ICIS - Search Articles by Date : October 24 2005 - October 30 2005

Looking for harmony in EU legislation
The EU is planning to put in place a new chemicals strategy and implement the globally harmonised system for the classification and labelling of.... more
(28 October 2005 18:46)

Akzo Nobel buys bridgehead
Akzo Nobel has increased the reach of its powder coatings activities in the Asia and Middle East regions by buying 60% of Egyptian power coatings.... more
(28 October 2005 18:54)

Bertschi buys bulk operator
BROSTRÖM IS selling its Nordic Bulkers subsidiary to Switzerland’s Bertschi as it increases its focus on product tanker shipping. The sale price was.... more
(28 October 2005 16:46)

China: land of increasingly fulfilled promise
BASF’s Chinese ambitions have taken a long time to reach fruition, but the fruit should be worth picking, Simon Robinson reports more
(28 October 2005 16:49)

Cyclohexane looks for delta in volatile conditions
The cyclohexane market has once again struggled to find a delta for the fourth quarter (Q4) that satisfies all parties concerned. Despite one.... more
(28 October 2005 18:54)

DTI drops Durban petrochemical hub initiative
Plans for a major petrochemicals complex in Durban, South Africa, have been dropped, according to the country’s department of trade and industry.... more
(28 October 2005 16:53)

Degussa Plans Multi-User Site
The first two projects on Degussa’s multi-user site in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in China are progressing to schedule and should be.... more
(28 October 2005 16:55)

DHL invests in growth
DHL is investing in Russia and Asia as it strives to meet huge growth in demand. A 30 000m2 warehouse is opening near Moscow as part of a $50m.... more
(28 October 2005 16:57)

EC calls for avian vaccine stockpile
The European Commission has urged member states to stockpile antiviral drugs in preparation for a possible outbreak of avian flu. The call came days.... more
(28 October 2005 17:00)

EU open to overseas researchers
The Council of Ministers of the European Union (EU) has adopted a ‘researcher’s package’ of measures to attract foreign researchers to the EU. This.... more
(28 October 2005 17:02)

French say ‘non’ to bags
Members of the French parliament have voted in favour of banning the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags by 2010. The decision has been slammed by.... more
(28 October 2005 17:04)

GEA given go-ahead for Slovakia plant
German engineering group GEA has won a turnkey contract worth €37m to build a bioethanol plant in Slovakia. The plant is due for completion in.... more
(28 October 2005 17:05)

Plastics prices perform well on LME
Reference prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) have held above $1300/tonne for most of September and October. Linear low density polyethylene.... more
(28 October 2005 17:09)

Omsk complex on the cards
Novatek has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Titan group, which includes Omsk Rubber and EcoOil, to build a petrochemical complex.... more
(28 October 2005 17:10)

PTA sellers seek hike of €95/tonne
Discussions for October’s purified terephthalic acid (PTA) contracts continue, with many European producers anticipating hikes of up to €95/tonne to.... more
(28 October 2005 17:12)

MMA rises with acetone
Increases in acetone costs of €125/tonne in October – with possibly more to follow – combined with rising energy prices, have prompted methyl.... more
(28 October 2005 18:55)

Responsible Care data published by UK’s CIA
The UK’s Chemical Industries Association (CIA) has published its indicators of performance under the Responsible Care programme. The data, which.... more
(28 October 2005 17:35)

IN BRIEF: ENVIRONMENT WATCH
$571m price tag to axe refinery Emissions more
(28 October 2005 17:55)

Kuehne & Nagel buys ACR Logistics for €440m
Kuehne & Nagel International has struck the largest deal in its history by paying €440m to buy ACR Logistics from the US’ Platinum Equity Group. more
(28 October 2005 17:58)

Toxic call over baby toys
Yet another study, by the US Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG), indicates the presence of ‘toxic chemicals’ in baby products. The report, The.... more
(28 October 2005 18:00)

Treat yourself to a new ceramic coat
Industrial paint shops have welcomed the introduction of a novel nanoceramic coating for pre-paint treatment, claims its manufacturer Henkel..... more
(28 October 2005 18:02)

Kemira in control of Rozenburg
A long term contract has been signed by Kemira GrowHow with Micro Chemie giving the ammonia major full control of the terminal in Rozenburg, the.... more
(28 October 2005 18:03)

IN BRIEF: MARKETS WATCH
Global increase for nylon portfolio more
(28 October 2005 18:06)

Italy flouts EU green rulings
The European Commission is set to take legal action against Italy for breaches of European Union environmental law. Ten of the eleven breaches.... more
(28 October 2005 18:07)

