CVS Is Taking Chemicals Out of Its Makeup

A recent study found that using cosmetics and shampoos without chemicals rapidly decreases the levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in teen girls. Chemicals such as phthalates and parabens are in many cosmetics products, meaning it's possible women are exposed more significantly to these chemicals. According to researchers, there's been growing evidence associating hormone-disrupting chemicals to factors like obesity and the growth of cancer cells.

Spotlight

Brenntag

Brenntag is the global market leader in full-line chemical distribution. Linking chemical manufacturers and chemical users, Brenntag provides business-to-business distribution solutions for industrial and specialty chemicals globally. With over 10,000 products and a world-class supplier base, Brenntag offers one-stop-shop solutions to about 160,000 customers. The value-added services include just-in-time delivery, product mixing, formulation, repackaging, inventory management, drum return handling as well as extensive technical support. Headquartered in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, the company operates a global network with more than 400 locations in nearly 70 countries. In 2010 the company realized global sales of EUR 7.6 billion (USD 10.1 billion) with more than 12,000 employees.

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Chemical Management

Ways Your Chemical Company Can Benefit From Digitization

Article | July 22, 2021

The chemical industry is evolving. The marketing, purchasing, and selling of chemicals are being affected by forces in the market, with digitization unquestionably having the most significant impact. Many of the existing digitizing models have likely already been given some thought and then rejected. Chemical businesses are currently conducting pilot projects or starting to gradually scale up their digital initiatives after moving past the proof-of-concept stage. Although this past year brought many difficulties, it also provided an opportunity to revise and re-evaluate foundations moving forward. The Great Reset, as the World Economic Forum has dubbed this time period, is illuminating how the chemical industry might leverage digital technologies to advance. Whether prompted by governmental requirements or consumer desires, chemical businesses' net-zero ambitions will necessitate new expenditures throughout the whole chemical value chain. As a result, back-office costs must be as efficient as possible to free up money to pay for those investments while keeping a profit. Consumer pull The most essential requirements for the success of a new product are a solid understanding of customer needs and wants, the competitive climate, and the makeup of the market. The primary factors that influence the needs of the consumer are price, timing, and quality. Therefore, companies create ongoing procedures and plans with these three factors in mind to better serve client needs and grow their market share by regularly creating new products. Technology pushes The influence of digital technology is constantly growing. One of the foundational elements of 21st-century sources of growth is data-driven innovation. There are numerous items and procedures in the history of innovation that were the result of an accident or careful forethought. Vast volumes of data, or "big data," are being produced and used as a result of the convergence of numerous phenomena, including the growing migration of socio-economic activities on the Internet and the decline in the cost of data collecting, storage, and processing. Large data sets are becoming an essential resource for the economy, supporting the development of new markets, procedures, and goods while also generating substantial competitive advantages. For example, a billion customers can now access broadband at a reasonable price because of the digital world's supporting infrastructure. In addition, cloud computing and the enormous amount of information processing equipment it needs are developing swiftly, and low-cost connected gadgets are being introduced into every industry. Economic benefits The financial gains that can be realized through digitization are genuine. The new digital technologies and businesses have seen an influx of cash, and the public markets are rewarding early adopters with record values. The effects of digitization are spreading swiftly throughout every business. Digitization is the changing of life and work as a result of new technologies, not only their acceptance. Much like earlier technologies, modern emerging technologies like the cloud and big data quickly become part of businesses' operations. Unknown to many, this is having a much more significant impact on the industry that makes these tools as well as on customers. Digitalization that derives from and includes strategic business objectives can greatly benefit chemical firms. Cost savings of roughly 30 to 40 percent can already be made on average today. Additionally, in certain situations, digitalization aided in improving service quality and affected the bottom line by, for instance, enabling new business models. On average, platform-driven digitization projects pay off after 18 months.

