ICIS - Search Articles by Date : April 23 2007 - April 29 2007

MARKETS: Data Bank
        CONTRACT BULK CHEMICAL PRICES Europe .... more
(23 April 2007 16:59)

Lurgi buy brings growth opportunities
THE ACQUISITION of German ­engineering group Lurgi by Air Liquide, announced last week, could have advantages for both companies, especially if.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

Dow Chemical: shareholder resolutions a reality of life
DOW CHEMICAL is not unduly concerned about shareholder activism and the pressure it could put on the company's portfolio of products, according to a.... more
(27 April 2007 17:42)

Finland makes a record investment
FINLAND'S CHEMICAL industry invested €86m ($117m) on environmental, health and safety requirements during 2006, a record, according to the latest.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

IN BRIEF: Environment watch
SCENIHR SAYS CHEMICAL FRAMEWORK WON'T DO The EU's scientific committee on emerging and newly identified health risks (Scenihr) has said that.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

Plastics: part of green solution
The plastics industry must be proud to see itself as part of the solution to environmental challenges - not just a cause -according to the new head.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

BSEF unhappy about deca move
The Bromine Science and Environment Forum (BSEF), the international organization of the bromine industry, has described the decision by the.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

IN BRIEF: Environment watch
Joint venture names new green plastic Metabolix and BioEnergy have named their biodegradable plastics joint venture Telles, after the Roman.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

Conferences and Events
100% Natural Conference May 13-15 Northants, UK 7th Annual Oil and Gas Pipelines in the Middle East Conference May 14-15 Abu Dhabi,.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"From front to back, there's little that resembles an old PET plant" Brian Ferguson, Eastman Chemical "For three years, we have been.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

COMMENTARY: The big bang
The universe started with a big bang, according to one prevailing theory. But sometimes it takes a bit longer to effect a transformation. Dow.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

NOVA beats the Street, and stock jumps
NOVA CHEMICALS posted underlying first-quarter profits of $27m versus a loss of $4m in the year-ago period despite 3% lower sales of $1.5bn. .... more
(27 April 2007 17:34)

DuPont earnings earn mixed reviews
DUPONT'S REPORT of a 15% year-on-year increase in first-quarter earnings per share (EPS) generated only a small share price uptick and a lukewarm.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

Dow shoots down Big Bang theory
DOW CHEMICAL does not need to execute a major deal to make 2007 a "defining year" in its history, according to its chief executive. "Everyone.... more
(27 April 2007 17:32)

Greased lightning
Chemtura aims high with acquisition of synthetic lubricants producer Kaufman Holdings. Can it accelerate growth in refrigeration lubes and aviation.... more
(27 April 2007 17:44)

5-minute News Watch
ExxonMobil Q1 chems get profit boost Q1 chemical profits at ExxonMobil climbed 30% to $1.24bn as margins and non-US income improved. But volumes.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

Dalton bids for Nippon
DALTON INVESTMENTS has made a friendly bid to buy all outstanding shares of Nippon Fine Chemical for about $197m. The Los Angeles-based fund also.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

Gases bubble on earnings reports
  SHARES OF industrial gas companies Air Products and Praxair spiked last Wednesday following quarterly.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

Akzo Nobel to invest $343m in China site
AKZO NOBEL will spend €250m ($343m) on two chemicals plants in China - the first confirmed investments in a new site being set up by the company in.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

Lyondell earnings tank
LYONDELL CHEMICAL Company reported underlying earnings per share of 17 cents for the first quarter of 2007, some 82% below the year-ago quarter and.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

Specialties post mixed Q1 results
SPECIALTY CHEMICAL companies scored a mixed performance in last week's first-quarter earnings releases, with Rohm and Haas reporting an 8%.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

Chlorine thefts appear isolated
THEFTS OF chlorine in California appear to be isolated and there is no widespread pattern of chlorine diversion, according to industry officials who.... more
(27 April 2007 17:38)

Natural gas development will cost more
NORTH AMERICAN natural gas producers said last week they are confident of meeting domestic gas demand but that sharply increased exploration and.... more
(27 April 2007 15:52)

ICIS Chemical Shipping News: 23 April 2007
ICIS Chemical Shipping News: 23 April 2007 more
(23 April 2007 12:10)

ICIS radio: Americas: 23 April 2007
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(23 April 2007 13:42)

