ICIS - Search Articles by Date : January 10 2005 - January 16 2005

Titanium dioxide performs well
The European titanium dioxide (TiO2) market performed ‘surprisingly well’ during the fourth quarter of 2004. more
(10 January 2005 13:41)

MTA threatens PTA profits
Opportunities arising from new technology and cheaper alternative feedstocks ‘may change the landscape’ of the global polyester industry, suggest.... more
(10 January 2005 13:43)

Finding Opportunities in Early-Phase Development
A stream of recent deals illustrates how pharmaceutical and biotech companies are reaching out to fill their pipelines. Patricia Van Arnum reports. more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Finding a Niche: Life Science Analytics
Life Science Analytics Inc. (LSA), a Scranton, Pa.-based company, is finding its niche in the life science industry as a provider of product pipeline.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Looking Beyond Big Pharma For Fine Chemicals Growth
Medium-sized, specialty, generics and start-up pharmaceutical companies are becoming increasingly attractive customers as demand from big pharma.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

NAM Testifies on Asbestos Reform
An industry alliance told the Senate Judiciary Committee last week that it supports asbestos litigation reform legislation that would create a.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Senators Study Biofuels
The 109th Congress is a new opportunity for lawmakers to pass a comprehensive energy bill that includes a strong renewable fuels package, says.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Environmentalists Sue EPA Over New Methyl Bromide Rule
Environmentalists have filed a lawsuit over a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would allow increased production and use of methyl.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

PFOA May Cause Cancer in Rats
A draft assessment of the potential risks of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) released last week by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Perchlorate Ingestion Questioned
A long-awaited report on the health effects of perchlorate by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) concludes that daily ingestion of up to 0.0007.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

White House Renews Push For Medical Liability Reform
The White House has begun a new push to enact a long-standing Republican goal to limit medical malpractice liability against health care providers,.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Consumer Products Seen as Source of Chemical Exposure
Toxic chemicals are widespread in consumer products often found in the home, according to a new analysis by the National Environmental Trust (NET)..... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Demand Balloons for Industrial Gas Thanks to China and High Oil Prices
With the exception of some specialty markets such as nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), industrial gases tend to be a highly localized business. Shipping.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Next-Generation DVD to Boost Gallium Demand
With the future of home entertainment leaning toward the Blu-ray Disc (BD) system, the market for specialty material gallium is projected to grow. more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Industrial Specialties Pricing
BASF AG is increasing prices in the US and Canada by 20 percent for Basonat HW100, Basonat F 200 WD, Collacral, Luphen, and Lutonal, effective.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Calcium Chloride Market Revs Up as Winter Hits
The calcium chloride market is enjoying robust demand as the winter deicing season picks up. Throughout 2004, producers faced rising energy and.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Small-Cap Biotech Companies Weather Storm and Push Onward
With a shaky 2004 under its belt, the small-cap biotechnology sector has taken stock of both the successes and the failures that have proved.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Life Sciences in Brief
Antisoma PLC, a UK-based cancer drug development company, will acquire US-based Aptamera Inc. in a share-based transaction valued at roughly £11.5.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

FDA Approves Next-Generation Cancer Therapy
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Abraxane, albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticles for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer..... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

BP Takes a $2 Billion Charge
BP took charges of around $2 billion in the fourth quarter of last year, the vast majority of them in its petrochemicals operations. more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Possible Alliance in Bassell Bid
Four private equity firms are reported to have created an alliance to make a single bid of €3billion to €4 billion ($4 billion to $5 billion) for.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

BASF Set to Expand Gas Presence
BASF plans to become a bigger player in the European gas market to offset the effects of higher oil prices on its raw material costs. more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Cefic Mulls Major Reorganization
The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) is looking at radically reorganizing the way the entire chemical industry is represented in Europe. more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Lanxess Reconsiders
Lanxess said last week that it is willing to reconsider its plans to cut the pay of German staff after employees staged a demonstration against the.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Strong Euro Is Manageable for Now
The euro was around 10 percent higher against the US dollar last week than in mid-2004, and 30 percent stronger than it was two years ago. Some.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Mylan Reconsiders King Acquisition
Mylan Laboratories Inc. lastweek announced that it is reviewing the financial statements of King Pharmaceuticals Inc. and may reconsider its proposed.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