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Chemical Management

How Leading Chemical Companies Protect Customer Data Online

Article | July 8, 2022

Cybersecurity concerns must be considered in order for the chemical sector to succeed with digital commerce; simply listing your products on an online store and crossing your fingers won't cut it. It is crucial to pick a spouse who is aware of these hazards and has a strong defense in place. It is evident that the sector has massive potential for online sales, but selling chemicals online is different from selling common consumer goods online. Who your consumers are and how you gather and maintain data about them raise severe security and privacy problems. Chemical company leaders have every right to be concerned about the privacy of their data, given that one cyber attack occurs every 11 seconds. However, they should still go online because there is too much business risk in not taking advantage of the digital opportunity. Deloitte estimates that the chemical sector alone sold over $27 billion worth of goods online in 2020. More than half (58%) of chemical purchasers reportedly stated that they would transfer providers if their demands, which include demands for a fantastic digital experience, were not delivered. The objective is to limit risk and create a secure digital sales environment rather than dismissing e-commerce due to cybersecurity issues. Setting up the appropriate IT infrastructure: Building for convenience and security is possible thanks to new IT technologies. Emphasis on confirming identification: Always be aware of who you are dealing with, regardless of whether they came through a digital or physical means. Offering simple (and safe) reorder alternatives to clients that have been verified. It's ideal for business owners in the chemical sector who want to test selling online but are concerned about data collecting, security, and privacy for my company and customers.

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Chemical Technology

Petrochemicals markets complexity is only going to grow and grow

Article | July 20, 2022

NICE WORK, if you get can get it. A trucking company in Fort Worth, Texas, is offering to pay experienced drivers $14,000 a week – $728,000 a year – as the US struggles with a nationwide shortage of truckers or lorry drivers. This reminds me of perhaps an apocryphal tale, from the height of the last Australian mining boom. Before iron ore prices collapsed in late 2014, there was a story about workers at mining site road junctions who operated manual “Stop and Go” signs. They were said to be earning more than Australian dollar (A$) 200,000 a year. Before you pack in your job as, say, a petrochemicals sales manager and head to Texas or mine sites in Western Australia, there is the risk that when you arrive at the door of your new prospective employer, the bubble might have already burst. This is assuming we are in bubble conditions.The pressure is clearly building in petrochemicals and other commodity markets as prices in some regions remain at record highs or continue to rise. Today’s prices are the results of shortages of commodities supply (for example in petrochemicals, an outcome of the US winter storms), very strong demand and supply chain disruptions.I am beginning to believe that the latter is the biggest reason for commodity price inflation which is feeding through into sharp rises in the cost of finished goods – and a lack of goods availability. It is delivering and manufacturing enough stuff that seems to be at the heart of today’s problems due to shortages of everything from container freight space and semiconductors to wooden pallets, tin cans, metal drums, cardboard – and US truck drivers.

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Chemical Management

The Future of Supply Chain Management for Chemical Companies

Article | July 8, 2022

Individual consumers expect tailored products and services. Color, size, quantity, payment method, and delivery channel options abound. The chemical sector is also now following this suit of action. The global chemicals supply chain has grown steadily for three decades. Chemical businesses are improving their supply chain capabilities to handle complexity and meet client demands. This includes implementing advanced data-driven and cloud-based technologies that enable faster, more flexible, and tailored customer interactions. Areas of innovation for chemical companies Living Segmentation Living segmentation can help chemical businesses better serve clients and satisfy their expectations. This entails adapting supply chain capabilities to each customer's needs. Asset-light Network An asset-light network involves developing an ecosystem of partners to add capabilities and value to your supply chain beyond standard co-manufacturing, co-packing, and third-party or last-mile logistics providers. In addition, it should include technology partners that help chemical businesses innovate and be adaptable. Data and Applied Intelligence Improving speed, agility, and efficiency in global supply chains demands comprehensive visibility and the correct information. Data provides visibility and insights. The key to providing excellent customer service is gathering the appropriate data and using it strategically to get important insight. The industry generates a ton of data, which is excellent news. In response to last year's supply chain delays, corporations are building supply chains with geographically spread shipping/supplier choices. Real-time visibility and enhanced analytics can be used to track delays by providing revised ETAs and analyzing downstream implications. Data-driven insights can alert organizations of a delay almost immediately and help them acquire raw materials from another supplier to reduce the domino impact downstream. Chemical businesses must rethink their supply chains to implement living segmentation, asset-light networks, data, and AI.

