ICIS - Search Articles by Date : May 09 2005 - May 15 2005

Agility wins bio contract
Biofuels has given Agility the contract to design and run its entire supply chain and logistics operations at its new biodiesel plant in.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Brussels refuses to mandate toll profits for spend on roads
Transport industry groups, trade unions and environmental organisations have criticised European transport ministers for giving member states too.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Benzene to remain soft
ASIAN benzene prices look set to remain soft in the coming weeks owing to excess supply in Northeast Asia and the weak performance of the US.... more
(10 May 2005 10:06)

Feeling the pinch
The industry-wide manpower shortage has worsened to the point that project schedules are now under threat. Malini Hariharan reports more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

New projects summary
AS REPORTED IN ICIS 9-15 MAY 2005 Company Product Capacity Process Contractor Cost Start-up .... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

Mixed picture
The projects pipeline is full. While money is not an issue in theMiddle East, financing options are limited in China, reports Joseph Chang from our.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

Crunch time
The current boom in new projects may be great news for the chemical industry, but there is a flip side. High demand means tight supply of materials.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

Welcome to your new-look ACN
In response to the needs of an increasingly global market, we have re-launched ACN and its sister titles under one brand: ICIS Publications more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

PTT enters the big time with TPI buy
GAINING control of Thai Petrochemical Industry (TPI) will not make a big dent on the finances of Thailand’s national oil, gas and petrochemical major.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

Korea petchems still look good despite downturn
FALLING petrochemical spot prices should lead to slower second-quarter earnings growth for South Korean petrochemical majors such as Honam.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

Market players retreat to sidelines
Buying interest weakens for propylene, butadiene, and naptha, and trade is lacklustre for methanol. One of the few bright spots is ammonia – Asian.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

Toluene and MX hold firm for now
Styrene prices are extremely erratic owing to volatile US crude and benzene values. The picture is a little bleaker for PX, OX, and phenol, given.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

6-12 May 2005 roundup
The US trade deficit fell surprisingly in March on increased exports and reduced imports from China; Haldia’s creditors were mulling its.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

New projects
Qatar plans build of two more worldscale crackers 6 May. Qatar is planning to build two more worldscale crackers and downstream units in Mesaieed.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

IN BRIEF IPF roundup
8 May NPC has formed a joint-venture with India’s Sab Industries for the No 8 ammonia/urea project in Iran. NPC, together with Arak Petrochemical Co.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

Markets roundup
Thai PC line to remain shut 6 May. Thai Polycarbonate’s 80 000 tonne/year No 2 polycarbonate (PC) line at Mab Ta Phut, Thailand, could.... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

IN BRIEF Middle East window
QVC force majeure on vinyl chloride to stop at end-May 6 May. Qatar Vinyl Corp’s (QVC) force majeure on its vinyl chloride monomer (VCM).... more
(13 May 2005 18:23)

Tanker staff switched to slash costs
Jo Tankers is replacing most of its European officers with Filipinos in a bid to save $5.5m a year. more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Rotterdam seeks a launch investor
The port of Rotterdam has officially started its search for a launch investor for the Maasvlakte 2 reclamation and expansion project. more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Odfjell lifts lid on Q1 profits
Norwegian shipper Odfjell has unveiled record quarterly profits as time charter rates climbed by over 30%. more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

IN BRIEF Projects Watch
Thailand takes stake in Iran hdPE project Thailand’s National Petrochemical Co (NPC) is expected to take a stake in a 300 000 tonne/year.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Japan backs SIUCI’s plant
Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and HSBC Tokyo have agreed to provide the debt financing for a $650m chemical fertiliser complex in.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Sipchem picks Eastman technology for new site
Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) is a step closer to developing a world-scale acetyls complex in Saudi Arabia by licensing Eastman.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Polibrasil is expanding
Polibrasil plans to expand its polypropylene (PP) capacity in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, by 560 000 tonne/year. more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Eastern promise
The major axis for the global petrochemical industry is now the one linking the Middle East with the Indian sub-continent and Asia, as Cath.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

The benefits of compliance
Increased levels of accountability may reassure the public, but managing this level of scrutiny can prove to be a difficult challenge, as many.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Stretched to the limit
The petrochemicals industry is basking in a glow of strong demand and healthy finances. But alarm bells are ringing over soaring construction costs.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Timely strategies
The current boom in new projects may be great news for the chemical industry, but there is a flip side. High demand means tight supply and very much.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Feeling the pinch
The petrochemicals skills shortage is old news, but there are no easy solutions to prevent the imbalance of supply and demand becoming a serious.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Money makers matter
The global chemical industry is entering a period of upturn, putting huge demands on project financing resources around the world, reports Joseph.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

DuPont offers free help with APFO
DuPont has shown its commitment to reducing emissions of an essential but toxic processing aid used in fluoropolymers production by allowing global.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

EPSRC announces first five winners
The UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has announced the first awards in its Science and Innovation Awards programme,.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

IN BRIEF Environment Watch
LAS study raises no concern over health An expert committee from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

DuPont confirms resolution with EPA over PFOA liability
DuPont has confirmed that it has reached an agreement ‘in principle’ with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resolve its liability over.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

POPs considers broadening its list
The recent conference of parties (COP-1) to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which was held in Uruguay, is.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

IN BRIEF News Watch
Dow Corning hair care ingredient Dow Corning has launched a silicone amino elastomer emulsion that promises to combine the benefits of.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Eucomed spells out ten steps to better research
Eucomed, the European Medical Technology Industry Association, has published ten recommendations to boost innovation, including the creation of.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

People on the move
Nicola Jones is named as marketing manager for the British Chemical Distributors and Traders Association (BCDTA). Jones holds a PhD in analytical.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

New Project Summary
AS REPORTED IN ECN 9 MAY 2005 more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Tight supplies drive MTBE prices up
Business in general is sparse, with prices dipping or remaining static. The exception is MTBE, which is experiencing high demand, and mixed xylene,.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Weakness pervades deep sea routes
Transatlantic and transpacific markets struggle amid volatile product pricing. Short sea routes have slowed due to various national holidays, but.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

GE commits $1.5bn in cleaner move
General Electric Company (GE) has decided to invest heavily in the development of environmental technologies. more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Reach first reading set for autumn
Following last week’s Reach workshop, held in Luxembourg, the three rapporteurs have confirmed their intention to follow the timetable leading to a.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Historic high benefits Yara
Historically high fertiliser prices enabled Norway’s Yara International to unveil a 21% rise to NKr1.27bn (E156m/$202m) in first-quarter operating.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Sasol guilty of abusing market
A SOUTH African competition regulatory body has found energy and chemicals firm Sasol guilty of uncompetitive behaviour in the country’s fertiliser.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

DSM to move production to Scotland
DSM says it will cease production of bulk vitamin C at its plant in Belvidere, New Jersey, in the US, and concentrate production in Dalry, Scotland,.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

20 years ago
20 May 1985 more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Two Italian expansions planned
Two Italian expansions planned Solvay Solexis has announced two major expansions in fluorinated polymers in Spinetta Marengo, Italy. The planned.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Buoyant Borealis pays dividend at last, despite tough market
Borealis increased its operating earnings in the first quarter (Q1) of 2005, but warned that margins began to deteriorate towards the end of the.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)

Sabic chief warns of tough times
The Middle East petrochemical market faces a number of serious challenges to its profitable future, with accession to the World Trade Organisation.... more
(13 May 2005 18:22)