ICIS - Search Articles by Date : September 06 2004 - September 12 2004

France tackles malaise
France’s chemical industry is in a deep malaise and must find a solution to the problem, says industry minister Patrick Devedjian. more
(06 September 2004 13:11)

Bayer gets boost as profits nearly double
Bayer has boosted second quarter (Q2) earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) by 44% to €660m, due mainly to increased demand for industrial products.... more
(08 September 2004 11:23)

Life Sciences in Brief
Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Aphoenix Inc., an emerging chemical genomics company in Japan, entered a three-year drug discovery collaboration.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Transgenics Takes Root in Biopharmaceuticals
Moving forward from what has become conventional microbial and cell-culture bioreactor-based production, the biotechnology industry is expected to.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Serono, ZymoGenetics Collaborate on Protein and Antibody Therapeutics
Geneva, Switzerland-based Serono SA, a leading biotechnology company in Europe, has signed a research, development and commercialization agreement.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

EPA Proposes Methyl Bromide Amendment
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule to amend existing regulations that call for the phaseout of methyl bromide by January.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

BASF Buys Rights to Marker Gene
BASF is expanding its technological capabilities in plant science by acquiring exclusive worldwide rights to a new selection marker gene in plant.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

New European Commission May Bode Well for Industry
The European chemical industry is now optimistic that a new European Commission, due to take over in No-vember for five years, will be more.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Merck KGaA Gears Up for Acquisitions
Merck KGaA is on the acquisition trail. Chemical businesses are among Merck’s possible targets, although an ex-pansion in pharmaceuticals, especially.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Shell’s Restructuring Could Impact Chemicals
Shell’s restructuring of its worldwide refining operations could result in cuts to its chemicals activities. more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

UCB Names Chief Executive
UCB has appointed Roch Doliveux as its new chief executive less than a year after he joined the company to become head of its pharmaceuticals.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Mylan Faces Battle with Carl Icahn
Mylan Laboratories Inc. continues its uphill battle to gain support for its proposed $4 billion acquisition of King Pharmaceuticals Inc. Last week,.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Global Biodiesel Activities Heat Up On Oil Price Concerns
In the wake of record crude oil price hikes, the biodiesel industry has become the source for a number of new investments around the world. Proposed.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Oils, Fats & Waxes in Brief
Cargill Industrial Oils and Lubricants has joined Cooper Power Systems on production, marketing and distribution of food-grade soybean oil-based.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Oils Spot Prices
LATE SPOT PRICES more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Jobs and People
Mark Bradley more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

EPA Seeks Comments on New Systems for Pesticide Labeling
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting comments on a white paper that describes various options the agency is considering for.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Petrochemicals in Brief
Advanced Aromatics LP will increase the list price for refined (80 degree) naphthalene by 6c. per pound, effective October 1. more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Olefins Market Firm On Asian Demand
Despite near record prices, de-mand for olefins remains firm as both downstream demand and export opportunities continue to drive the markets for.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

MGI Pharma Adds Late-Stage Drugs to Roster
Minneapolis, Minn.-based MGI Pharma Inc. recently sealed three deals in one day, in each case adding a late-phase compound to its oncology portfolio..... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Pharma in Brief
CAMBRIDGE ANTIBODY Tech-nology will initiate a Phase I clinical trial in the UK for CAT-354, a human anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibody, a potential.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Resolution Files $100 MM Suit vs. Formosa Plastics
Resolution Performance Products LLC (RPP) has filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Harris County, Tex., against Formosa Plastics Corp. (FPC), a.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Corporate Citizenship at Work: The Chemical Industry
In the wake of the rising influence of key stakeholder groups, including non-governmental organizations, and calls for greater transparency,.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Strategies for Pricing and Margins
The US chemical industry has been undergoing a systemic change highlighted by prolonged levels of poor profitability. In response, many companies.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Countdown to Strategic Sourcing Summit
Kathy Smith, Americas pharmaceuticals director and partner, Ernst & Young, will again be sharing her insight into the performance of the US.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Pharmaceutical Industry: Under the Microscope
The global and US pharmaceutical industry is experiencing intense pressure from a variety of fronts as the industry grapples with weakened pipelines,.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Specialties in Brief
Galaxy Chemicals LLC, based in Claremore, Okla., is introducing two new classes of compounds to expand its presence in the fluorine market. The first.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Organic Peroxide Price Increases To Recoup Price Erosion
The five major organic peroxide producers in North America have all implemented price increases recently, citing the rising costs of raw materials,.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Specialties Pricing
AKZO Nobel Polymer Chemicals LLC has, as of September 1, implemented a price increase in Europe, the Middle East and Africa of €0.15 per kilogram for.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