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Spotlight

Brenntag

Brenntag is the global market leader in full-line chemical distribution. Linking chemical manufacturers and chemical users, Brenntag provides business-to-business distribution solutions for industrial and specialty chemicals globally. With over 10,000 products and a world-class supplier base, Brenntag offers one-stop-shop solutions to about 160,000 customers. The value-added services include just-in-time delivery, product mixing, formulation, repackaging, inventory management, drum return handling as well as extensive technical support. Headquartered in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, the company operates a global network with more than 400 locations in nearly 70 countries. In 2010 the company realized global sales of EUR 7.6 billion (USD 10.1 billion) with more than 12,000 employees.

Related News

Chemical Technology, Chemical Management

Redwood Logistics Partners with Cloverly to Enhance Carbon Emissions Management for Customers

Redwood Logistics | July 08, 2022

Redwood Logistics one of the fastest-growing supply chain and logistics companies in North America and innovators of the LPaaS, Logistics Platform as a Service model, today announced a partnership with Cloverly, an API-first Sustainability-as-a-Service solution that provides access to high-quality carbon credits to offset the impact of emissions from the transportation and logistics industry. The partnership with Cloverly supports the Redwood Hyperion sustainability solution, announced in June to help customers gain load-by-load visibility into their freight emissions. It enables carbon-neutral shipping initiatives by bringing together flexible access to data powered by the logistics integration platform RedwoodConnect™ and instant access to action through verified carbon credits via Cloverly. “The confluence between Redwood’s supply chain and Cloverly’s sustainability expertise was invaluable to us as we developed Redwood Hyperion as a high-quality carbon visibility and offset program,” said Michael Reed, Chief Product Officer at Redwood. “Shippers can’t act on what they can’t measure, and the Redwood Hyperion solution powered by Cloverly’s Sustainability-as-a-Service model allows our customers to reliably measure their freight emissions and offset them with carbon credits all in a single platform.” A carbon credit is a transferable instrument certified by governments and independent certification bodies that represents an emission reduction of one metric ton of CO2 or an equivalent amount of other Greenhouse Gases. Through Redwood Hyperion, powered by Cloverly’s marketplace, carbon emissions can be matched with a wide range of carbon credits, including blue carbon, forestry, biochar or, as close as possible, to the initial carbon-producing activity – whatever the main sustainability objective is for the shipper. “Climate action matters to customers, businesses and the planet we share, and we’re thrilled to partner with Redwood to pair emission visibility and reduction – reliably and programmatically. Cloverly supports every carbon-related goal with carbon credits that have co-benefits ranging from protecting biodiversity to improving education and health. Each credit is independently verified and vetted for maximum confidence in its impact.” Jason Rubottom, Chief Executive Officer of Cloverly Redwood Hyperion is the leading product of Redwood’s sustainability suite, Redwood’s initiative to support customers in minimizing their carbon footprint to create a greener and more resilient supply chain. “Redwood is focused on taking steps to achieve customers’ sustainability goals; all while improving efficiency and minimizing costs,“ added Reed. “The full suite of services is designed to help customers implement green initiatives by providing visibility first, followed by a balanced approach of reduction techniques and strategies with a combination of carbon offsets.” About Redwood Logistics Redwood Logistics, a leading logistics platform company, headquartered in Chicago, has provided solutions for moving and managing freight for more than 20 years. The company’s diverse portfolio includes digital freight brokerage, flexible freight management and logistics consulting, all wrapped into a revolutionary logistics and technology delivery model—Logistics Platform as a Service (LPaaS). LPaaS utilizes an open platform for digital logistics that empowers shippers to seamlessly mix-and-match partners, technologies and solutions into their own unique digital supply chain fingerprint. Redwood connects a wide range of customers to the power of supply chain management, technology and the industry’s brightest minds. About Cloverly Cloverly is a technology-based carbon credit marketplace in the Voluntary Carbon Market. Its API enables businesses to programmatically utilize carbon removal credits for their unavoidable emissions and customer-facing solutions. Digital products that use Cloverly help build customer awareness while contributing to climate change mitigation.

