Group 1 - The European chemical company MAK has signed an agreement with the Sohar Port and Free Trade Zone in Oman to build a comprehensive production base valued at $550 million for the production of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [1] - MAK previously acquired a plant owned by Indorama Ventures at the Port of Rotterdam, which is set to close in 2024 due to high costs [1] - The existing PTA and PET production facilities at the Rotterdam port will be relocated to the Sohar Free Trade Zone, with an annual total production capacity expected to reach 1.5 million tons [1] Group 2 - OQ Refining and Petrochemical Company will supply para-xylene as the main raw material for PTA production through pipelines [1] - Sohar Port will have capabilities for bulk storage, raw material handling, and pipeline transportation, with other raw materials like ethylene glycol and acetic acid imported through the port and transported to the factory via dedicated pipelines [1] - The production base will supply PTA and PET resin products to markets in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe [1] Group 3 - The European chemical industry is experiencing a capital expenditure outflow, with local plants continuously shutting down and new investments primarily directed outside Europe [1] - On January 16, a European chemical startup, Vioneo, announced the abandonment of plans to build a 300,000 tons/year green methanol-based polyolefin plant in Europe, opting instead to invest in a similar project in China [1]

希克斯指出，欧洲的监管规定、审批流程以及资金获取的总体速度和复杂性等一系列因素，导致Vioneo放弃安特卫普项目。"越 来越明显的是，在当前形势下，从经济角度来看这个项目是不可行的。"她表示，虽然欧洲的相关政策正在朝着正确的方向发 展，但这一过程需要时间。 希克斯表示，该公司仍在与潜在客户进行谈判。该项目选址于中国"能为客户带来更有竞争力的价格优势……归根结底就是价格 问题，而这样的选择会加快我们为客户提供服务的能力。"她同时指出，项目在中国的建设成本及施工进度，也是需要考虑的关 键因素。 Vioneo的决定对欧洲石化行业又是一个沉重的打击。由于市场供应过剩、需求疲软、投入成本高昂，叠加价格具有竞争力的进口 产品的冲击，欧洲石化行业早已处于持续低迷的状态之中，众多化工厂已经或宣布将永久关闭。 安特卫普项目原本计划每年从中国进口80万吨可再生甲醇作为原料，通过甲醇制烯烃工艺生产乙烯和丙烯，进而生产聚乙烯和聚 丙烯。 不过，希克斯表示，Vioneo并未排除未来在欧洲建立新工厂的可能性。她强调，能够获得可再生甲醇供应来源，是任何潜在选址 地点都必须满足的关键条件。 1月16日，欧洲化工初创企业Vioneo宣布，放弃 ...