Issue 11/2022 - Global Chemicals Quick Facts

The EU should establish a strategic reserve of key chemical raw materials

On May 24, Frans Stockman, executive director of petrochemicals at the European Chemical Industry Association (Cefic), said that the European Commission should consider increasing storage capacity for critical chemical raw materials to enhance its response capacity
after the crises in Russia and Ukraine.
Stockman said that local conflicts have led to the exposure of many loopholes in the EU supply chain, and policymakers should strategically reserve key chemical raw materials in the form of oil and gas reserves, solve supply problems, purchase key products and invest in improving inventory reserve capacity, which is the key to
improving the resilience of the EU chemical value chain.
Stockman said it's about short-, medium- and long-term planning, and we need to identify the key bottlenecks for these critical products in a crisis mode, consider logistics, and build strategic reserves
like oil.

Global surfactant demand will increase

Recently, Elvira Greiner, director of research and analysis at S&P Global, predicted that global surfactant demand will grow
significantly at an average annual rate of 3.
1% from 2021 to 2026.
Among them, amphoteric surfactants are expected to grow faster than other types, with an average growth rate of 4.
2%, and cationic and anionic surfactants will grow
at an average annual rate of 3.
3%.
Global surfactant consumption in 2021 was 17.
6 million tons, with a total market value of about $40.
8 billion
.
By region, North America is the largest global surfactant consuming region, accounting for about 20% of global demand; followed by China, accounting for 17%; The third is Western Europe, accounting for 13%.

By type, anionic surfactants accounted for 53% of total surfactant consumption, nonionic surfactants accounted for 37%, cationic surfactants accounted for 8%, and amphoteric surfactants accounted for 2%.

Investment in oil and gas exploration and production in Africa will increase significantly by 2025

According to the Africa Energy Outlook for the first quarter of 2022 released by the African Energy Chamber (AEC), cumulative capital expenditures in Africa will increase by $23 billion
by 2025 as oil and gas activity in the region increases.
Against this backdrop, new projects and greenfield investments in emerging African oil and gas producers, such as Uganda, will increase capital spending
in Africa in 2022 and beyond.
Of these, Uganda has about 6.
5 billion barrels of oil reserves — 1.
4 billion of which are economically exploitable — and 500 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas, and its greenfield investments will play an increasing role
in expanding oil and gas exploration and production in Africa.
As production from existing oil and gas projects in Africa's major oil producers, such as Nigeria, Libya and Angola, gradually declines by 2025, the Ugandan government will seek to use these resources to ensure reliable oil and gas supplies to meet local and overall African demand
.

Sales of lubricants in France increased year-on-year in March

Recently, data released by the Paris-based Professional Lubricants Center showed that French finished lubricant consumption increased by 2% year-on-year to 52,948 tons in March and 1% year-on-year to 75,948 tons
in the first quarter.
French demand for automotive lubricants rose 3% y-o-y to 29,216 mt in March, while it fell 2% y/y to 137731 t
in the first quarter.
French passenger car engine oil demand rose 5% y-o-y to 15,937 mt in March, while it fell 1.
5% y/y to 40,686 mt
in the first quarter.
Commercial diesel vehicle oil sales in March increased 8% year-on-year to 5,962 tons, and in the first quarter, they increased by 9% year-on-year to 15,619 tons
.
Automatic transmission fluid sales rose 1% y-o-y to 962 mt in March and 2% y-o-y to 2,576 mt
in the first quarter.
Automotive grease demand fell 7% y-o-y to 488 mt in March and 13% y-o-y to 1,246 mt
in the first quarter.
French demand for industrial lubricants (excluding process oils) rose 5% y-o-y to 17,617 mt in March, while Q1 demand fell 2% y-o-y to 45,303 mt
.