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Chemical Technology

Collaboration is “the name of the game” to build resilience, say speakers at 12th GPCA Supply Chain Conference

Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association | June 04, 2021

The virtual conference was held on 26-27 May, attracting over 1300 attendees from 450 companies in 62 countries Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 31 May 2021 – The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of the last 15 months has demonstrated the acute importance of collaboration to build more agile, resilient, and responsive supply chains, said industry leaders at the 12th Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Supply Chain Conference held virtually on 26-27 May. Senior executives from across the chemical and petrochemical value chain, logistics service providers and shipping operators urged industry leaders to capitalize on the lessons learned during the pandemic and act upon them in the future – from collaborating more closely with the regulators, their customers, and strategic partners, to driving better supply chain visibility, investing in digitalization, building their workforce capabilities, and focusing on supply chain sustainability. In his keynote address, Hamad Alterkait, Chairman of the Kuwait based company, PIC, encouraged chemical leaders to engage in supply chain collaboration even with their competitors and keep their inventory in close customer proximity to improve their reliability and better serve their end markets. He told attendees at the virtual event: “Regional chemical producers must diversify their supply base even if it means incurring higher costs in order to cushion the impact from any future crisis. Companies must also explore out of the box supply chain solutions, using different scenarios, which may aid in addressing important challenges at a critical time.” Echoing Alterkait’s remarks on the importance of collaboration were Hosam Al-Zamil, VP, Global Supply Chain, SABIC; Ahmed Abdulla Al-Salahi, CCO, Q-Chem; and Ahmed Al-Katheeri, SVP - Supply Chain Management, Borouge, in the conference’s inaugural panel on the future of chemical supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic was a test to chemical supply chains’ resilience, as it demonstrated that the world is one global community, panelists said. “The future will not be the moving of our products; it will be the moving of data which will help enable responsiveness and agility and drive customer centricity to stay competitive. However, we cannot achieve this by working in silos. The chemical industry is just one part of the supply chain and we must work together to build a more resilient future,” Al-Katheeri added. A recent GPCA survey confirms the insights shared by speakers. It found that chemical supply chain and operations have been the single most impacted business function within downstream organizations in the GCC in the past 15 months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the path to recovery, chemical companies must focus on supply chain digitalization, sustainability, trade facilitation and regulatory engagement. Within these trends, carbon neutrality, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will be the key segments to focus on and drive the highest impact on businesses’ supply chains today, the survey found. Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “I was pleased to welcome the regional and global chemical industry to the virtual edition of the 12th GPCA Supply Chain Conference last week and gain first-hand insight into the challenges associated with the pandemic on their chemical supply chain and operations. The audience was left with a message of positivity on what’s to come next and provided with a range of practical tips on how to address the uncertainty and any new crisis in the future. I hope delegates enjoyed attending the event and thank all our sponsors and partners for making this edition possible.” The 12th GPCA Supply Chain Conference was held under the theme ‘Powering a resilient, responsive and agile supply chain’, attracting over 1300 attendees from 450 companies in 62 countries. To learn more, visit www.gpcasupplychain.com About the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) was established in 2006 to represent the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Today, the association voices the common interests of more than 250 member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95 percent of chemical output in the GCC. The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in the region, producing over USD 108 billion worth of products every year. GPCA supports the petrochemical and chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf through advocacy, networking and thought leadership initiatives aimed at helping member companies to connect, share and advance knowledge, contribute to international dialogue, and become prime influencers in shaping the future of the global petrochemicals industry. Committed to providing a regional platform for stakeholders from around the world, GPCA manages six working committees – Plastics, Supply Chain, Fertilizers, International Trade, Research and Innovation, and Responsible Care – and organizes six world-class events each year. The association also publishes an annual report, regular newsletters and various other industry reports. For more information, visit www.gpca.org.ae. Contact: Slavka Atanasova Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association P. O. Box 123055, Dubai, United Arab Emirates T: + 44 7561 525126 E: slavka@gpca.org.ae or Hector Aquino hector@gpca.org.ae

