ICIS - Search Articles by Date : March 03 2003 - March 09 2003

Seeking alliances
Lukoil-Neftekhim looks to forge alliances and attract investment as Russia's position in petrochemicals remains weak. Monica Bianchi reports more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Keep ahead with a foot in both camps
Success in the fine chemicals sector is increasingly going to come from targeting those segments with the best prospects for returns more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Xiameter Celebrates Successful Freshman Anniversary
Launched on March 5, 2002, as Dow Corning Corp.'s web-enabled silicone products business unit, Xiameter has marked the end of a freshman year that more
(07 March 2003 21:23)

20 years ago
ECN 7 March 1983 more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

People on the move
Eastman Chemical US plastics and fibres producer Eastman Chemical has appointed David Brubaker as managing director and vice president of.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Market trends: Ammonia values move upwards
The US market continues to pull ammonia prices up and remains the centre of activity. The majority of other markets confirm spot trading was thin more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

News in brief
Three year low According to the UK's Freight Transport Association (FTA), 2003 will see the weakest growth in domestic road freight activity.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

News in brief
Russia to act? EU environment commissioner Margot Wallstrom together with environment ministers from Greece and Italy have urged Russia.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

News in brief
Polymer additives Dyneon has introduced two new polymer processing additives designed to improve processing at lower use levels. .... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

News in brief
Production to end Bayer-Shell Isocyanates (BSI) will cease production at its 30000 tonne /year toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and 36 000.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

A difficult year clips 2002 profits for Stolt-Nielsen
Full year results for bulk liquid logistics company Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group showed that operating income declined to $123.7m more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Interoute eyes 'next day' market
Interoute Transport Services is considering plans to enter the market for next day delivery of packaged chemicals more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Clariant to cut pharma capacity
Clariant's announcement that it will cut capacities substantially in its pharmaceutical and custom synthesis units is 'a statement of intent' more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Hydrogen peroxide margins are still suffering
The European hydrogen peroxide market has improved to such an extent in recent months that consumers may soon face tighter conditions more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

News in brief
Varsal of Warminster, Pennsylvania, US, has added triflic acid and triflic anhydride to its line of products. It says triflates make a good.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

NewEnergy enhances solutions
NewEnergy Associates has released an enhanced version of its energy market & assets analysis suite (EMAA) more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Gas spike hits ammonia producers
The two-week spike in natural gas prices continues to cause casualties among ammonia producers in the US more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Investing in small molecules
Avecia's fine chemicals business will continue to invest in both the small molecule and biologics sides of the sector, says Peter Jackson more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Rhodia targets top five slot
Rhodia's E350m turnover Pharma Solutions (RPS) business unit wants to be one of the top five players in the sector, affirmed Jean-Pierre Clamadieu more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Dow creates dispersions unit
Dow Chemical has launched a new business unit dedicated to developing novel emulsion and dispersion technologies for the personal care industry more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Euro Chlor slates EEB warning
Euro Chlor has slammed a statement by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and its Dutch member Stichting Natur en Milieu (SNM) more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Middle East tension clouds spot market
The benzene market is nervous as crude oil remains highly volatile and players keep inventories as low as possible in view of a possible price slide more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Chlorine-free route to carboxylic acids
A new air oxidation process to convert aldehydes to the corresponding carboxylic acid, typically vanillin to vanillic acid, has been developed by.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Methanol soars in tight market
Rising natural gas values sent US spot methanol prices rocketing early in the week, peaking at around $1.10/gal fob USG more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Sealed chemicals to be exempt from Reach rules
The decision by the European Commission to exempt intermediate chemicals and polymers, that do not come into contact with the environment from.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Players push for Q1 price rises
European adipic acid producers are pushing ahead with first quarter price increases more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

New Projects Summary
Company Product Capacity Process Contractor Cost Startup Status Arpechim Pitesti Romania polyethylene 120 more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

News in brief
Bayer gives up sale Bayer's plans to sell its speciality chemicals business Rhein Chemie have been abandoned because of poor market.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

News in brief
MPP2 for Asia Foster Wheeler has won an engineering, procurement and construction contract worth $150m for phase II of.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Refining the refinery
TotalFinaElf has awarded Technip-Coflexip a E50m contract for the design and construction of a gasoline hydrotreating unit more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Jacobs set to provide J&J engineering
The US-based Jacobs Engineering Group (JEG) has been awarded a contract of undisclosed value by the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) subsidiary, Centocor more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Compounding plant to start up new lines
British Vita has announced the commissioning of its $2m compounding facility situated near Johor Bahru, Malaysia more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Pak increases PS capacity
Pak Petrochemical Industries will begin an $800 000 debottlenecking programme for its general purpose/high-impact polystyrene (GPPS/HIPS) capacity more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Decision looms for Ampco
The Houston, Texas-based Atlantic Methanol Production Company (Ampco) has completed a feasibility study into a second methanol plant more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Ferrara bid to ABB
ABB has won an $82m four-year service contract from the Eni Group's EniChem and Nuova Polimeri Europa more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Celanese is revealed as China's acetic acid investor
Germany-based Celanese has revealed that it will build a world-scale acetic acid plant on the Nanjing Chemical Industry Park (NCIP) more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Romania state bids for Carom
Romania's privatisation agency APAPS is inviting bids for a 51% stake in Carom Onesti more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Eni sees operating losses fall
Higher sales, together with lower charges and costs allowed Eni to report a 17% reduction in full year operating losses from its petrochemicals.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

PKN Orlen in search of a group bid
PKN Orlen is looking for a regional producer partner, possibly Agrofert, to submit a consortium bid for the Czech government's 63% stake in Unipetrol more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

More job cuts follow losses at Aker unit
Anglo-Norwegian group Aker Kvaerner is warning its engineering and construction division (E&C) is 'dependent on winning new orders fast' more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Jena lures Merck with E80m offering
Merck, the German pharmaceutical and chemical group, was persuaded to build its new E300m therapeutic protein plant in Jena, eastern Germany more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

PKN examines return on capital
Poland's PKN Orlen is planning to increase its return on capital employed (Roce) from 5% in 2002 to around 12% by 2004 more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Driving down costs
European polyvinyl chloride producer EVC International has so far achieved E35m in its fixed cost reduction programme more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Soros buys PolymerLatex joint venture for E235m
Billionaire financier George Soros has snapped up the Degussa/Bayer PolymerLatex joint venture for about E235m more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Uhde/Sazeh win bid
German contractor Uhde and Iranian Sazeh have been selected as engineering, procurement and construction contractors by the Iranian state more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

RAG says Rutgers' plastics will go
Just three weeks after finalising the acquisition of a 46% stake in speciality chemicals producer Degussa, energy group RAG has revealed plans to.... more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Degussa focuses on specialities
With the ownership question settled and its divestment scheme now largely complete, Degussa has intentions to further 'sharpen its profile more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

5.4% for manual staff
Belgian chemical companies have agreed a 5.4% two-year wage increase for blue collar workers more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

DuPont buys Eastman unit
Marking an expansion in speciality resins, DuPont has bought Eastman Chemical's high-performance crystalline plastics business more
(07 March 2003 21:51)

Upturn in second half is now unlikely, cautions VCI
After a disappointing fourth quarter of 2002, German chemical producers are not optimistic about the outlook for 2003 more
(07 March 2003 21:51)