ICIS - Search Articles by Date : March 10 2003 - March 16 2003

Leaner and fitter
Celanese, once part of Hoechst, has trimmed its non-core assets to create a stronger independent business, with financial soundness its key priority..... more
(10 March 2003 10:27)

The bear awakens
With the fall of Sibur, will Lukoil become the petrochemical superpower in CEE providing renewed vigour to an ailing sector? Will Beacham investigates more
(10 March 2003 10:15)

Antisense Technology Is Put to the Test, but Investment in Oligos Continues
The heated debate over the selectivity, potency and effectiveness of antisense therapeutics could come to a quick close later this month. Advanced more
(14 March 2003 21:06)

Pharmacueticals in Brief
CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE Effective April 1 or as contracts permit, Noviant will increase North American selling prices of carboxymethyl cellulose up more
(14 March 2003 21:06)

The Search for APIs Drives Pharmaceutical Mergers and Acquisitions
The value of pharmaceutical mergers and acquisitions declined considerably in 2002 as big pharma took a risk-averse approach to improving pipelines.... more
(14 March 2003 21:06)

The Global Supply Chain: Manufacturing Network Approach to Operational Excellence
Recent pressures affecting the chemical industry are extensively documented and well-understood-overcapacity, globalization, more
(14 March 2003 21:06)

Management In Brief
Divestments Are a Hard Sell A recent cross-industry study from Accenture found that in 2002 more than half (52 percent) of Fortune 1,000 more
(14 March 2003 21:06)

IT In Brief
BASF, EasyAsk Team EasyAsk, a provider of information access software, reports that BASF Corp., the North American affiliate of BASF AG, has more
(14 March 2003 21:06)

Shell Cuts CAPX and Profitability Targets
As the global petrochemicals market continues to struggle, Shell Chemicals Ltd. is taking steps to boost its competitive position in the more
(14 March 2003 21:06)

Paint Additives Growth Steady
Estimated at $710 million in 2002, total US consumption of paint additives is projected to grow at a rate of 2.5 percent per year, eventually more
(14 March 2003 21:06)

Specialties Pricing
Air Products Polymers LP, as of April 1, APP will increase the price of its Flexcryl acrylic-based polymers by 3c. per wet pound in the US and more
(14 March 2003 21:06)

Chlor-alkali report: VCM prices on the rise
With supply thinning and demand up, EDC producers are expecting a rebound in prices for January for the derivative, which has fallen to $270-290 in.... more
(14 March 2003 08:39)

JPIA to appeal for exemptions from gas-oil import tariffs, tax
The Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPIA) plans to appeal to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Meti) to exempt gas oil from.... more
(10 March 2003 08:39)

Long-delayed joint ventures on PE/PP now set for H2
Japan Polychem expects its proposed PE joint venture with Japan Polyolefins to take off in the summer more
(10 March 2003 08:37)

Meti moves to ease chems restructuring
Meti sends amendment bill to Diet that could help chems restructure with less hassle more
(10 March 2003 08:36)

Few surprises in Indian budget
The Indian budget for the financial year beginning 1 April 2003 held few shocks or pleasant surprises for the chemicals industry more
(10 March 2003 08:42)

Atofina-SGC jv delay
The completion of the planned 50:50 petrochemicals joint venture between Atofina and Samsung General Chemicals (SGC) will be delayed slightly to.... more
(10 March 2003 08:38)

Gas-based chems face hikes
Gas-based petrochemical complexes in India would be hit hard by the proposed hike in natural-gas prices in India more
(10 March 2003 08:43)

Holding co for Nissho Iwai/Nichimen approved
The shareholders of Nissho Iwai and Nichimen have approved the formation of a holding company planned for 1 April this year more
(10 March 2003 08:44)

Can elephants dance?
Mega problems such as unfriendly government policies, weak and ageing infrastructure and the high cost of capital have slowed down the Indian.... more
(10 March 2003 08:06)

'Missionary' work
The challenges facing speciality chemicals producers are daunting, but there are some pluses more
(10 March 2003 08:24)

Global roundup
From stories supplied by the CNI and ACN teams more
(10 March 2003 08:14)

Polymer trends: PS stocks fall, prices up
Buyers with very low inventories are concerned about the current surge in prices. Meanwhile, PP markets turn bullish as supply tightens more
(10 March 2003 09:47)

MEG/PTA spot buyers in 'cooling-off' spell
Chinese buyers of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) have decided to exit from the spot market temporarily, until prices.... more
(10 March 2003 09:32)

When will C2 bubble burst?
Producers enjoying generous spread, but how long can they keep prices up? more
(10 March 2003 08:34)

PS and ABS producers hope for increase in prices
PS and ABS producers were hopeful of achieving significant price increases in the next few weeks more
(10 March 2003 09:19)