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Market Outlook

New start: Ceresana study on the market for coatings in the automotive industry

Ceresana | March 30, 2021

Automotive coatings do not just look good, they also protect the surface of vehicles against scratches, UV light, rust, fuel splashes, and other hazards. The automotive industry is one of the biggest consumers of coatings. The market research institute Ceresana has examined how the global market for automotive paints and coatings is recovering from the Corona crisis. Despite a massive decline, around 3.4 million tonnes of these high-performance coatings were consumed around the world in 2020. This latest study covers the coating of all components that are manufactured by suppliers or vehicle manufacturers and installed in road vehicles. It examines the use in passenger cars and commercial vehicles (trucks, vans, buses) - both in new construction and for spare parts. Number of Car Registrations is Increasing Again The global sales of new cars had already reached its peak in 2017 with more than 70 million units. Since then, i. a. the declining momentum in the emerging markets, especially the BRIC countries, has led to a drop in passenger car sales. The spread of Covid-19 caused a dramatic decline in the last year, with the number of new registrations decreasing by around 15% worldwide. However, a large part of the decline occurred in the first half of 2020. A recovery started already in the second half of the year, albeit to varying degrees depending on the country. More Refinish Coatings, Fewer OEM Coatings The financial losses suffered by many households as a result of the crisis will probably continue to have an effect for several years and will influence consumer behavior: Used cars gain in importance wherever new cars are unaffordable. Ceresana has conducted a detailed analysis of the demand for individual coating layers, areas of application, technologies, and product types. The market researchers expect coatings in the refinish segment to gain several percentage points of market share over OEM coatings in the course of 2021 or 2022. The slight time lag is due to the fact that the number of driven kilometers - and thus the demand for refinish coatings - is only gradually increasing again. Large Quantities of Basecoats High demands are placed on the quality and properties of automotive coatings. Full, partial, and individual part coatings are applied in the event of damage, for used cars, and for special new car coatings at the factory or dealership. The coating process can be divided into the following steps: cathodic dip coating, underbody protection and application of primer surfacer, basecoat, and clearcoat. Primer surfacers are used to even out surface irregularities and improve the adhesion of subsequent layers. The most important paint layer in terms of quantity is the basecoat, followed by the electrodeposition coating. The basecoat is a coloring layer and largely determines the appearance of the overall paint finish. Electrodeposition coating is primarily used to protect vehicle bodies from corrosion. The analysts at Ceresana expect the market for basecoats to reach a level of around 1.4 million tonnes in 2030. The Study in Brief: Chapter 1 provides an overview of the global market for coatings in the automotive industry - including forecasts up to 2030. Demand and revenues are presented for the regions Western and Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Chapter 2 provides market data for the 16 most important countries, i.e. including country-specific demand and revenues. Demand is analyzed in detail for different coating layers (electrodeposition coating, primer surfacer, basecoat, clearcoat), application areas (OEM coatings, refinish coatings), technologies (solvent-borne, water-borne, others) and product types (epoxy, polyurethanes/PUR, acrylic, others). Chapter 3 provides company profiles of the most important manufacturers of coatings for the automotive industry, clearly arranged according to contact information, sales, profit, product range, production sites, and profile summary. Detailed profiles are provided for 56 manufacturers. Further information: www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/industry/automotive-coatings/ About Ceresana As one of the world's leading market research institutes, Ceresana is specialized in the segments chemicals, plastics, packaging, and industrial goods with a focus on transportation / mobility. Companies have been benefiting from our high-quality industry analyses and forecasts since 2002. More than 200 market studies provide more than 10,000 customers around the world with the knowledge base for their sustainable success. Find more information about Ceresana at www.ceresana.com Ceresana Mainaustrasse 34 78464 Konstanz Germany Press contact: Martin Ebner, m.ebner@ceresana.com

