedule to be complete with the project by the summer of 2009. This project, similar to others in this industry niche, was designed with the anticipation of continued growth within the global petroleum refining markets. Despite recent setbacks in financial markets and a sudden decline in demand, future demand will still require this and even more new capacity in the next few years.

Several large expansions and plant debottlenecks for other chemical catalysts like sodium silicate, alumina, and polymer catalysts are planned for next year. Industrial Info has identified at least $70 million of projects planned to begin construction during 2009 by BASF Catalysts LLC (Iselin, New Jersey), a division of BASF SE (OTC:BASFY) (Ludwigshafen, Germany), and $30 million by Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corporation (Freeport, Texas). Although the Chemical Processing Industry is likely to continue feel the affects of a slowing economy in the near future, this level of spending can be translated as confidence in the long-term prospects of the industry.

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