ICIS - Search Articles by Date : March 14 2005 - March 20 2005

20 years ago
ECN 11 March 1985 more
(14 March 2005 09:03)

Benzene price impacts on its downstream markets
The shock of the March benzene increase continues to reverberate through downstream markets, with producers of phenolic resins in particular being.... more
(14 March 2005 09:12)

Jobs and People
Michael Atkin more
(18 March 2005 21:38)

Petrochemicals in Brief
BP will increase off-list prices for acetyls in the Americas effective April 1 or as contracts allow. The price of glacial acetic acid will increase.... more
(18 March 2005 21:38)

Benzene’s Rollercoaster Ride
Since the beginning of 2004, US benzene spot prices have soared more than $2 per gallon to top out at $4.25 per gallon, slowly retreated to the $2.50.... more
(18 March 2005 21:38)

Big Pharma Mulls Deeper Outsourcing With China and India Front and Center
Big pharma is now weighing the risks and rewards of taking some of its most complex, important molecules to India and China, but is also proceeding.... more
(18 March 2005 21:38)

Pharma in Brief
ASTRAZENECA says the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has denied a petition from the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group to remove Crestor.... more
(18 March 2005 21:38)

London Metal Exchange Prepares for Plastics Trading
The London Metal Exchange (LME), which currently trades non-ferrous metals, is preparing for the launch of trading futures contracts for.... more
(18 March 2005 21:38)

The Middle East Petrochemical Wave Is Underway
North American and European petrochemical producers are looking for the advantage of less expensive feedstocks in the Middle East, where ethylene.... more
(18 March 2005 21:38)

Sterling Mulls Acrylonitrile Options
Because of losses and difficulties in sourcing propylene, Sterling Chemicals Inc. is considering two options for an idled acrylonitrile and.... more
(18 March 2005 21:38)

Engineering Resins Demand Will Continue to Grow and Grow
There is good news and bad news for engineering resins: processors have seen sales increase, but they have seen prices for engineering resins rise,.... more
(18 March 2005 21:38)

Specialities roundup
Akzo Nobel has won a multi-million euro contract from Norsk Hydro to supply a water purification unit to the Norwegian energy group’s giant Ormen.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Takeda pays $270m for Syrrx
TAKEDA Pharmaceutical has acquired Syrrx Inc for US$270m, a Takeda source told ACN. more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Hyosung: Poor Q4, but ‘05 outlook is good
HYOSUNG’s financial results in the fourth quarter of 2004 were well below expectations, but the company is still expected to perform well in 2005,.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Why Chey’s still at SK helm
SK CORP shareholders’ decision to reject a bid by Sovereign Asset Management to remove Chey Tae-won as chairman was based on sound reasons, an.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Montefibre heads for China
IT IS a familiar enough scenario. Rising production costs and declining demand growth have been driving many a producer out of Western Europe and the.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Reviving fortunes
Rising feedstock costs have been putting pressure on the oxo-alcohol chain for more than a year. Nevertheless, producers are optimistic that margins.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Global roundup
SK Corp shareholders voted to re-appoint embattled chairman Chey Tae-won, and Opec said it would raise oil output by 500 000 bbl/day in the week.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Market Trends: PX buyers hold back
Paraxylene deals remain unchanged as a wait-and-see attitude prevails. Prices across the market are slow, with benzene and toluene values slipping more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Market Trends: Butadiene moves up
Short supply sees butadiene prices increase, although some players are resisting the higher offers. Naphtha also reaches a second record high more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Polymer Trends: PP demand rises
Polypropylene strengthens owing to strong demand from the household-goods segment. High feedstock costs are pushing up prices in other markets more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

PP margins up, but PE lags
TIGHT supply is expected to keep Asian polypropylene (PP) prices high in Q2 2005. more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Styrene costs drive up EPS
ASIAN expandable polystyrene (EPS) prices were expected to continue rising on the back of increasing styrene costs despite a slow recovery in demand.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Mitsui’s ACP plan receives mixed response
MITSUI Chemicals claimed last week that its plan to launch its Asian Contract Price (ACP) for phenol on 1 April had received positive feedback from.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

New Projects Summary
As reported in ACN 14-20 March 2005 more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Beitai starts construction
BEITAI Iron & Steel Group is building ammonia, urea, and methanol facilities costing Rmb1.1bn (US$132.9m) in Benxi, Liaoning, China. more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

