Todays Global Intelligence: 27 October 2026

Biobased chemicals: Germany. UPM today inaugurated its biorefinery in Leuna, Germany, marking the start of a new industrial platform for renewable chemicals made from wood. The biorefinery converts lignocellulosic biomass, primarily wood from sustainably managed forests and sawmill residues, into biochemicals. With an annual capacity of 220,000 tonnes, it is the largest facility of its kind in the world. The ramp-up has progressed further. Enzymatic hydrolysis and the production of lignin-derived specialty chemicals have reached stable operation, and UPM is ramping up sales of these products. Link 27/10/2026.

Biobased chemicals: South Korea. CJ Biomaterials, Inc., a division of South Korea-based CJ CheilJedang and a primary producer of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers, has partnered with Dongsung Chemical to introduce the first PHA-based hotmelt adhesive available in the US market. Designed for packaging applications, the ECOVIVA® Hotmelt Adhesive is optimized for cosmetics packaging, household goods, electronics, and other consumer packaging, and it effectively bonds challenging substrates, including paper to aluminium and paper to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).Link 27/10/2026.

Biojet/SAF: Morocco. Green Sky Capital, a clean-energy developer backed by Qatari and Saudi shareholders, is preparing to build one of the first commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel plants in Morocco and North Africa, drawing on financing arrangements now under review at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The plant is designed to produce roughly 176,000 to 200,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel per year, alongside renewable diesel, renewable naphtha and small quantities of bio-propane. It will rely on Axens’ licensed Vegan Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) technology. Link 27/10/2026

Biomaterials: South Korea: Hyosung TNC  bio-BDO production in Vietnam and completing an integrated production network from sugarcane-derived raw materials to finished bio-based spandex expands the company's biobased business. Hyosung’s Vietnam bio-BDO facility has an initial production capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year. As part of a planned $1 billion investment in the project, the company intends to increase annual capacity in phases to 200,000 metric tons, in line with market demand. The facility produces bio-based 1,4-butanediol (bio-BDO) by fermenting sugars derived from sugarcane, replacing fossil-based feedstocks used in conventional BDO production. Link 27/10/2026.

Hydrogen: Japan. Kawasaki Heavy Industries has broken ground on a 50 tonne per day hydrogen liquefication plant at its liquid hydrogen (LH2) facility in Ogishima, Japan. Planned for completion by 2028 and demonstration operation from 2030, the plant will contribute to validating LH2 as an energy carrier for large-volume, long-distance hydrogen transport. Link 27/10/2026.