ICIS - Search Articles by Date : May 08 2006 - May 14 2006

MARKETS TRENDS: Markets see mixed bag of results
With varied results across the board, propylene spot business in Europe remains subdued, while toluene takes a tumble. Styrene soars on limited supply more
(09 May 2006 10:27)

MARKETS DATA BANK
Prices contained in this magazine are gathered by various ICIS sources through consultation with producers, consumers and traders across Europe and.... more
(09 May 2006 10:42)

IN BRIEF News Watch
Air Products enters personal care more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

Blackstone cashes in for $744M
PRIVATE EQUITY firm Blackstone Group, the former majority owner of Celanese, has cashed out another large stake in the company, selling a further 35.... more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

Celanese posts solid profit gain
CELANESE BEAT the Street with underlying first quarter earnings per share of 72 cents—a nickel ahead of estimates. Profits rose 17% to $124 million,.... more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

Heyman takes 5.6% stake in Engelhard
SHAREHOLDER ACTIVIST and investor Samuel Heyman has taken a 5.6% stake in Engelhard, picking up 6.89 million common shares as of May 8, according to.... more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

Cognis invests in Thai alcohols
COGNIS THAI Ltd. and Thai Oleochemicals Company Ltd. (TOL), a subsidiary of major Thai petrochemical firm PTT Chemical Public Company Ltd., have.... more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

US House vote a turning point for natural gas
THE HOUSE of Representatives has taken a major first step toward restoring the supply of natural gas at reasonable prices—a step that very well may.... more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

ACC chief sees 50-50 chance for OCS gas
THERE IS a 50-50 chance that Congress this year will authorize natural gas drilling in a small portion of the outer continental shelf to bring relief.... more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

Merck bolsters biosciences
MERCK & Co. will acquire two biosciences firms, GlycoFi and Abmaxis, to boost its capabilities in biologics research and development. more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

OM Group breaks out heavy metal
OM GROUP destroyed the Street’s forecasts, posting first quarter earnings per share of 62 cents versus analysts’ estimates of 39 cents. Profits.... more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

Propylene jumps on Huntsman fire
SPOT PROPYLENE pipeline prices have increased more than 10% in three weeks on the loss of supply from Huntsman’s fire-hit Port Arthur, Tex., plant,.... more
(13 May 2006 10:56)

ICISradio: the ACC's Jack Gerrard talks gas supply
ACC president and CEO Jack Gerard talks to IC IS ’ Chief Correspondent, Americas, Joe Kamalick about the chances of US lawmakers opening.... more
(11 May 2006 10:25)

ICIS radio: Letter from Washington
ICIS Chief correspondent, Americas, Joe Kamalick reads his weekly letter from Washington RSS more
(12 May 2006 11:21)

ICIS radio: Chemical News Central: 12 May 2006
ICIS radio: Chemical News Central: 12 May 2006 RSS more
(12 May 2006 14:39)

Tariff talks fail
The International Council of Chemical Association’s goal of eliminating chemical tariffs by 2010 is starting to look increasingly unlikely. more
(10 May 2006 10:13)

Innovation barriers in third-party logistics
Gwynne Richards explains the pitfalls in third-party relationships in logistics and how to avoid them more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Neste Oil cleans up in biofuels
The Finnish company is using advanced technology to produce biofuels from a variety of natural feedstocks using advanced production methodologies more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

IN BRIEF Markets Watch
DOW STYROFOAM RISE more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

This week
Monday 15 May, 2006 more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Germany eyes plastics rise
After a strong first quarter, with demand for engineering polymers especially high in March, the German plastics producers association,.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

WASHINGTON INSIDER
SOCMA SEES SLOW NAT GAS PROGRESS ON THE HILL more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

IN BRIEF Americas Watch
DUPONT GAINS PATENTS FOR VERSIPOL more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

THINK TANK
Dow’s set to save energy in ten-year sustainability plan more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

IN BRIEF Supply Chain
LEHMAN AND VOSS SEAL EURO WAX DEAL more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

IN THIS WEEK
15 YEARS AGO more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

ASIA INSIDER
ASIA EXAMINES ALTERNATIVE FUELS more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

EU anger at Greenpeace claim
A GREENPEACE report has been met with anger by the European Commission. more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

COMMENT
Should BASF fear labelling? more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Deadlock ends with pay rise for French workers
France’s chemical trade group Union des Industries Chimiques (UIC) has agreed with three key trades unions to raise the minimum wage of manual.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

EU rail plan not on track
Although welcoming the progress made in creating the legal framework to open up Europe’s rail sector, the Community of European Railways and.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Strategy gets UN support
The ICCA’s fledgling Global Product Strategy for chemicals has been backed by Kofi Annan, reports Debbie Jackson more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

SHIPPING MONITOR: Shipping routes suffer slowdown
Activity dwindles after strong start to the year but freight rates remain steady on most routes. An open arbitrage kept Far East/US busy, while.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

EU INSIDER
MANDELSON WARNS EU ABOUT CHINA more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Sellers say MMA on the up
After a first quarter (Q1) blighted by oversupply, methyl methacrylate (MMA) sellers are now seeing an improvement in market dynamics. more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

NEW PROJECTS REPORTED IN ICIS CHEMICAL BUSINESS 8-15 MAY 2006
Company Product Capacity Process Contractor Cost Startup Status Amcor Wytheville,.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Yara pours cash into TAN plant
Yara International will invest NKr125m (€16m/$20m) on the expansion of its technical ammonium nitrate (TAN) production in Köping, Sweden. more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

ICI valuation in the balance
Is ICI on a roll? Financial analysts have been upbeat about the UK-based paints and speciality chemicals company in recent weeks, suggesting that.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

CEPSA and Hyundai sign complex MoU
Compañía Española de Petróleos (CEPSA) and Hyundai Oilbank (HDO) have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of an aromatics.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Natural colours mean kids are no longer kinda blue
It is a blue day for many under-fives in the UK. Smarties, the small chocolate sweets in a coloured candy shell are, in many households, a useful.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Pollutants progress pushed
The second conference of parties (COP2) on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), held in Geneva has been declared a.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

IN BRIEF Environment Watch
US VOLATILES TASK FORCE FORMED more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Agrofert eyes fertiliser units
Agrofert from the Czech Republic is considering buying the fertiliser businesses of DSM and Croatia’s Petrokemija Kutina. more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Nano safety test calls
The UK’s Royal Society is calling on industry to disclose how it tests products that contain nanoparticles for safety. more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Asian PA figures reach their highest mark for a decade
Asian phthalic anhydride (PA) prices hit a ten-year high last week, with Chinese numbers touching $1020/tonne CFR China Main Port (CMP) and southeast.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

MRPL seeking technology
Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals (MRPL) is soliciting technology providers for its refinery expansion and aromatics project in India. more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Vysotsk to get new terminal
Russia’s northern Leningrad region plans to invest $25m in a methanol export terminal. The 450 000 tonne/year facility, to be built near Vysotsk port.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

US earmarks flu cash
The US government is stepping up efforts against a threatened flu pandemic by handing out contracts totalling more than $1bn to speed the development.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Venezuela materialises
Braskem is advancing quickly on two proposed petrochemicals projects in Venezuela and is expected to complete the final details later this year. more
(12 May 2006 18:37)

Court blocks union move
Turkey’s top administrative court ruled that the $4.14bn privatisation of 51% of Tupras oil and petrochemicals groups cannot be rescinded on the.... more
(12 May 2006 18:37)