ICIS - Search Articles by Date : September 23 2002 - September 29 2002

An unforgettable year
Heavy cost-cutting and a reduction in headcount were some of the developments that characterised 2001 for the global chemical industry. Nigel davis.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

An unforgettable year
Heavy cost-cutting and a reduction in headcount were some of teh developments that characterised 2001 for the global chemical industry. Nigel Davis.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Buyers retreat
North American chemical companies faced a year of contractions in sales, profits, capital spending and workforce in 2001, says Joseph Chang of CMR in.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Another nightmare on Wall Street?
When all the furore has finally died down, what difference will the Sarbanes-Oxley Act really make to accounting practices? Not much, concludes Rhoda.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Global roundup
Oil prices eased after Iraq agreed to the unconditional return of UN weapons inspectors. Also during the week of 6-12 September, Dow Chemical.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

European players rule the rankings
Although the operating earnings of Europe's key companies had fallen dramatically by the second half of 2001, they were still able to maintain their.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Phenol shortage lifts BPA, PC
Asian bisphenol-A (BPA) and polycarbonate (PC) prices were heading north last week on fears of rising phenol raw material cost and snug availability.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Uncertainty in Middle East clouds market outlook
Uncertainty over events in the Middle East in Q4, combined with historically low oil stocks - highlighted by an International Energy Agency report.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Market trends: Phenol shoots up
Benzene and toluene are bullish but styrene's price rise is set to reverse. Solvent grade mixed xylenes slip $10-15 more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

An uphill task
The numbers might be better for some Asian chemical companies, but improved financial results cannot mask the need for further major restructuring if.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Chemplast awaits IFC nod for PVC loan
Chemplast Sanmar is awaiting a decision from the International Finance Corp (IFC) board of directors for a US$30m loan application for its 170 000.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

CPC may scrap No8 for joint China C2
Chinese Petroleum Corp (CPC) is prepared to drop its No8 cracker project in Taiwan in favour of participation in a new cracker project in China more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Shuguang Chemical delays MMA startup
Shuguang Chemical (Group) Co has delayed the startup of its 50 000 tonne/year methyl methacrylate (MMA) project in China until 2003 and 'possibly.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Phil C2 project hits another rough patch
The Philippines cracker project may face a setback as the Brunei government is expected to prioritise the development of its own oil, petrochemicals.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Sources claim Atofina has shelved cracker idea for China
Atofina has shelved its idea for a cracker project in China, according to two sources familiar with the issue more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Yihua plans 1.2m MTO in Erdos
The Yihua Group (Inner Mongolia) plans to build a 1.2m tonne/year methanol-to-olefins (MTO) unit and downstream plants in Erdos, Inner.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

YNCC to expand styrene, ethylene, butadiene
Yeochun NCC (YNCC) is planning to expand its styrene, ethylene and butadiene capacities at Yeochon, South Korea, a YNCC official told ACN last week more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Market trends: Ethylene standoff
Volatile naphtha costs put ehtylene producers in a spin. Propylene offers were down, while snug supply kept butadiene firm more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

LG delays PMMA expansion to Jan 2003
LG MMA is likely to expand its polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) capacity from 30 000 tonne/year to 50 000 tonne/year only by January 2003, said a.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

IPCL in tech deal
Indian Petrochemicals Corp Ltd (IPCL) will shortly sign an agreement with Houston-based polyester intermediates process licensor GTC Technology to.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

PTA offers under pressure as China demand falls
Producers are expecting lower offers for purified terephthalic acid (PTA) in October, compared to September's US$550-560/ tonne. One trader.... more
(23 September 2002 17:28)

Debt deal may relieve HPL from investor hunt
Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) may decide to abandon its search for a strategic investor, since it hopes to achieve financial viability through a.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

LG seeks partners in US and Europe
LG Chem is looking at forming further alliances in China for commodity chemicals and, for the first time, seeking partners in Europe and the US for.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

India glass makers seek legal opinion
Indian glass makers have decided to seek legal opinion on whether they should take Indian soda ash producers to court for allegedly indulging in.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