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Chemical Technology, Chemical Management

Redwood Logistics Partners with Cloverly to Enhance Carbon Emissions Management for Customers

Redwood Logistics | July 08, 2022

Redwood Logistics one of the fastest-growing supply chain and logistics companies in North America and innovators of the LPaaS, Logistics Platform as a Service model, today announced a partnership with Cloverly, an API-first Sustainability-as-a-Service solution that provides access to high-quality carbon credits to offset the impact of emissions from the transportation and logistics industry. The partnership with Cloverly supports the Redwood Hyperion sustainability solution, announced in June to help customers gain load-by-load visibility into their freight emissions. It enables carbon-neutral shipping initiatives by bringing together flexible access to data powered by the logistics integration platform RedwoodConnect™ and instant access to action through verified carbon credits via Cloverly. “The confluence between Redwood’s supply chain and Cloverly’s sustainability expertise was invaluable to us as we developed Redwood Hyperion as a high-quality carbon visibility and offset program,” said Michael Reed, Chief Product Officer at Redwood. “Shippers can’t act on what they can’t measure, and the Redwood Hyperion solution powered by Cloverly’s Sustainability-as-a-Service model allows our customers to reliably measure their freight emissions and offset them with carbon credits all in a single platform.” A carbon credit is a transferable instrument certified by governments and independent certification bodies that represents an emission reduction of one metric ton of CO2 or an equivalent amount of other Greenhouse Gases. Through Redwood Hyperion, powered by Cloverly’s marketplace, carbon emissions can be matched with a wide range of carbon credits, including blue carbon, forestry, biochar or, as close as possible, to the initial carbon-producing activity – whatever the main sustainability objective is for the shipper. “Climate action matters to customers, businesses and the planet we share, and we’re thrilled to partner with Redwood to pair emission visibility and reduction – reliably and programmatically. Cloverly supports every carbon-related goal with carbon credits that have co-benefits ranging from protecting biodiversity to improving education and health. Each credit is independently verified and vetted for maximum confidence in its impact.” Jason Rubottom, Chief Executive Officer of Cloverly Redwood Hyperion is the leading product of Redwood’s sustainability suite, Redwood’s initiative to support customers in minimizing their carbon footprint to create a greener and more resilient supply chain. “Redwood is focused on taking steps to achieve customers’ sustainability goals; all while improving efficiency and minimizing costs,“ added Reed. “The full suite of services is designed to help customers implement green initiatives by providing visibility first, followed by a balanced approach of reduction techniques and strategies with a combination of carbon offsets.” About Redwood Logistics Redwood Logistics, a leading logistics platform company, headquartered in Chicago, has provided solutions for moving and managing freight for more than 20 years. The company’s diverse portfolio includes digital freight brokerage, flexible freight management and logistics consulting, all wrapped into a revolutionary logistics and technology delivery model—Logistics Platform as a Service (LPaaS). LPaaS utilizes an open platform for digital logistics that empowers shippers to seamlessly mix-and-match partners, technologies and solutions into their own unique digital supply chain fingerprint. Redwood connects a wide range of customers to the power of supply chain management, technology and the industry’s brightest minds. About Cloverly Cloverly is a technology-based carbon credit marketplace in the Voluntary Carbon Market. Its API enables businesses to programmatically utilize carbon removal credits for their unavoidable emissions and customer-facing solutions. Digital products that use Cloverly help build customer awareness while contributing to climate change mitigation.