EU Approves First GM Seeds for Planting
The European Commission (EC) has finally permitted the first genetically modified (GM) seeds for cultivation and sale across the European Union (EU)..... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Europe in Brief
SIKA AG, the Swiss specialty chemicals company, is streamlining its German business portfolio by divesting its 72-percent stake in Bauschutz GmbH,.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Kemira to Acquire Transcenter
Kemira GrowHow, Kemira's agri-culture division, is expanding its core fertilizer operation in Eastern Europe to take advantage of predicted increases.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Chiquita Goes Bananas for Landec
Shares of food packaging company Landec Corp. surged $1.19, or 22 percent, to $6.50 on a joint technology development and supply agreement with.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

New ISO Standard for Social Responsibility
Also addressing the issue of corporate citizenship is the Geneva-based International Organization of Standardization (ISO), which is developing an.... more
(10 September 2004 18:54)

Honest revelations
As development of China’s two premier chemical industry parks gets underway, John Richardson and Clara Tan explore the pros and cons of both sites,.... more
(07 September 2004 16:30)

Honam eyes move into China with jvs
HONAM Petrochemical is looking at entering the Chinese market through joint ventures with local companies, a company source informed ACN. more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Battle for Orion fizzles out
THE expected battle between Hyosung and Kolon Industries for Orion Electric has failed to materialise after both companies decided not to make a bid.... more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Japan’s FTC approves polyolefins merger
JAPAN’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has approved a polyolefins (PO) joint venture by Idemitsu Kosan and Mitsui Chemicals, an Idemitsu source told ACN. more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Asahi focuses on four specialities
ASAHI Kasei Chemicals is investing Yen30bn–40bn (US$271.5m–362m) to grow the business of four of its speciality products – industrial membranes,.... more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Specialities roundup
BASF is aiming to generate 20% of its global sales and earnings in Asia while securing 70% of regional sales through local production by 2010,.... more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Unichem, Lannett in supply tie-up
UNICHEM Laboratories has formed a strategic alliance with US-based Lannett for the exclusive supply of one or more generic drugs, a company source.... more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

SK Pharma eyes sales boost
SK PHARMA aims to achieve higher sales this year for at least three of its top six pharmaceutical products – Ginexin, Joins, Levopride, Omed, Trast,.... more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Bearing a heavy burden
Engineering contractors are suffering from rising costs of inputs such as steel and cement. But with the petrochemical cycle heading towards its.... more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Global roundup
From stories supplied by the CNI and ACN teams. more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

High OX pushes up PA spot prices
ASIAN phthalic anhydride (PA) spot prices climbed on high feedstock costs and increased demand. more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

PO up by $300 on high C3 costs
SOARING raw-material costs and firm demand helped Asian propylene oxide (PO) producers to achieve a fresh round of price hikes. more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Phenol prices expected to increase after China holidays
PHENOL prices are expected to increase in the second week of October, after the end of the National Day holidays in China, ACN was told. more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

SEA C2 prices to stay high in Q4
TIGHT supply and stable demand are likely to keep ethylene prices high in SEA in Q4, bucking the fall in naphtha costs, producers and traders said. more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Feedstock costs push VAM up
ASIAN vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) prices have strengthened by US$90-105/tonne in the past month on the back of rising feedstock costs and tight.... more
(10 September 2004 18:17)

Market Trends: Aromatics softening
Phenol reacts to falling benzene costs, while buying interest for toluene, mixed xylenes, styrene, and orthoxylene remains slack more
(10 September 2004 18:17)