ICIS radio:Special report: Europe's polymer sector
Feed Air Products Weblink   Will Beacham interviews Wilfred Haensel, executive director, Plastics Europe, at Identiplast,.... more
(25 April 2007 09:59)

In-cosmetics 2007: Market trends
In-cosmetics, organised by Reed Exhibitions, was held in Paris , 17-19 April. ICIS TV was there looking at some of the key trends in the.... more
(25 April 2007 10:15)

ICIS radio: Chemical News Central: 27 April 2007
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(27 April 2007 16:08)

THINK TANK - Polymer prices to come under pressure next year
Polyolefins prices are expected to be under pressure later in 2008 and through to the end of the decade as new low-cost capacity comes on stream in.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

New projects reported by ICIS 23-29 April 2007
  Company Product Capacity Process Contractor Cost Startup Status Belarus government initiative .... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

IN BRIEF - Supply Chain
ONE EQUITY PARTNERS SELLS STAKE FOR €565M One Equity Partners has agreed to sell its 66% stake in French tank terminal company LBC to.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

IN BRIEF - Markets Watch
Phenolic resin hikes Hexion Specialty Chemicals plans to raise North American specialty phenolic resins prices by 4.5-9 cents/lb.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

BRICE'S PRICES - ABS sellers hoping to profit from demand
No sooner had April acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) settlements been agreed than European producers were eyeing further price increases..... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

IN BRIEF - Environment Watch
SCENIHR SAYS CHEMICAL FRAMEWORK WON'T DO The EU's scientific committee on emerging and newly identified health risks (Scenihr) has said that.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

IN BRIEF - Environment Watch
Joint venture names new green plastic US companies Metabolix and BioEnergy have named their biodegradable plastics joint venture (JV) Telles,.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

EU INSIDER - Chemicals sector prime suspect in dumping
The chemicals industry continues to top the global antidumping charts, attracting the highest number of unfair trading complaints last year. A.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

ASIA INSIDER - India, GCC keep fingers crossed for planned FTA
After a year's hiatus, India and the Middle East's Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have said they will resume talks in April for a Free Trade.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

WASHINGTON INSIDER - Workers still need extra protection
Federal officials have said that US refiners' plans to boost the safety of temporary buildings at refineries and petrochemical plants fall short of.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

Innovation Awards 2007
ICIS Chemical Business and ICIS Chemical Business Americas are proud to be partnering again with Dow Corning for the fourth ICIS Innovation Awards.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

Emerging talent
As India, China and the Middle East grow in importance in the global chemical industry, working across cultures will become all the more vital for.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

Bahrain's GPIC waits for go-ahead
  Gulf Petro-chemical Industries Co (GPIC), based in Bahrain, is awaiting the allocation of feedstock from the.... more
(27 April 2007 17:26)

Record orders result in delight for Germany's chemical contractors
GERMANY'S large plant contractors broke all records for order intake in 2006, winning projects worth €26.3bn ($35.8m), including a record €2.4bn in.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

Dow Chemical: shareholder resolutions a reality of life
DOW CHEMICAL is not unduly concerned about shareholder activism and the pressure it could put on the company's portfolio of products, according to a.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

Finland makes a record investment
FINLAND'S CHEMICAL industry invested €86m ($117m) on environmental, and health and safety requirements during 2006, a record, according to the.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

NRC spreads Swiss cover
GERMAN SPECIALITY chemical distributor Nordmann Rassmann (NRC) has taken over 100% ownership of Switzerland's Prochem from sole owner M Friedli.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

Large drug firms struggle to compete with generics industry
GENERIC DRUGS have created a buzz in Asia's pharmaceutical industry in recent weeks. From Abbott Laboratories' backing down from a confrontation.... more
(27 April 2007 17:11)

Vopak boosts capacity in Singapore
VOPAK PLANS to raise storage capacity again in Singapore in 2008, increasing volume from 1.9m m3 to 2.6m m3. The Dutch company has also sold its.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

Indian fertilizer firm chooses Topsoe for methanol plant
GUJARAT State Fertilizers & Chemicals (GSFC) has appointed Denmark's Haldor Topsoe as technical collaborator on its methanol project in Baroda,.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

Call for firms to clean up their act
THE CLARION call for chemical companies to do business in an environmentally friendly manner has never been stronger. Scores of delegates and.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)

BSEF unhappy about deca move
The Bromine Science and Environment Forum (BSEF), the international organisation of the bromine chemicals industry, has described the decision by.... more
(27 April 2007 12:34)