Read More

Chemical Technology

Collaboration is “the name of the game” to build resilience, say speakers at 12th GPCA Supply Chain Conference

Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association | June 04, 2021

The virtual conference was held on 26-27 May, attracting over 1300 attendees from 450 companies in 62 countries Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 31 May 2021 – The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of the last 15 months has demonstrated the acute importance of collaboration to build more agile, resilient, and responsive supply chains, said industry leaders at the 12th Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Supply Chain Conference held virtually on 26-27 May. Senior executives from across the chemical and petrochemical value chain, logistics service providers and shipping operators urged industry leaders to capitalize on the lessons learned during the pandemic and act upon them in the future – from collaborating more closely with the regulators, their customers, and strategic partners, to driving better supply chain visibility, investing in digitalization, building their workforce capabilities, and focusing on supply chain sustainability. In his keynote address, Hamad Alterkait, Chairman of the Kuwait based company, PIC, encouraged chemical leaders to engage in supply chain collaboration even with their competitors and keep their inventory in close customer proximity to improve their reliability and better serve their end markets. He told attendees at the virtual event: “Regional chemical producers must diversify their supply base even if it means incurring higher costs in order to cushion the impact from any future crisis. Companies must also explore out of the box supply chain solutions, using different scenarios, which may aid in addressing important challenges at a critical time.” Echoing Alterkait’s remarks on the importance of collaboration were Hosam Al-Zamil, VP, Global Supply Chain, SABIC; Ahmed Abdulla Al-Salahi, CCO, Q-Chem; and Ahmed Al-Katheeri, SVP - Supply Chain Management, Borouge, in the conference’s inaugural panel on the future of chemical supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic was a test to chemical supply chains’ resilience, as it demonstrated that the world is one global community, panelists said. “The future will not be the moving of our products; it will be the moving of data which will help enable responsiveness and agility and drive customer centricity to stay competitive. However, we cannot achieve this by working in silos. The chemical industry is just one part of the supply chain and we must work together to build a more resilient future,” Al-Katheeri added. A recent GPCA survey confirms the insights shared by speakers. It found that chemical supply chain and operations have been the single most impacted business function within downstream organizations in the GCC in the past 15 months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the path to recovery, chemical companies must focus on supply chain digitalization, sustainability, trade facilitation and regulatory engagement. Within these trends, carbon neutrality, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will be the key segments to focus on and drive the highest impact on businesses’ supply chains today, the survey found. Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “I was pleased to welcome the regional and global chemical industry to the virtual edition of the 12th GPCA Supply Chain Conference last week and gain first-hand insight into the challenges associated with the pandemic on their chemical supply chain and operations. The audience was left with a message of positivity on what’s to come next and provided with a range of practical tips on how to address the uncertainty and any new crisis in the future. I hope delegates enjoyed attending the event and thank all our sponsors and partners for making this edition possible.” The 12th GPCA Supply Chain Conference was held under the theme ‘Powering a resilient, responsive and agile supply chain’, attracting over 1300 attendees from 450 companies in 62 countries. To learn more, visit www.gpcasupplychain.com About the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) was established in 2006 to represent the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Today, the association voices the common interests of more than 250 member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95 percent of chemical output in the GCC. The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in the region, producing over USD 108 billion worth of products every year. GPCA supports the petrochemical and chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf through advocacy, networking and thought leadership initiatives aimed at helping member companies to connect, share and advance knowledge, contribute to international dialogue, and become prime influencers in shaping the future of the global petrochemicals industry. Committed to providing a regional platform for stakeholders from around the world, GPCA manages six working committees – Plastics, Supply Chain, Fertilizers, International Trade, Research and Innovation, and Responsible Care – and organizes six world-class events each year. The association also publishes an annual report, regular newsletters and various other industry reports. For more information, visit www.gpca.org.ae. Contact: Slavka Atanasova Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association P. O. Box 123055, Dubai, United Arab Emirates T: + 44 7561 525126 E: slavka@gpca.org.ae or Hector Aquino hector@gpca.org.ae