Market trends: Styrene volatile
Most aromatics markets remain dull. Benzene and phenol are firm, toluene is quiet, and a turnaround fails to lift mixed xylenes. Paraxylene is tight more
(10 March 2003 09:47)

Market trends: Naphtha hits $365.5
MoPJ slips early in the week, then rises to new 11-year high more
(10 March 2003 09:08)

New projects summary
As reported in ACN 3-9 March 2003 more
(10 March 2003 09:01)

Iffco gives up Iran ammonia jv idea
The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (Iffco) has abandoned the idea of setting up a joint-venture ammonia plant in Iran more
(10 March 2003 09:59)

SCAC PVC startup outside Shanghai delayed past 2005
Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Co (SCAC) expects its PVC project outside of Shanghai to come onstream only after 2005 more
(10 March 2003 10:02)

TriPolyta seeks to up PPby 150 000 tonne/year
TriPolyta hopes to expand its PP capacity by 150 000 tonne/year by 2007, the company's ceo more
(10 March 2003 09:58)

Herdillia studies expansions in Mumbai
Schenectady Herdillia is studying debottlenecking its isobutylbenzene, unsaturated dimers of alpha methyl styrene and alpha methyl styrene plants in.... more
(10 March 2003 09:51)

Honam may study expanding Hyundai plants
Honam Petrochemical may conduct a feasibility study on expanding the hdPE, PP and ethylene glycol/ethylene oxide (EG/EO) plants that it plans to.... more
(10 March 2003 09:53)

Zhenhai prepares C2 proposal
Zhenhai Refining & Chemical has started preparing a proposal for an 800 000 tonne/year cracker facility at its site in Zhenhai, Zhejiang, China more
(10 March 2003 08:26)

Celanese still keen to expand Sing acetic
Celanese has not ruled out an expansion of its 500 000 tonne/year acetic acid plant in Singapore more
(10 March 2003 09:56)

Fushun to invest in Liaoning park
The Fushun municipal government plans to invest Rmb1.5bn (US$181.2m) in building Fushun Petrochemical and Fine Chemical Park in Liaoning, China more
(10 March 2003 09:56)

Pars shortlists EPC contractors for Iran EB
Pars Petrochemical has shortlisted two consortia led by Daelim Industrial and Snamprogetti as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC).... more
(10 March 2003 09:55)

Expansion delayed
Sabic has delayed the expansion of subsidiary Safco's second ammonia-urea plant in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, a company spokesman said. Safco had more
(10 March 2003 09:57)

Changzhou Donghao plans to up styrene
Changzhou Donghao Chemical plans to double its styrene output to 300 000 tonne/ year in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China, at end- 2004 or early 2005 more
(10 March 2003 09:54)

How safe is logistics in China?
A sceptic suggests that the motive for the strong criticism from overseas chemical logistics suppliers in China about the safety standards of their.... more
(14 March 2003 09:56)

Ibra to invite investors to asset sales from 28 March
the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (Ibra) plans to invite potential investors to express their interest in acquiring the assets - owned by Ibra.... more
(14 March 2003 09:56)

Pla-Net concentrates on BOPA and IT products
Pla-Net Holdings prefers to concentrate on high-end manufacturing businesses such as BOPA (biaxially oriented polyamide) film and IT products such as.... more
(14 March 2003 09:56)

Hyundai buy is business, not investment
The acquisition of Hyundai Petrochemical by LG Chem (and its partner, Honam) is a business venture and not an investment, and therefore does not come.... more
(14 March 2003 09:56)

Steep PTA/EG prices force PET shutdown, longer turnaround
Recent steep increases in the prices of PTA and EG have forced Mitsui Chemicals to stop PET production, and Japan Unipet to extend the turnaround of.... more
(14 March 2003 09:56)

Secco's polymers can meet challenge
Shanghai Secco Petrochemical Co (Secco) will be able to compete with commodity-grade polymers delivered to China from the Middle East more
(14 March 2003 09:56)

Happy days again?
The outlook seems brighter for Asian MEG producers with demand growth forecast to be healthy following the margins misery of the past few years. But,.... more
(14 March 2003 09:56)

Global roundup
From stories supplied by the CNI and ACN teams more
(14 March 2003 09:56)

Chlor-alkali report: Spot caustic up by $20
Tight supply, an increase in demand, higher energy costs and the price surge in chlorine have contributed to the upward movement of spot caustic soda.... more
(14 March 2003 09:56)

Herdillia: Mumbai PA startup by Q2
Schenectady Herdillia is scheduled to bring onstream a 1000 tonne/year expansion of its 10 000 tonne/year phthalic anhydride (PA) plant in.... more
(14 March 2003 09:56)