ICIS - Search Articles by Date : May 23 2005 - May 29 2005

Commodity prices move downwards
PETROCHEMICAL PRICES across the board and the across the globe have been falling for over a month now, a trend seen in both spot and contract markets.... more
(23 May 2005 09:23)

Directive drives solvent sales down
West European sales of chlorinated solvents fell 6% last year, impacted by the gradual introduction of the Solvents Emissions Directive 99/13/EC and.... more
(23 May 2005 09:25)

Sumitomo forms OLED JV
Sumitomo Chemical Company Ltd. and Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a new joint venture company.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Pricing of corn oil increases on low stock and high demand
US corn oil pricing continues its upward trek, a trend started last October, driven by increased demand and low inventory levels. The average crude.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Strube awarded Palladium Medal
Jürgen Strube, chairman of BASF’s supervisory board, was presented the 2005 International Palladium Medal last Thursday at the Roosevelt Hotel in New.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Jobs and People
Personnel changes in the industry more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Petrochemicals in brief
BTX more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Butadiene remains healthy
While petrochemical prices plummet, butadiene prices appear poised to main-tain their level thanks to healthy demand and a multitude of production.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Olefins slip on inventory destocking
A significant decline in demand has sent olefin prices on a downward spiral, with spot ethylene prices falling about 10 cents during the past month..... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Fast-rising generics producer breaks ice in the US via merger
Through an aggressive, targeted M&A strategy and strong R&D efforts, Reykjavik, Iceland-based Actavis Group is quickly moving up the ranks in the.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Price movements
Price changes by company more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Chemical profile: CMC
US PRODUCERSCAPACITY*Hercules, Hopewell, Va. 44Penn Carbose, Somerset, Pa. 11Total 55 more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Rohm and Haas shutters powder coatings plant
Citing skyrocketing raw materials costs, overcapacity caused by a growing number of competitors and an inability to raise prices in a crowded and.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Sasol to build alcohol plant in China
Sasol is entering China’s fatty alcohol market with a new plant under a joint venture deal with Wilmar Holdings Pte Ltd., a global tropical oils.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Sterling exits sodium cyanide
If Sterling Chemicals restarts its idled acrylonitrile unit in Texas City, Tex., it will no longer produce sodium cyanide at the site. This will.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

House denies plant security funds
The House of Representatives has passed a $34.2 billion spending authorization bill for the Department of Homeland Security, but lawmakers refused to.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Senate OKs ag exemption
The Senate has approvedlegislation that would make permanent the “hours of service” exemption for agriculture and clarify the definition of.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

House rejects opening OCS for drilling
An attempt to lift a federal ban on drilling for natural gas in offshore waters was soundly rejected by the House of Representatives during debate on.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Octel dives on TEL loss
In a major blow to tetraethyl lead (TEL) and specialty chemicals firm Octel Corp., a major customer has cancelled May TEL orders and may exit the.... more
(27 May 2005 20:34)

Tax increases alarm polyester makers
THE Chinese government’s announcement of increases in export tax on 74 textile lines from 1 June this year was received with some alarm by the.... more
(27 May 2005 18:40)

LME futures contracts set to tame PP, PE rollercoaster
WARNING: Chemical prices can go down as well as up. more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

US grabs the tail of the dragon
It is an economic and political battle of immense proportions between two giants that the rest of the world is watching with bated breath. more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

Free trade: fine only if China doesn’t benefit?
The US is changing its tune with regard to free trade now that its own economy is under threat from Chinese exports more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

Market woes
Is the slide in prices here to stay or will fundamentals triumph? John Richardson uncovers the mood at this year’s APIC in Yokohama, Japan more
(28 May 2005 11:49)

An aromatics advantage?
Aromatics production is forecast to take off in the Middle East. Malini Hariharan reports on what is driving projects in the region more
(28 May 2005 11:48)

