Oxea, the world’s largest producer of n-propanol, has announced that it tripled its delivery volumes of n-propanol in Europe. This reflects very high demand from manufacturers of hand sanitisers in the Covid-19 crisis. The company claimed that certain studies show it to be more effective against viruses and bacteria at lower concentrations than other alcohols like ethanol and isopropanol.

Anita Lloyd and Nicola Smith, directors in the Environmental, Safety & Health Group of Squire Patton Boggs, look at the key issues for companies starting to manufacture or import hand sanitiser

Many companies are looking at modifying their production lines and/or utilising spare capacity to manufacture hand sanitiser, which is in short supply due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Others may be looking into importing this product into the UK for the first time.

The news is entirely dominated by the coronavirus pandemic. Here, we summaries some of the key developments in the fine and speciality chemicals industry so far in April

Multiple companies are turning spare capacity over or building new capacity to supply hand sanitiser. Leading the way is Ineos, which had already built three such plants in the UK, France and Germany and has now announced plans to build a fourth at Etian, France, to serve hospitals in Paris, north-eastern France and Belgium.

AGC has announced plans to expand its CDMO subsidiary, AGC Pharma Chemicals Europe. As well as adding 30% to the capacity of its production facilities by May 2022, this will see the addition of a new micronisation facility and a new R&D facility, which is due to begin operation in March 2021. The plant, near Barcelona, was originally known as Malgrat Pharma Chemicals.

Air Liquide has entered into exclusive negotiations with EQT, a differentiated global investment firm with over €62 billion in raise capital, for the sale of its Schülke & Mayr subsidiary. The company had announced its intention to sell Schülke & Mayr in November 2019 as part of a strategy of focusing on its core gases and healthcare businesses.

The first step in ongoing litigation in the US between Chemours and its parent firm DuPont over the cost of environmental liabilities relating to historic pollution caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) went DuPont’s way on 2 April. Chemours has said that it will appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court.

Arkema has held a strategy update meeting, at which it presented “its ambition to become a world leader in speciality materials, realigned around three coherent businesses with attractive growth prospects”. By 2024, it aims to be a pure player in this field with “a resilient and focused portfolio, characterised by high profitability and strong cash generation”.