IN BRIEF: INNOVATION WATCH
EC updates plan more
(28 October 2005 18:10)

Mercury vs membrane
Mercury use is prevalent in Europe but although it boasts high levels of purity and low salt content, it has become increasingly frowned upon as.... more
(28 October 2005 18:44)

Akzo Nobel spends €15m to expand speciality chemicals in China
Akzo Nobel is investing €15m to beef up its activities in China with new production units in Taixing and Guangzhou , producing.... more
(28 October 2005 18:48)

APPC to construct second dehydrogenation unit
Advanced POLYPROPYLENE Co (APPC) is planning to build a second 450 000 tonne/year propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia,.... more
(29 October 2005 12:02)

Arsenal takes aim at specialties
Siadat builds critical mass, opening the door for an IPO. Joseph Chang reports more
(24 October 2005 11:23)

Chemical stocks tumble to lows
Wall Street remains optimistic on commodities, however. Joseph Chang reports more
(24 October 2005 11:59)

Late spot prices
Late spot prices more
(24 October 2005 11:40)

Purac expands global lactic acid capabilities
PURAC, the biochemical division of Dutch food ingredients company CSM NV, is constructing a lactic acid and derivatives production facility in.... more
(24 October 2005 11:42)

Life sciences in brief
Abbott Laboratories Inc. did not receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration for Xinlay (atrasentan), its prostate cancer drug, in a.... more
(24 October 2005 11:36)

Asia boosts PVC exports to US
Asian companies will boost PVC (polyvinyl chloride) exports to the US to satisfy strong demand and take advantage of price differentials. more
(24 October 2005 11:57)

ChemChina to buy Adisseo
CVC has signed a definitive agreement to sell Drakkar Holdings, the parent company of animal nutrition firm Adisseo, to China National Chemical Corp..... more
(24 October 2005 11:56)

Shanghai Petro plans new units
Shanghai Petrochemical Company (SPC) plans to produce up to 600,000 tons per year of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) downstream of its.... more
(24 October 2005 11:58)

Pharma in brief
Avian flu vaccine en route more
(24 October 2005 11:35)

Shell lifts Moerdijk force majeure
Shell has lifted force majeure on ethylene and propylene out of Moerdijk, the Netherlands, and the cracker there is running well, a company official.... more
(24 October 2005 11:58)

Polyethylene buyers turn cautious
Spot buyers of European polyethylene (PE) have turned cautious, holding back purchases on signs that imports from Asia could put a brake on recent.... more
(24 October 2005 11:57)

IN BRIEF: Europe watch
DuPont buys Pedex more
(24 October 2005 11:57)

Elementis sells Linatex unit
Elementis has agreed to sell its Linatex rubber business to private equity funds managed by Asian-based Navis Capital Partners for about $30.8.... more
(24 October 2005 11:24)

Industri Kapital sells Perstorp to PAI
Private-equity firm Industri Kapital has sold Sydsvenska Kemi, the holding company for Swedish specialty chemicals group Perstorp, to European.... more
(24 October 2005 11:58)

Akzo Nobel expands reach in Middle East
Akzo Nobel has increased the reach of its powder coatings activities in Asia and the Middle East by buying 60 percent of an Egyptian powder-coatings.... more
(24 October 2005 11:37)

Hurricanes jolt US glycol market
The ethylene glycol market has been thrown into a state of flux by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which have disrupted production as well as logistics.... more
(24 October 2005 18:46)

DOWNSTREAM REPORT: PET PRICES SOAR
Ethylene glycol shortages coupled with skyrocketing feedstock costs have sent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) prices soaring, as producers try to.... more
(24 October 2005 11:24)

Chemical commodities in brief
BTX more
(24 October 2005 11:24)

Sensient Tech’s cost pressures have bitter taste
BLAMING SHARP spikes in raw materials and energy prices, Sensient Technologies Corp. is planning to close down three plants and slash its workforce.... more
(24 October 2005 11:43)

Consumer specialties in brief
MGP to build new r&D site more
(24 October 2005 11:45)

Food additives/nutrition in brief
Eastman Chemical Company now offers Eastman Vitamin E TPGS (d-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate) in Japan, where it was recently.... more
(24 October 2005 11:24)

Supply off, costs up: citric acid price sizzles
Strong demand, higher transportation costs and potential capacity loss are expected to drive up citric acid prices. Feliza Mirasol reports more
(24 October 2005 18:45)