News in Brief
ExxonMobil Adds Two Metallization Lines in Italy more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

H&H Says Time Is Ripe for Nanotech Investment
While some in the media have warned of nanotechnology hype, investments in the sector have not reached feverish levels, leaving plenty of opportunity.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Sun Oil Price Climbs on Low Supply, Strong Demand
The price of sunflower oil, currently at a record mid-40 cents per pound range, is expected to remain sky-high in 2005 after climbing for the fourth.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Oils, Fats & Waxes in Brief
AG Reliant Genetics LLC has acquired the assets and business of Producers Hybrids Inc. of Battle Creek, Neb., a marketer of corn, soybean and other.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Oils Spot Prices
LATE SPOT PRICES more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Palladium Medal Winner
The Société de Chimie Industrielle–American Section has selected Jürgen Strube, chairman of the supervisory board of BASF AG, to be awarded the 2005.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Jobs and People
Comings and goings in the industry. more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Shell Chemical’s Texas Olefins Force Majeure Threatens to Tighten Already Snug US Market
An already tight US olefin market is expected to get even tighter following a force majeure declaration by Shell Chemicals on ethylene and propylene.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Petrochems in Brief
BTX Spot benzene prices continue to trend upward with deals being completed at $2.87 per gallon for January and above $2.90 per gallon for February..... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Benzene Pricing Continues Its Wild Ride of 2004
The US benzene market remains a roller coaster, with prices soaring, plunging and then steadily creeping up—and that was just the first half of.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Iressa Disappointment Is Third Strike for AstraZeneca
The fortunes appear to have turned for AstraZeneca, which faces yet another blow to its new-product portfolio. New clinical data for its cancer.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Outlook for US Equities Is Fairly Strong
As US chemical stocks show signs of renewed life, the outlook for the broader market for 2005 is mixed. While a strong cash position for US companies.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Global Insights: Peak Oil Approaching a New World Order?
The North American petrochemicals and plastics industry has been hammered by a run-up in oil and natural gas costs over the past four years, and oil.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Why the Advocates of Peak Oil May Be Wrong
John C. Felmy, the American Petroleum Institute’s chief economist and director of statistics, disagrees with claims that oil production is on the.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

ASPO Projects Economic Strains as Oil Demand Grows
The Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas (ASPO) cautions that global oil production is close to reaching a historical peak after which it must.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Sasol to Sell Phosphoric Acid Plant in South Africa
Sasol has reached an agreement in principle with Foskor and Industrial Development Corp. concerning the sale of Sasol Nitro’s phosphoric acid plant.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Sun Sells Joint Venture to Kodak
While the deal will be completed in April, Eastman Kodak Company will be taking the next few years to purchase its 50 percent share of its Kodak.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Huntsman Initiates Short- and Long-Term Tsunami Relief
The Huntsman Companies will donate $1 million in cash and materials for the relief of victims of the late-December tsunami that devastated several.... more
(14 January 2005 21:38)

Gail begins due diligence on JPE’s ldPE plant
GAIL India and Japan Polyethylene (JPE) have completed talks on the sale of the latter’s 75 000 tonne/year low-density polyethylene (ldPE) plant in.... more
(14 January 2005 16:07)

Inchon creditors stall takeover
THE completion of Sinochem’s takeover of Inchon Oil has hit a snag, ACN was told. more
(14 January 2005 16:07)

Kolon eyes increased sales, starts up new resin plant
KOLON Chemical expects sales of its hydrocarbon and phenolic resins to increase by 15% this year, a company source told ACN. more
(14 January 2005 16:07)

The end of life?
In the first of a new quarterly series, Rick Coles reviews the impact of soaring crude oil on price relationships in the Asian chemicals industry.... more
(14 January 2005 16:07)

Specialities roundup
THAI Olefins Co (TOC) and Cognis Thai have signed an agreement to form a joint venture to produce fatty alcohol ethoxylates. This is part of.... more
(14 January 2005 16:07)

NPIL buys Rhodia business for £7m
NICHOLAS Piramal India Ltd (NPIL) has acquired Rhodia’s inhalation anaesthetics business for £7m (US$13m), an NPIL source told ACN. more
(14 January 2005 16:07)