ICIS - Search Articles by Date : February 02 2004 - February 08 2004

Syngenta on top
Though the crop protection sector continues to be lacklustre, Syngenta remains stalwart with a steady supply of innovative product offerings. John.... more
(02 February 2004 12:07)

Market Trends: Styrene soars on healthy demand
A significant outage contributed to a surge in styrene spot activity with prices now at $830-840/tonne fob NWE. Benzene numbers also moved up on.... more
(02 February 2004 11:43)

Biogen Idec in Autoimmune Disease Deal
Biogen Idec and Celltech Group PLC entered into a collaboration last week to research, develop and market antibodies against the CD40 ligand more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Pharmaceuticals in Brief
ANIKA THERAPEUTICS Inc. has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Orthovisc, a highly purified, high-molecular-weight form of more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Product-Range Branding in Chemicals: Defining the Best Strategy
Although product-range brands are potentially extremely powerful tools and very valuable assets in industrial markets, they have still not been more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Commoditization Pressures: To Brand or Not to Brand
Though it is clear that branding is critical when launching an innovative new product, companies often find themselves in a situation where more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Gilead Drops HIV Drug Collaboration With Two Universities
In the wake of its January 2003 acquisition of Durham, N.C.-based Tri-angle Pharmaceuticals Inc., Gilead Sci-ences Inc., Foster City, Calif., has more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Roche Boasts Strong Performance in 2003
A leaner, more focused Roche Group posted robust results for 2003, benefiting from the integration of Chugai Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. and strong more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Global and US Manufacturing Activity Up Slightly in January
Manufacturing activity was up again in January, with both global and US manufacturing indices increasing. US manufacturing recorded its eighth more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Smith Barney Upgrades Small Caps Nova and Lyondell
With prospects brightening for a broad-based recovery in chemicals, Smith Barney has upgraded small cap commodity companies Nova and Lyondell. The more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Solvay Develops High Yield H2O2 Process
Solvay says it has demonstrated the sustainability of a new high-yield process for the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at its Solvay Interox more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Raw Materials Drive Up Plastic Additive Prices
Manufacturers of plastic additives have been hit by a surprising convergence of increasing raw materials costs, which have been passed along in more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Consumer Specialties in Brief
Colgate 4Q Earnings Sparkle Colgate-Palmolive Company announced double-digit earnings-per-share growth for the quarter ended December 31. more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Specialties Pricing
Crompton Corp. is increasing the global price of all its Mark liquid and liquid/ESO blend mixed metal stabilizers by 5c. per pound, and Mark paste more
(06 February 2004 18:57)

Acrylonitrile upbeat
High raw-material costs, strong demand and tight supply have driven acrylonitrile producers to raise their contract price targets for Q1 more
(02 February 2004 15:08)

C3 soars by $100
Olefin prices rise on shortages in Asia and Europe, and on fears of outages in Japan and Taiwan. Naphtha softens on the back of improved supply more
(06 February 2004 09:49)

Smell of success
There are indications that the price rally of the last few months in aromatics may extend throughout the year of the monkey. However, there are many.... more
(03 February 2004 09:32)

Market Trends: Styrene prices surge
Prices rise dramatically as traders anticipate further hikes if the market continues to tighten. OX is up as PA prices soar after plant explosion more
(06 February 2004 11:25)

China buyers key to C2 rally
THE big question confronting Asian ethylene markets last week was whether the surge in pricing since early January would be sustained. more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Asahi Kasei targets $1050 for acrylonitrile
RISING raw-material costs and tight supply have prompted Asahi Kasei Chemicals to nominate an Asian acrylonitrile contract price of US$1050/tonne.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Polyester prices on the rise
PRICES of polyester staple fibre (PSF) and polyester yarn in China and Taiwan had risen by 5-6% and 10% respectively last week from two weeks.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Amir Kabir hdPE/lldPE delayed by 12 months
AMIR Kabir Petrochemical has pushed back the start of commercial production for its high-density polyethylene (hdPE)/linear low-density PE.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Indo Rama hikes polyester capacity
INDO Rama Synthetics’ planned polyester plant at Butibori near Nagpur in Maharashtra, India, will now have a capacity of 280 000 tonne/year instead.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