Markets roundup
Kerteh complex still closed 18 May. Optimal Malaysia’s petrochemical complex in Kerteh, Malaysia, will remain shut until the end of May, said a.... more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

New projects
Technip bags Viet tender 17 May. PetroVietnam has awarded Technip, the leader in a consortium with JGC and Tecnicas Reunidas, a contract to build.... more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

NEWS FROM APIC
20 May . JG Summit Petrochemical will complete financial closure of its long-stalled 350 000 tonne/year cracker project at Batangas, in the.... more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

20-26 May 2005 roundup
Sumitomo Chemical announced plans to build MMA and PMMA units in Singapore, a fire at a chemical plant in China killed four people, China said it.... more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

Butadiene prices likely to soften in June-July
Butadiene sellers conceded that a further softening in prices was likely in June, but they were optimistic about avoiding the kind of price crash.... more
(27 May 2005 10:25)

Market Trends: Wait-and-see time for olefin buyers
Most markets are subdued, with buyers and sellers unsure of future price direction. However, a bearish sentiment is visible across all products more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

Slowing demand worries producers
Rising producer inventory levels, which have reached a two-year high, are another big concern, and C2-related product prices look set to fall. But.... more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

Polyester languishes in the doldrums
A strong mood of pessimism has gripped Chinese polyester producers as an increase in export taxes by the Chinese government and the reinstatement of.... more
(28 May 2005 11:52)

PC still riding on a five-year high
ASIAN polycarbonate (PC) producers are experiencing the good times with prices still at a five-year high despite falling feedstock costs. more
(28 May 2005 11:54)

New projects summary
As reported in ACN 16-29 May2005 more
(27 May 2005 10:20)

The race for Pars gas
Iran faces a tough balancing act. more
(27 May 2005 18:39)

Market Trends: Aromatics spiralling downwards
Benzene players retreat to the sidelines in anticipation of further price drops while toluene, mixed xylenes, and styrene decline. Trade is muted for.... more
(27 May 2005 18:34)

Benzene breaks all pricing records
Turbulent times bring volatility to the benzene market. As consumers start to feel the pinch on higher oil prices at the pumps, Jane Gibson asks how.... more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

Who will be our workforce of the future?
The greying population is not good news for the chemical industry. nathan Where are our visionaries of the future and how do we make chemicals sexy.... more
(26 May 2005 11:47)

Cooking up a recipe for success in China?
Overheated? Undercooked? – or will you be looking at the leftovers? What is your strategy for China? more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

Talking Chemicals in Monte Carlo
There's not a free room in town as petchem people from around the world flock to Monaco to meet and greet at the EPCA. more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

EPCA Headline News
A round-up of top news stories from the EPCA meeting in Monte Carlo more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

Year-end Newsround
Stories that are hitting the headlines as the year ends…..and what’s in store for 2005. more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

The future’s in plastic for the LME
Neil Banks of the London Metal Exchange talks exclusively to ICIS TV as the exchange gears up to tackle the turbulent plastics market. more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

An enlarged EU…..full of Eastern Promise?
As the EU family grows, what will this mean for the chemical industry in 2005? Antoine Westerman of PricewaterhouseCoopers shares his thoughts with.... more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

Strong growth prospects for industrial gases
Can industrial gas producers tap into a potentially lucrative market as oil prices soar? Consultant John Raquet airs his views. more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

Aker Kvaerner Scales Down
The Norwegian contractor has taken the radical step of downsizing its geographical reach and limiting the size of projects it will bid for. more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

Natural Gas - a US crisis?
The price and availability of natural gas is a major issue in the US and will dominate the agenda of next month’s NPRA. Joe Kamalick talks to.... more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

The Wall Street forecast.
ICIS TV speaks to Wall Street analysts about the performance of the North American petrochemical producers ahead of the annual NPRA conference. more
(24 May 2005 11:47)

Creating a global marketplace
The industry giants Dow and Shell talk to ICIS TV about extending their global reach more
(24 May 2005 11:47)