ICIS - Search Articles by Date : June 16 2003 - June 22 2003

New project summary
As reported in ECN on 9 and 16 June more
(20 June 2003 16:14)

Image revamp will revitalise industry
Our lifestyles and continued development depend on the chemical industry's ability to re-invent itself more
(20 June 2003 16:14)

Specialties In Brief
ENGINEERING POLYMERS High performance engineering polymers that are used in under-the-hood automotive applications are projected to grow at 15 to more
(20 June 2003 21:38)

Potash Corp. Cuts 2Q Earnings Outlook
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. has cut its second quarter earnings guidance, primarily because of the appreciation of the Canadian dollar more
(20 June 2003 21:38)

Specialties Pricing
CHARKIT Chemical Corp. is increasing the price of all grades of benzyl alcohol by 6c. per pound as of July 1 or as contracts allow. PERSTORP more
(20 June 2003 21:38)

D-Limonene Impacted by Events in Brazil and Asia
The d-limonene market has seen some recent spikes in pricing. This is driven, in part, by the essential oil's use as a solvent and resulting more
(20 June 2003 21:38)

SAP at Sapphire
While its leading competitors-PeopleSoft Inc., Oracle Corp., and J.D. Edwards & Company-battle the merger wars, SAP AG, the top enterprise more
(20 June 2003 21:38)

Oils In Brief
DIMER ACIDS Uniqema will raise its prices on polymerized fatty acids as of August 1. Off list prices for standard dimer and trimer acids will more
(20 June 2003 21:38)

Shell Invests $50 Million to Boost Solvents
to maintain its leadership position in solvents, Shell Chemical LP has invested $50 million to upgrade its oxygenated solvents facilities in Deer more
(20 June 2003 21:38)

Analysts dismiss SK revamp bid
Most analysts were dismissive of the recent restructuring announcement by the SK Group more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

'Thai finance ministry may offer to buy TPI debt'
Although the unimaginative name of Thai Petrochemical Industry (TPI) makes it seem like an inefficient state-run company, the company has always been.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Inchon Oil slashes debt by 60%
Inchon Oil has reduced its total debt sharply, from Won2000bn (US$1.67bn) to Won820bn more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

IPCC's 15m tonne export target
Iran Petrochemical Commercial Co (IPCC) hopes to export 15m tonne of petrochemical products, valued at close to US$3.7bn, by 2005 more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Mitsubishi likely paid $59m for Tonen's stake
Mitsubishi Chemical acquired Tonen Chemical's 35% stake in Japan Polychem (JPC) on 2 June for a sum that cannot be disclosed for business reasons more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Three may vie for NFCstake
Sumitomo Corp, the Xiyang Group and SVM Property are considering bidding for a 71% stake in Thailand's debt-ridden National Fertiliser Co (NFC) on 24.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Daelim revises its strategy for petrochemicals
Daelim Industrial is looking at realigning its petrochemicals business, to bring it closer to its core engineering and construction operations more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Phil plastics seek lower resin tariffs
The Philippine Plastics Industry Association (PPIA) is asking the government to reduce the tariffs on resins that are not manufactured locally more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Behind the brewing Singapore/Philippines trade row
Is there more to the brewing trade row between Singapore and the Philippines than meets the eye? more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Paints & coatings: The writing's on the wall
The Iraq war and Sars may have made the immediate future a little dim for Asia’s paints and coatings industry, and producers may have been unable to.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Paints & coatings: China's VOC regulations may lead to industry restructuring
Will China's new rules limiting emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in paints and coatings bring about a major restructuring of the.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Global roundup
From stories supplied by the CNI and ACN teams more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Shipping report: European C2 dominates
Freight rates recover to pre-Sars levels. But trade between Asia and Europe/the US for liquids continues to remain weak more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Chinese demand boosts acetone
Acetone spot prices have been on the rise since early June on tight supply and improved demand from China more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

N-butanol rises to $600-620
Asian n-butanol prices have risen to US$600-620/tonne cfr Asia for July shipments, up from a low of US$530-560/tonne cfr Asia in May more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Butadiene: US key to buyers' woes
US holds the key: Steep South Korean butadiene prices force buyers to look to the US for relief more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Mixed xylenes soar to $425-435
Isomer-grade mixed xylenes spot prices shot up last week with deals for July cargoes settled more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

