This techno-economic report offers a review of chemistry, properties, technology, and development trends of methyl methacrylate. The report provides economics for methyl methacrylate for several different global locations (USGC, Western Europe, China, Japan, and South-East Asia) under a consistent first quarter 2023 price scenario. The report also provides a carbon intensity analysis, and a historical cost analysis.

This report provides an overview of commercial and developing technologies for the production of ethylene including decarbonization options for achieving low or net-zero emissions. The report includes a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) summary for the various decarbonization options. Technology and regional comparisons of cost of production and carbon intensity (scope 1 and 2) are presented, with breakeven carbon price analysis for representative crackers with carbon capture systems. Global ethylene capacity by producer is provided.

This report provides a technical, economic, environmental, and regulatory analysis of rPET recycling in the United States Gulf Coast (USGC), Western Europe, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) boasts one of the highest recycling rates among plastics due to its widespread use, especially as bottles, and suitability for mechanical recycling. Its properties allow for repeated reshaping without significant quality loss, enhancing its value in textiles and packaging applications. However, by 2030, rPET demand is set to triple the expected supply. Despite environmental and regulatory pressures, just 27% of PET bottles are recycled, with most ending up in landfills. This report delves into the nuances of PET recycling pathways from mechanical recycling to chemical technologies like solvent-based purification, glycolysis, methanolysis, and enzymatic hydrolysis. It offers detailed profiles of industry frontrunners, including technology licensors, owners, operators, and those in advanced robotic sorting, covering the intricacies of each of their operations. The analysis presents the delivered cost of production for each recycling route across the five regions, shedding light on market trends and the economic feasibility of recycling intermediates such as rPET flakes, Bis-Het, and DMT. Additionally, it benchmarks the final rPET pellets against the Q1 2023 virgin PET price for each region.

The report provides a comprehensive review of the technology landscape for ammonia cracking, covering major licensors and emerging technologies. The economic analysis describes production costs for hydrogen from ammonia cracking in Western Europe and Japan (importers of low carbon ammonia in the hydrogen economy). A value chain analysis comparing the cost per delivered ton of hydrogen through direct transport of liquefied hydrogen versus hydrogen via ammonia cracking is presented for blue and green hydrogen / ammonia. A carbon intensity analysis covering scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions for the value chains described is also detailed, with commentary around the potential cost implications under the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM).

This report is a comprehensive analysis of the toluene diisocyanate (TDI) industry. The analysis provides cost of production estimates for TDI and its precursor DNT as well as supporting cost estimates for auxiliary technologies. An overview of the carbon intensity of the value chain is presented as well as market estimates and an industry overview are also included to outline the commercial aspect of the industry.Find out more about TDI markets, see Related Reports below for more information.

This report provides a technical and economic review of processes to produce ethylene dichloride (EDC) and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Comparative economics are presented for the major production routes to EDC and VCM in various geographic locations. An analysis of carbon intensity as well as global and regional capacity by producer are provided.

This report focuses on perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) proton exchange membranes (PEM) commercial technologies, process economics in the US, Western Europe, and China for those homogeneous, reinforced and catalyst-coated membranes for the first quarter of 2023 as well as global production capacity. These are crucial to green hydrogen production (i.e., hydrogen made from renewable power via electrolysis). NexantECA also provided a high-level analysis of the business and strategic considerations as well as the technology availability from the perspective of a company entering or expanding into the PFSA PEM market.

Carbon fiber is a high-value product whose exceptional properties (lightweight and high strength) make it an increasingly sought-after material. Although carbon fibers can be manufactured from various precursors, over 98 percent of the global supply is currently made from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with pitch being the next most common precursor. The cost of production via those two routes for plants located in the United States, Western Europe, Japan and China has been estimated for the first quarter of 2023. NexantECA also provided a high-level analysis of the business and strategic considerations and commented on the technology availability from the perspective of a company entering or expanding into the carbon fiber market. Global carbon fiber and carbon nanotube capacities are also detailed.

​The conventional and developing process and technology for producing adipic acid (ADA) are presented. Cost of production estimates have been developed for 5 conventional technologies and 1 speculative technology for USGC, Western Europe and China, including 4 upstream integrated cases. Carbon intensity (scope 1 and 2) as a result of ADA production in USGC, Western Europe and China, as well as the cost of abatement technologies are also covered. Global capacity by producer and technology are provided.

This report covers the techno-economics of the industrial graphite electrode sector, a key enabling technology for the steel and aluminum industries as well as for a large variety of high temperature processes. Industrial graphite electrodes are vital for the decarbonization of the steel industry and critical for aluminum smelting, but are facing short-term pressures from the rapid retreat from coal in Chinese steel and competition for synthetic graphite from the battery sector. Technology and economics for major production processes for functional graphite electrodes are covered and used to support a strategic overview of the sector.