ICIS - Search Articles by Date : June 24 2002 - June 30 2002

Product profile: Styrene
European markets have rebounded after a disastrous 2001 and a return to positive growth is expected. The market will feel the impact of new capacity.... more
(24 June 2002 10:27)

Market trends: Benzene up on tight availability
US shipments and producer purchases have had a knock on effect on the benzene market causing a tightening of supplies in Europe. Spot prices crossed.... more
(24 June 2002 11:21)

Business In Brief
Rodel, Nanophase in Nanotech Deal Rodel Inc. has formed a strategic partnership and an exclusive long-term supply agreement with Nanophase more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Jobs and People
Brian M. Ahern Brian M. Ahern has been appointed president and CEO of Verano. Mr. Ahern will lead Verano's global team in building upon the more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

F&F Corner
VIGON International Inc. has expanded its strategic partnership with the basic ingredient division of Givaudan Flavors. Under the expanded more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Roche Gets Approval for Pegasys
ROCHE Holding AG has received European Commission approval for hepatitis C drug Pegasys (peginterferon alfa 2-a (40 KD)) in combination with more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Nova Restructures Its Styrenics Business
Nova Chemicals has launched a far-reaching campaign to reshape its styrenics business in hopes of improving the financial performance of the unit. more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Environmentalists Make NSR Opposition Public
Environmentalists have launched an advertising campaign aimed at persuading several Republican lawmakers to oppose the Bush administration's more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Thin Margins Pressure Fatty Acid Makers for Price Hikes
Surging raw material costs combined with shrinking margins are prodding US oleochemical producers to increase fatty acid pricing for the first time more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Oils In Brief
METALLIC STEARATES Baerlocher USA is increasing its entire metallic stearates price, effective July 1 or as contracts allow. Tallow fatty more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Despite Gains, the Outlook For US Olefins Is Uncertain
Following a significant run-up in prices, the ethylene and propylene markets are faced with the question of whether recent gains mean actual more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Petrochemicals In Brief
Acetone Second quarter contract prices are in the 23 to 25c. per pound range. Third quarter nominations by producers are calling for a 6 to 7c. more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Specialties Pricing
BASF Corp. will increase its prices for Ultraform polyoxymethylene copolymers in Europe by  200 per metric ton, effective July 1. CRITERION more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Pliva Sets Its Sights on the Global Generics Market
Croatia-based Pliva Pharma-ceuticals is coming out from under the shadow of the antibiotic azithromycin, its primary source of revenues, to more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Raisio Considers Expansion Of Its Paper Chemicals Business
Raisio is seeking further acquisitions to expand its paper chemicals operations after an agreement with Rhodia to take over full control of their more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Corporate Reporting and Governance: Reform Remains High on SEC And European Policy Agendas
Reforms in corporate reporting and governance continue to be key issues in the post-Enron/post WorldCom environments. Several key proposals are on more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

Solvay Forms Thermoplastics Alliance
Solvay Engineered Polymers (SEP) is forming a strategic alliance with Thermoplastic Rubber Systems Inc. (TRS), Shirley, Mass., under which SEP will more
(28 June 2002 20:19)

IT in Brief
Franciso Partners Acquires Ge Global eXChange Services Francisco Partners, a technology buyout fund, has agreed to buy General Electric Company's more
(28 June 2002 20:20)

Thorough Framework To Assess Infrastructure Vulnerability Urged
House Republicans are urging Homeland Security director Tom Ridge to adopt a "comprehensive framework" for assessing the vulnerabilities to more
(28 June 2002 20:20)

Serono Broadens Platform With Genset Purchase
The Swiss biotech firm Serono SA has agreed to acquire the Paris-based genomics company Genset SA in an all-cash deal valued at  107.4 million more
(28 June 2002 20:20)

Solvay Expands PAI Capacity
Solvay Advanced Polymers LLC will expand the capacity of its polyamide-imide (PAI) plant at Donaldson Center in Greenville, S.C., during the next more
(28 June 2002 20:20)

Upstart Catalytic Solutions Shakes Auto Catalyst Oligarchy
The auto catalyst market is seeing some unexpected competition from a privately held start-up company, Catalytic Solutions Inc.'s (CSI), Oxnard, more
(28 June 2002 20:20)

House Votes to Begin Talks With Senate on Trade Bill
Manufacturers expressed relief last week after the House of Representa-tives, by a one-vote margin, approved a motion to begin talks with the more
(28 June 2002 20:20)

Factfile: Philippines
What it costs to start a venture... and where to enquire more
(24 June 2002 17:09)

Dismay at reported US$455 for May PX
Reports that a major Japanese and a leading European paraxylene (PX) producer have settled May contracts at US$455/tonne cfr Asia have raised.... more
(24 June 2002 17:06)

