[Chemicals] The World’s First Coal-based MMA (Methyl Methacrylate) Unit Put into Operation in Xinjiang, China
Recently, the 10,000-ton coal-based methanol-acetic acid-to-MMA (methyl methacrylate) production unit of Xinjiang Zhongyou Puhui Technology Co., Ltd. has been put into operation in Hami, Xinjiang and witnesses its stable operation. The unit is developed by the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is the world’s first industrial demonstration unit for coal-based MMA production. China owns its completely independent intellectual property rights. As a crucial organic chemical raw material, MMA is widely applied in fields such as organic glass polymerization, PVC modifier, high polymer materials for medical function, etc. The conversion of MMA manufacturing from petroleum to coal-based raw materials promotes the development of China’s modern coal chemical industry towards high-end and green edge, driving related industrial chains and industrial clusters.
Key Point: Currently, more than 30% of China’s MMA demand relies on imports. Fortunately, the raw materials for the coal-based methanol-acetic acid-to-MMA process are readily available. In addition, this process is with a lower cost, which saves about 20% of the cost per ton of the traditional process. On the completion of the three phases of the project in Hami, it is expected to form an industrial cluster with an annual output value of RMB 20 billion.
[Communication Technology] Here Comes Tech Giants in the Game; New Big Thing: Satellite Communications
Apple has completed the hardware test for satellite communication of its iPhone 14/Pro series, and the new Mate 50/Pro series launched by Huawei offers emergency SMS service supported by satellite communication of the Beidou System. The global satellite industry revenue scale reached USD 279.4 billion in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 3.3%. According to the upstream and downstream positions, the satellite Internet industry chain includes the following four links: satellite manufacturing, satellite launching, ground equipment manufacturing and satellite operation and service. In the future, the world will attach more significance to the strategic position and industrial construction of satellite communications.
Key Point: During the initial period of China’s Starlink construction, the links of satellite manufacturing and ground equipment industries will benefit first, and satellite manufacturing will usher in a market of RMB 100 billion. Phased array T/R chips account for about 10-20% of satellite cost, which is the most valuable core components in satellites, thereby witnessing a broad market prospect.
[New Energy Vehicles] Methanol Vehicles Commercialization Poised for Take-off
Methanol vehicles are automotive products powered by a mixture of methanol and gasoline, while vehicle with pure methanol as fuel (without gasoline) is another new energy vehicle besides electric vehicle and hydrogen vehicle. The Industrial Green Development Plan of the 14th Five-Year Plan issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology points out that the alternative fuel vehicles such as methanol vehicles should be promoted. Currently, the methanol vehicle ownership of China reaches nearly 30,000, and China’s methanol production capacity reached 97.385 million tons in 2021, more than 50% of the global capacity, of which coal methanol production capacity accounting for approximately 80%. Compared with hydrogen fuel, methanol has the merits of environmental protection, low cost and safety. With the improvement of the methanol industry chain, methanol vehicles will be easier to promote and will usher in its era of commercialization.
Key Points: Geely is the first automobile enterprise in China to secure the methanol vehicle product announcement. It owns more than 200 patents related to methanol fuel core technologies, and has developed more than 20 methanol models. Geely’s world’s first M100 methanol heavy truck has been launched. Additionally, enterprises such as FAW, Yutong, ShacMan, BAIC are also developing their own methanol vehicles.
[Hydrogen Energy] China’s Hydrogen Refueling Capacity to Reach 120,000 Tons in 2025; Sinopec to Build itself China’s First Hydrogen Energy Enterprise
Recently, Sinopec announced its implementation strategy of medium and long-term development of hydrogen energy. On the basis of the existing hydrogen production from refining and coal chemical industry, it will vigorously develop hydrogen production from renewable electricity. The giant strives to achieve breakthroughs in the fields of high-performance fuel cell catalysis and other petrochemical materials, proton exchange membrane electrolysis of water for hydrogen production, and localization of key equipment for hydrogen refueling stations. From a global perspective, the hydrogen energy industry is attracting more attention and investment. The world’s major oil and gas energy producers, such as Chevron, Total Energy, and British Petroleum, have recently announced their new hydrogen energy investment plans, focusing on the production of hydrogen from renewable energy.
Key Point: Sinopec has strategically invested in a number of leading enterprises in the hydrogen energy and fuel cell industry chain, including REFIRE, Glorious Sinoding Gas Equipment, Hydrosys, GuofuHEE, Sunwise, Fullcryo, and signed cooperation agreements with 8 companies, e.g. Baowu Clean Energy and Wuhan Green Power Hydrogen Energy Technology, on the construction of the hydrogen energy industry chain.
[Medical Care] With Supporting Policies and Capital, Medical Devices Developed in China Entering Ushering in its Golden Development Period
At present, China is the second largest medical device market in the world, but no Chinese company find its position in the list of the top 50 global medical devices. In recent years, the Chinese government has issued a series of relevant supportive policies for the industry. In June of this year, the Shanghai Stock Exchange expanded the scope of companies that apply to the fifth set of listing standards on the Science and Technology Innovation Board to medical device enterprises, which further creates a beneficial capital environment for technology-intensive medical device enterprises during their R&D stage without large-scale and stable income. As of September 5 this year, National Medical Products Administration has approved the registration and listing of 176 innovative medical devices, mainly involving cardiovascular intervention, IVD, medical imaging, peripheral intervention, surgical robots, auxiliary diagnostic application, oncotherapy, etc.
Key Point: The Medical Equipment Industry Development Plan 2021-2025 issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposes that by 2025, 6 to 8 Chinese medical device companies should be promoted to the top 50 in the global medical device industry, which means domestic medical device and equipment companies embrace a broad space for growth.
[Electronics] Great Prospect of Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) in the Context of Processing in Memory
Processing in Memory technology (PIM) combines the processor with the memory, acquiring the advantages of fast reading speed, high integration density, and low power consumption. Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) is a dark horse in the game of new memory, and has been commercialized in the fields of automotive electronics and wearable devices. The MRAM market reached USD 150 million in 2021 and is expected to hit USD 400 million by 2026. Recently, Samsung and Konka have launched their new MRAM product lines to lay the foundation for future storage demands.
Key Point: With the rise of artificial intelligence applications such as the Internet of Things and natural language processing, the demand for data transmission has grown. Driven by factors such as the improvement of R&D capabilities, MRAM may gradually replace traditional memory.
The above information comes from public media and is for reference only.
Post time: Sep-15-2022