FIP to build 75ktpa PC line
FORMOSA Idemitsu Petrochemical (FIP) is to build a 75 000 tonne/year polycarbonate (PC) line in Mailiao, Taiwan, said a company source. more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Project cancelled
SHIJIA Chemical has cancelled its di-octyl phthalate (DOP) project in Haicang, Xiamen, Fujian, China, according to a company source. The company.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Land issue delays Yide’s DOP
ZHUHAI Yide Petrochemical has delayed indefinitely its 120 000 tonne/year di-octyl phthalate (DOP) project in Zhangzhou Gulei Port Economic Zone,.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Esfahan plans phenol/acetone project
ESFAHAN Petrochemical plans to build a phenol/acetone facility in Esfahan, Iran, said a source from its parent company, National Petrochemical Co. more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Pars relocates phenol/acetone
PARS Phenol has increased the capacity of its US$230m phenol/acetone project and relocated the project to Assaluyeh, Iran, a company source told ACN. more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Medco: No major share in methanol
MEDCO Energy will not be taking a major stake in a methanol project in central Sulawesi, Indonesia, a company source told ACN. more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Qingan to build plasticiser and PA plants in Jiaxing
HENAN Qingan Chemical High-Tech Co plans to build a 150 000 tonne/year plasticiser plant and a 50 000 tonne/year phthalic anhydride (PA) facility in.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

UPC’s third DOP line in Zhuhai
UPC Technology Corp is considering building its third di-octyl phthalate (DOP) line in Zhuhai Harbour Industrial Zone, Guangdong, China, according to.... more
(18 March 2005 18:44)

Crompton to merge with Great Lakes in global plan
US polymer and speciality chemicals producer Crompton says it will merge with compatriot firm Great Lakes Chemical in a share exchange transaction.... more
(14 March 2005 09:04)

Royalty wrangle threatens Venezuelan olefins project
A royalty dispute between ExxonMobil and the Venezuelan government may hinder a $3bn olefins project planned for the Jose Industrial complex in.... more
(14 March 2005 09:18)

Subdued ECH market looks set to improve in Q2
After a relatively subdued start to the year, European epichlorohydrin (ECH) producers are confident the market will improve during the second.... more
(14 March 2005 09:11)

Teijin plans for expansion
Japan’s Teijin and its subsidiary Teijin Twaron have announced plans to increase the production of Twaron yarn and pulp by 20% at units in Emmen and.... more
(14 March 2005 09:21)

2004 restructuring is ‘having an effect’ – Felcht
Analyst reaction to the results for 2004 reported by Degussa last week was generally positive, although some expected stronger earnings growth. more
(14 March 2005 09:10)

2004 was a stellar year for BASF
BASF has taken a further write-down of its 50% stake in polyolefins producer Basell, and earned a premium to its cost of capital for the first time.... more
(14 March 2005 09:03)

Get the message down the chain
Product stewardship has been around for some time in the chemical industry. But this year, it will move centre stage as industry intensifies efforts.... more
(18 March 2005 18:47)

Business in brief
Factory opens Commercial League, a Bulgarian pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor, has opened a second manufacturing plant. The company.... more
(18 March 2005 18:47)

Arkema calls for stable prices
Arkema chairman Thierry Le  Hénaff and purchasing/energy manager Thierry Vassalot said reasonable energy costs and long-term visibility are.... more
(18 March 2005 18:47)

Act now, warns Commission
The European Commission has threatened to take ten European countries, including Germany and Spain, to court in less than two months for not.... more
(18 March 2005 18:47)

Bayer rewards staff €43.6m
Bayer has decided to reward its German staff for last year’s good performance. more
(18 March 2005 18:47)

Germany mulls pay publishing
Germany’s justice minister, Brigitte Zypries, has drafted legislation that will require companies listed in the DAX 30 index of Germany’s biggest.... more
(18 March 2005 18:47)

Aspen Tech gets books straight
Aspen Technology has restated its sales and net income for financial years from 2000 to 2004 following an investigation by a board level audit.... more
(18 March 2005 18:47)

Turkish government to float extra 30% of Petkim
The Turkish government plans to place a further 30% of Petkim on the Istanbul stock exchange, confirmed general manager Yavuz Kenan exclusively to.... more
(18 March 2005 18:47)

Plant talks on despite dispute
Talks between the Venezuelan government and ExxonMobil to develop a $3bn olefins plant are still on track despite an oil royalty dispute, said.... more
(18 March 2005 18:47)

Worker hurt at Polish start-up
A chemical worker has been seriously injured during the start-up of SK Eurochem’s 120 000 tonne/year polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plant at.... more
(18 March 2005 18:47)