NPG producers seek hike for Q3
Neopentyl glycol (NPG) producers are negotiating for a US$100-150/tonne increase for supplies in Q3 more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Market trends: MX shoots up $50-60
Toluene, styrene and paraxylene all rise about $20 while benzene sees a marginal increase of $5. No deals are reported for orthoxylene, while phenol.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Market trends: Butadiene tight
Naphtha eases by $12, while MTBEmoves up $5. Ethylene buyers remain on the sidelines ahead of an influx from Europe more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

New projects summary
As reported in ACN 16-22 June 2003 more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Blue Star's grand China plans
China National Blue Star (Group) Corp is planning several greenfield and expansion chemical projects in various parts of China for products such as.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

PP startup in 2005
Daqing Refining expects to start up its 300 000 tonne/year PP project in Daqing, Heilongjiang, China, in October-November 2005, a company source.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Iran PVC delayed
Petrochemical Industries Investment Co (PIIC) has pushed back the startup of its VCM-PVC project in Bandar Imam, Iran, to mid-2005, a company.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

ITB for Qatar cracker
Qatofin and Q-Chem II are expected to issue invitation-to-bid (ITB) documents next month to interested turnkey contractors for its.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Open sesame after SGI flop?
What does the likely failure of the high-profile US$25bn Saudi Gas Initiative (SGI) mean for the petrochemical industry in the Middle East? more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Capro Corp to use combined tech for new Ulsan unit
Capro Corp will use a combination of its own and Ube Industries' technology at its 120 000 tonne/year caprolactam unit, now being built in Ulsan,.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

SK Chems buys Global's Polish PET stake
SK Chemicals has bought over SK Global's 10% stake in a joint-venture PET bottle-grade chip 120 000 tonne/year project near Warsaw, Poland, and thus.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Snamprogetti for Viva's Lagos methanol
Viva Methanol has selected Snamprogetti as the engineering and procurement contractor for its methanol project, which will form part of a.... more
(20 June 2003 13:22)

Chem-Wire Express Japan
Chemwire Express Japan: Edition of 13 June Basic and Fine Chemicals Mitsui Chemicals plans to expand the output capacity of.... more
(16 June 2003 04:24)

Chem-wire Express Japan
Chem-wire Express Japan: Edition of 16 June Basic and Fine Chemicals Daiso has developed a new grade of epichlorohydrin rubber whose.... more
(17 June 2003 03:45)

Chem-wire Express Japan
Chem-wire Express Japan: Edition of 17 June Basic and Fine Chemicals Kuraray is hurrying to finalise details of its planned.... more
(18 June 2003 09:07)

Chem-wire Express Japan
Chem-wire Express Japan: Edition of 18 June Basic and Fine Chemicals Mitsui Chemicals and Sumitomo Chemical are at a critical.... more
(19 June 2003 07:16)

Chem-wire Express Japan
Chem-wire Express: Edition of 19 June Basic and Fine Chemicals South Korea's  Songwon Group has built a 20 000 tonne/year.... more
(20 June 2003 06:04)

A holistic model
A change of approach for ethylene oxide plants may be just the ticket for boosting operating margins, says Herman de Meyer of Reaction Design more
(20 June 2003 16:14)

Product profile: Ethylene oxide
Europe is becoming increasingly dependent on MEG imports as domestic capacity reaches its limit. Growth is being driven by rising PET demand and.... more
(20 June 2003 16:14)

20 years ago
ECN 27 June 1983 more
(20 June 2003 16:14)

People on the move
British Vita UK specialist polymer technology company British Vita has appointed Keith Hopkins as a non-executive director with effect from 1.... more
(20 June 2003 16:14)

News in brief
HdPE boost Atofina will boost its high density polyethylene (hdPE) capacity in Gonfreville, France, by 3% from 240 000 to 247 200.... more
(20 June 2003 16:14)

Market trends: Outage prompts isomer upswing
Paraxylene and orthoxylene values have risen on the back of a force majeure at Atofina's Gonfreville site in France. Naphtha has dropped to.... more
(20 June 2003 16:14)

News in brief
EU liability law European environment ministers have reached agreement on the core issues in the proposed directive on environmental liability.... more
(20 June 2003 16:14)