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Market Outlook

New start: Ceresana study on the market for coatings in the automotive industry

Ceresana | March 30, 2021

Automotive coatings do not just look good, they also protect the surface of vehicles against scratches, UV light, rust, fuel splashes, and other hazards. The automotive industry is one of the biggest consumers of coatings. The market research institute Ceresana has examined how the global market for automotive paints and coatings is recovering from the Corona crisis. Despite a massive decline, around 3.4 million tonnes of these high-performance coatings were consumed around the world in 2020. This latest study covers the coating of all components that are manufactured by suppliers or vehicle manufacturers and installed in road vehicles. It examines the use in passenger cars and commercial vehicles (trucks, vans, buses) - both in new construction and for spare parts. Number of Car Registrations is Increasing Again The global sales of new cars had already reached its peak in 2017 with more than 70 million units. Since then, i. a. the declining momentum in the emerging markets, especially the BRIC countries, has led to a drop in passenger car sales. The spread of Covid-19 caused a dramatic decline in the last year, with the number of new registrations decreasing by around 15% worldwide. However, a large part of the decline occurred in the first half of 2020. A recovery started already in the second half of the year, albeit to varying degrees depending on the country. More Refinish Coatings, Fewer OEM Coatings The financial losses suffered by many households as a result of the crisis will probably continue to have an effect for several years and will influence consumer behavior: Used cars gain in importance wherever new cars are unaffordable. Ceresana has conducted a detailed analysis of the demand for individual coating layers, areas of application, technologies, and product types. The market researchers expect coatings in the refinish segment to gain several percentage points of market share over OEM coatings in the course of 2021 or 2022. The slight time lag is due to the fact that the number of driven kilometers - and thus the demand for refinish coatings - is only gradually increasing again. Large Quantities of Basecoats High demands are placed on the quality and properties of automotive coatings. Full, partial, and individual part coatings are applied in the event of damage, for used cars, and for special new car coatings at the factory or dealership. The coating process can be divided into the following steps: cathodic dip coating, underbody protection and application of primer surfacer, basecoat, and clearcoat. Primer surfacers are used to even out surface irregularities and improve the adhesion of subsequent layers. The most important paint layer in terms of quantity is the basecoat, followed by the electrodeposition coating. The basecoat is a coloring layer and largely determines the appearance of the overall paint finish. Electrodeposition coating is primarily used to protect vehicle bodies from corrosion. The analysts at Ceresana expect the market for basecoats to reach a level of around 1.4 million tonnes in 2030. The Study in Brief: Chapter 1 provides an overview of the global market for coatings in the automotive industry - including forecasts up to 2030. Demand and revenues are presented for the regions Western and Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Chapter 2 provides market data for the 16 most important countries, i.e. including country-specific demand and revenues. Demand is analyzed in detail for different coating layers (electrodeposition coating, primer surfacer, basecoat, clearcoat), application areas (OEM coatings, refinish coatings), technologies (solvent-borne, water-borne, others) and product types (epoxy, polyurethanes/PUR, acrylic, others). Chapter 3 provides company profiles of the most important manufacturers of coatings for the automotive industry, clearly arranged according to contact information, sales, profit, product range, production sites, and profile summary. Detailed profiles are provided for 56 manufacturers. Further information: www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/industry/automotive-coatings/ About Ceresana As one of the world's leading market research institutes, Ceresana is specialized in the segments chemicals, plastics, packaging, and industrial goods with a focus on transportation / mobility. Companies have been benefiting from our high-quality industry analyses and forecasts since 2002. More than 200 market studies provide more than 10,000 customers around the world with the knowledge base for their sustainable success. Find more information about Ceresana at www.ceresana.com Ceresana Mainaustrasse 34 78464 Konstanz Germany Press contact: Martin Ebner, m.ebner@ceresana.com

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