New PP blueprint
SunAllomer is aiming to enhance its market share in Japan for PP in the automotive sector and for polybutene-1 (PB-1) in the hot water pipes segment.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Another hurdle for BP's BPC stake sale
Negotiations for the sale of BP Chemicals' 38.5% in Bataan Polyethylene Corp (BPC) to joint-venture partner Petronas have hit a new snag, as Petronas.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Two European oil traders eyeing stake in Inchon Oil
Two European oil trading majors Crown Resources and Glen Corp have expressed an interest in taking a strategic stake in Inchon Oil, it emerged last.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Thai PA dumping probe gets feedback
Thailand's Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has received responses to its questionnaire sent in February this year to phthalic anhydride (PA) exporters in.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

The alternative route
Asian cracker operators confront major challenges in the economics and viability of other sources of feedstock besides naphtha. John Richardson.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Ho Tung to build China PMMA, considers MMA
Ho Tung Chemical plans to build a 20 000 tonne/year polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) plant in Shanghai, China, a source close to the company told ACN more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Naphtha reigns
Naphtha is likely to continue as the feedstock of choice for ethylene production in Asia in the years to come, writes Malini Hariharan. But.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Global roundup
The Dow slumped to a four-year low while the USFederal Reserve maintained interest rates. Also during the week 20-26 September, Mitsui Chemicals said.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Taiwan PS producers running at 50-60%
Taiwanese PS producers, struggling to stay afloat amid falling prices and dwindling demand, cut production to 50-60% of capacity last week more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Asian capro producers hope for $50-100 hike
Major Asian caprolactam producers were looking to lift Q4 contract prices to US$1300/ tonne cfr Asia last week, up US$50-100/ tonne from Q3 more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

MMA up $100 on short supply
Asian methyl methacrylate (MMA) prices for October strengthened by US$100/tonne from September, with several cargoes changing hands last week at.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Spic delays Dubai NH3-urea again
Southern Petrochemical Industries Corp (Spic) has once again delayed the completion of its US$190m ammonia-urea project in Jebel Ali Free Zone in.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Vinachem delays EPC bids for DAP
Vietnam Chemical Corp (Vinachem) has delayed plans to issue invitations-to-bid for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for its.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Pusri revives nitric acid plan
Pupuk Sriwijaya (Pusri) has revived plans to build a 125-150 000 tonne/year nitric acid plant in Palembang, south Sumatra, Indonesia, following a.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Samnam delays QTA startup
Samnam Petrochemical has delayed the startup of its 400 000 tonne/year qualified terephthalic acid (QTA) plant in Yeochon, South Korea, to.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

DSM for worldscale acrylo unit in China?
DSM is mulling a worldscale acrylonitrile project in China, a source close to the company told ACN more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

SDPC approval for 1.1m Fujian cracker
The ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco and Fujian Petrochemical joint-venture cracker in Quanzhou, Fujian, China, will be able to produce as much as 1.1m.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Jinhua Chem puts off Liaoning PC plan
Jinhua Chemical (Group) Co has shelved plans to build a 100 000 tonne/year polycarbonate (PC) plant in Huludao, Liaoning, China, a company source.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Yangzi: Out with the old ways
The hour-long car journey from Nanjing's laid-back town centre to the plant site of Yangzi Petrochemical may convey a deceptive impression that the.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Continental plans Sing PA plant for '04
Continental Chemical plans to bring onstream an 80000 tonne/year phthalic anhydride (PA) plant in Singapore in 2004, Gopal Rao, group vice-president,.... more
(27 September 2002 13:07)

Tighter supply could lift prices
European oxo-alcohol producers continue to push for higher prices into the export markets for October more
(27 September 2002 13:30)

Looking for the cure
The pharmaceutical sector has been suffering recently due to issues such as poor product pipelines, patent expiries, product delays and corporate.... more
(27 September 2002 16:59)

SNPE thinks big
SNPE's Toulouse site reopened in July, now the company is reorganising its fine chemicals assets. Bernard Fontana discusses the company's plans with.... more
(27 September 2002 16:59)

Just how tough does it need to get?
It seems that times have got to get even tougher before the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry in Europe makes any.... more
(27 September 2002 16:59)

Backing a winner
Pharmaceutical majors depend upon the blockbusters of tomorrow for their continuing supremacy in the competitive healthcare arena. Helen Carmichael.... more
(27 September 2002 16:59)

Biochemie/Celltech collaborate
Biochemie, an affiliate of Novartis, will manufacture for and supply to Celltech PEGylated antibody fragment-based drugs as part of a long-term.... more
(27 September 2002 16:59)