NPC delays No 2 PTA-to-polyester
NATIONAL Petrochemical Co (NPC) has delayed the startup of its No 2 purified terephthalic acid (PTA)-to-polyester project in Bandar Imam, Iran, to.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Jilin to add BPA unit to phenol facility
JILIN Petrochemical plans to expand its phenol-acetone plant and use the additional output to build a bisphenol-A (BPA) unit, a company source said..... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Shandong Jiutai gets approval
SHANDONG Jiutai Chemical Co has received final government approval for its methanol, dimethyl ether (DME) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) project in.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

TSRC to add SBR line in Nantong
TAIWAN Synthetic Rubber Corp (TSRC) is to add a 50 000 tonne/year styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) line to its site in Nantong, Jiangsu, China. more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

IOC picks Panipat for PP
INDIAN Oil Corporation (IOC) has chosen Panipat in Haryana, India, as the location for its proposed 350 000-400 000 tonne/year polypropylene (PP).... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

USI-FPC C2 ambition draws doubts, puts pressure on CPC
THE revelation last week that USI and Formosa Plastics Corp (FPC) are in talks on a cracker project in Linyuan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, has led to.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Power shortage hits Chi Mei
CHI Mei Corp is to cut the operating rates of its polystyrene (PS) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plants in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province,.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Gail fears competition from imports
INDIAN Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (IPCL) and Gail (India) Ltd have expressed their apprehensions over the prospect of increased competition from.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Idemitsu, Mitsui move to improve competitiveness
THE aim behind the tripartite letter of intent (LoI) signed by Idemitsu Kosan, Idemitsu Petrochemical and Mitsui Chemicals on 3 February is to.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Mitsui’s bid to boost phenol
MITSUI Chemicals aims to become self-sufficient in cumene in a strategic move to strengthen the competitiveness of its phenol business more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Mitsubishi drops higher-alcohols
THE increased competition from natural products such as palm oil has forced Mitsubishi Chemical to quit the part of its higher-alcohols business that.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Dow seeks openings in Asia
DOW Corning Electronics is looking at acquisitions to grow its advanced materials business, which is made up mainly of electronics materials more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Fair weather forecast
Stock markets across Asia have been getting healthier and chemical prices are soaring. Japan can expect benefits from China’s continued economic.... more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Global roundup
From stories supplied by the CNI and ACN teams more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Market Trends: Phenol strengthening
Phenol offers rise to US$800/tonne cfr China – the highest since 1995. Orthoxylene is pushed up by rising PA prices. Styrene and benzene are strong more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Market trends: Ethylene shoots up
Strong derivative demand and fear of outages push ethylene offers to US$800 fob. Naphtha and MTBE soften while propylene and butadiene remain firm more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

New Projects Summary
As reported in ACN 2-8 February 2004 more
(06 February 2004 17:09)

Chem-wire Express Japan
Chem-wire Express Japan - Edition of 2 February Basic and Fine Chemicals In April Asahi Glass is to increase its annual supply.... more
(03 February 2004 06:05)

Chem-wire Express Japan
Chem-wire Express Japan: Edition of 3 February Basic and Fine Chemicals Japan Energy has established technology for a pilot-scale.... more
(04 February 2004 03:36)

Chem-wire Express Japan
Chem-wire Express Japan: Edition of 4 February Basic and Fine Chemicals Idemitsu Kosan, Idemitsu Petrochemical and Mitsui Chemicals .... more
(05 February 2004 03:51)

Chem-wire Express Japan
Chem-wire Express Japan: Edition of 5 February Basic and Fine Chemicals Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku is planning to establish a new company.... more
(06 February 2004 03:34)

Plastics Monitor: Plastics prices gain momentum
Price increases were achieved in most markets in January with producers pushing for firmer prices later in the month. Further price hikes are likely.... more
(02 February 2004 11:59)

Chief departs over 2003 losses
The board of Hungarian plastics producer Pannonplast has dismissed chief executive officer and chairman János Illésy more
(06 February 2004 16:32)

Business in brief
UCB profits down Belgian pharmaceuticals and chemicals company UCB has unveiled a 3% decline to €480m in 2003 pre-tax profits, with adverse.... more
(06 February 2004 16:32)

Shell gets caught over a barrel
Shell struggled in chemicals in the fourth quarter of 2003, as the high oil price continued to have an adverse effect on the business more
(06 February 2004 16:32)

Schering sheds 350 more jobs
As part of an ongoing restructuring scheme, pharmaceutical group Schering will cut an additional 350 jobs from its German workforce up to 2006,.... more
(06 February 2004 16:32)

Sale of otc arm on the cards
Roche is weighing up the future of its over-the-counter (otc) business and would consider selling the whole or parts of the business more
(06 February 2004 16:32)