Global roundup
Tensions between India and Pakistan rose further while the US worried about more terrorist attacks. Also in the week of 17-23 May, Iran's NPC.... more
(24 June 2002 16:31)

Iran's NPC subsidiary delays No1 PTA to '03
Shahid Tondguyan Petrochemical Co has further delayed the startup of its No1 PTA project in Bandar Imam, Iran, to mid-Q3 2003. more
(24 June 2002 16:29)

Mitsui in talks for KP's assets
Mitsui Chemicals is in talks to buy KP Chemical's purified terephthalic acid (PTA), paraxylene and PET assets at Ulsan, South Korea. more
(24 June 2002 16:29)

Asahi Glass to close more Japan units...
Asahi Glass has decided to exit the magnesium oxide, bromine, soda ash and cathode ray tube (CRT) related businesses in Japan more
(24 June 2002 16:27)

China PTA: who will build first?
At the last count 16 purified terephthalic acid (PTA) projects had been announced in China. Of the 16, work had started on only four (see.... more
(24 June 2002 16:25)

Chloralkali report: EDC surges $30-40
EDCprices surge on the back of tight supply and higher chlorine values. But soda ash holds steady, although oversupply in China could undermine.... more
(24 June 2002 16:26)

Gail plans new strategy in face of RIL challenge
The Gas Authority of India Ltd (Gail) is drawing up a new petrochemicals strategy to help it face the increased challenge from Reliance Industries.... more
(24 June 2002 16:26)

C2 business at $350 rocks Asian markets
Ethylene sellers were in a state of panic last week after news spread of a deal settled at US$350/tonne fob Thailand, a US$20-50/ tonne drop from the.... more
(24 June 2002 16:24)

Looking at a bright future
The speciality chemicals sector in Asia is emerging from the financial crisis of 1997 and last year's global economic slump. And industry majors are.... more
(24 June 2002 16:11)

PIIC delays PVC startup to end-2004
Petrochemical Industries Investment Co (PIIC) of Iran has delayed the startup of its 120 000 tonne/year PVC project in Bandar Imam, by six months to.... more
(24 June 2002 16:16)

Keidanren seeks IT related tax breaks
Japanese industry players, including petrochemical producers, are seeking tax breaks or a higher depreciation for information technology (IT) related.... more
(24 June 2002 16:15)

Mitsubishi weighs styrene options...
Mitsubishi Chemical is considering selling its styrene business in Japan or forming an alliance with Japanese or global players. more
(24 June 2002 16:15)

Stock clearance pulls down PE by $20-40
PE prices plunged by US$20-40/tonne last week as producers frantically attempted to liquidate unsold June cargoes. more
(24 June 2002 16:14)

NFC will not give up control
National Fertiliser Co (NFC) will not relinquish management control to two potential investors that are negotiating to jointly take a majority stake.... more
(28 June 2002 12:51)

Mitsui & Co forms Shenzhen jv
In a key strategic move, Mitsui & Co has set up a joint venture in Shenzhen, China, to facilitate the entry of Japanese companies more
(28 June 2002 12:52)

Atofina in talks for SGC's PE/PP assets
Atofina is in talks to acquire the PE and PP assets of Samsung General Chemical (SGC), an Atofina source told ACN. more
(28 June 2002 13:16)

C Asri's No2 interest payment uncertain
Chandra Asri may not be able to make its second interest payment of approximately US$15m, a source close to the company told ACN. more
(28 June 2002 11:57)

PET likely to come under more pressure
PET bottle-grade prices are likely to come under more pressure in the coming weeks more
(28 June 2002 11:50)

Benzene buyers shun $410 offers
HIGH US prices pulled up Asian benzene offers, for second-half July to US$410-440/tonne fob Korea last week, but buyers staged a protest more
(28 June 2002 11:49)

Fibres intermediates: Acrylo+capro bullish
Contraction in Chinese demand causes PTA prices to slip by $20-30 while July contract nominations upset MEG buyers more
(28 June 2002 13:12)

PetroChina approves Jilin ldPE expansion
PetroChina's board of directors has approved the expansion of Jilin Petrochemical's 200 000 tonne/year ldPE plant in Jilin, China more
(28 June 2002 11:41)

Qingpu park in bid to attract more investors
Shanghai Qingpu Industrial Zone (SQIZ) has drawn up a new plan to attract more chemical companies to invest in the industrial park in Shanghai more
(28 June 2002 11:40)

Tianjin park planned
The Tianjin municipal government of China has designated a 90 000 ha plot in the city's Xiqing Economic and Technological Development Zone (ETDZ) for.... more
(28 June 2002 11:39)

Natural winner
Canada's abundant natural resources are just one reason for the region's strong growth more
(24 June 2002 16:10)

Focusing on a bright future
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO has become a leading location for producers looking for advantaged gas feedstock, which has led to the islands’.... more
(24 June 2002 16:10)