ICIS - Search Articles by Date : March 26 2007 - April 01 2007

Lanxess to make resins and rubber investment in Asia
Lanxess is planning a greenfield investment in Asia by its ion-exchange resins business unit, chairman Axel Heitmann revealed at the company's.... more
(26 March 2007 12:07)

Brazilian petchems firms grow closer
Consolidation within Brazil's fragmented petrochemicals industry came a step closer with the news that Ipiranga, the reais (R) 30bn ($14.5bn,.... more
(26 March 2007 12:06)

IN BRIEF: Oils, fats & waxes
Fish oil solubilized Zymes has successfully solubilized fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids and other water-insoluble lipophilic compounds for foods,.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

IN BRIEF Industrial specialties
SI group introduces phenolic resin SI Group, a phenolic resin supplier, has announced a new resin product. RezExten resins can extend the supply.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

ICIS blogs are taking off
THE INTERNET is a good source of ­information, but often, it is overwhelming. Where do you go for reliable information on the world of chemicals.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

A yo-yo effect on recycled PET
ICIS PRICING launched a weekly pricing report for the European recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) market last year in the context of high.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Conferences and Events
2nd Russia & CIS Refining & Petrochemicals Equipment Conference & Exhibition April 16-17 Moscow, Russia Petrochemicals 2007 .... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Nuclear Iran would roil chemicals
A NUCLEAR-armed Iran would enable it to project power over other oil-producing countries, impacting the petrochemical industry, according to former.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Is Reach reaching out beyond Europe?
GOVERNMENTS IN the US and elsewhere may soon adopt environmental controls on the commercial use of chemicals similar to the EU's new registration.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Germany's deposit system amended on EU concerns
The European Commission has closed an infringement inquiry into Germany's drink container collection rules. The inquiry related to a German.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

POPs plan moves a step forward
The European Commission has published the EU's strategy for bringing in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

IN BRIEF: Environment Watch
EPA agrees with ACC on school safety The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has signed an agreement with the American Chemistry Council.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

EPA's Johnson in India for talks
Stephen Johnson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has led a delegation to India to discuss global environmental.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

More pesticides may be restricted
A committee of global experts has recommended adding two pesticides to the list of chemicals that are subject to global trade restrictions under the.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

EU puts tight cap on CO2 allowances
The European Commission has accepted three more national allocation plans (NAPs) for greenhouse gas emissions in the second phase of the EU's.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Loyalty plan is canned
A Dutch court has forced DSM to abandon its new shareholder loyalty dividend program. The Enterprise section of the Amsterdam Court of Appeals.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

EU Insider: EU urges Russia to join WTO
Coming just days after the EU's 50th birthday celebrations, the timing of the trade commissioner's visit to Moscow last week could not have been.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

IN BRIEF Asia Watch
BASF Plans product development center BASF will build a product development center in Malaysia to service its Asia-Pacific engineering plastics.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

India on acquisition trail topush growth opportunities
India's pharmaceutical companies are on a roll. While generic drug makers are buying overseas assets, makers of active pharmaceutical ingredients.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Japan could boost biofuels blends limit
Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy will begin a study next year to look at whether biodiesel blends could exceed current limits,.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Dorf makes Gulf move
Indian specialty chemical company Dorf Ketal is to expand into the Middle East by opening an office in Bahrain and setting up a blending plant in.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

ASIA INSIDER: Let's make a deal, please
The two emerging Asian titans of the chemicals industry look to be scrapping it out for the unwanted assets of US companies. Saudi Arabia's SABIC.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Qapco positive over delays
Rising construction costs may delay some projects but that could be good for the sector, a senior official with Qatar Petrochemical Co. (Qapco) said.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Tension holds up Iran ethylene
The excess ethylene capacity that has been due from Iran for several years now, may never actually arrive, an ethylene producer said last week. .... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

IN BRIEFEurope Watch
Kemira purchases coagulant unit Finnish chemical company Kemira Water has agreed to purchase Arkema's coagulant business for water treatment for.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

RAG prepares for flotation
The newly repositioned energy conglomerate RAG is "ready for the stock market," Chairman Werner Muller declared in Essen, Germany, last week. .... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Rhine accident hampers trade
Container shipping in Cologne, Germany, was severely disrupted last week following an accident on March 25 during which a barge lost part of its.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

COMMENTARY
Raise the flag for petrochemicals! Perception is everything. And in the chemical universe, one of the least understood products among the public.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Glass half full - but going fast?
Thousands worldwide descend on San Antonio for the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association's 32nd annual International Petrochemical.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

NPRA aims to raise public awareness
THE NPRA sees educating policy makers and the public on the importance of the US domestic petrochemical industry as its key target, which will.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

SABIC mulls bid for GE Plastics
SAUDI BASIC Industries Corp. (SABIC) is considering a bid for GE Plastics but will have strong competition from India's Reliance Industries and.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Braskem falls on Triunfo speculation
SHARES OF Braskem fell 2.27% to $15.50 on the New York Stock Exchange last Tuesday amid mounting concerns of further possible consolidation of.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

MMA supply tight to 2008
THE PREVAILING tight situation in the global methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer market could worsen in 2007 and remain so until 2008, according to a.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

US to lose edge in basics
US producers will continue to lose their competitive advantage in basic chemicals as the sector becomes more global, but entrepreneurs can still.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

No hazmat rail relief likely in short term
THE FEDERAL government is working to harmonize federal and state regulations that hamper the transport of hazardous materials but a solution is.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

Airgas to buy Linde package
AIRGAS HAS agreed to acquire the US packaged gas business of Linde for $310m. The business includes branches, warehouses, packaged gas fill.... more
(30 March 2007 17:28)

NPRA '07 Shell's ethylene and derivatives strategy
Shell outlines its views on the US ethylene market going forward. more
(26 March 2007 19:46)

NPRA '07: The importance of chemicals
The NPRA’s Charles Drevna talks about the importance of chemicals to the US economy. more
(26 March 2007 22:24)

Huntsman: cash in the bank
Peter Huntsman talks about what the future might hold for his business. more
(26 March 2007 23:37)

NPRA '07 Braskem, the next steps
Jose Carlos Grubisich president, Braskem outlines his firm’s strategy for South America and beyond.   more
(26 March 2007 23:47)

NPRA 2007 weather report
What is the outlook for petchems in 2007-2008? We asked delegates at the NPRA convention more
(27 March 2007 16:26)

PE/PP research plant opens
Repsol has built a €3m ($4m) pilot polyolefin plant at its chemicals complex in Tarragona, Spain. The company says the facility is unique.... more
(26 March 2007 12:05)

Olefins and aromatics stay subdued
European trade thins and some contract talks continue. US industry event draws players from markets. Asian spot numbers mostly fall, with butadiene.... more
(26 March 2007 11:39)

Data Bank
MARKETS DATA BANK SPOT BULK CHEMICAL PRICES CONTRACT BULK CHEMICAL PRICES Asia Europe $/tonne .... more
(27 March 2007 11:12)

Borealis rigs for storm
Polyolefins specialist Borealis set new records for its financial performance last year, and is looking ahead to up to two more years of good.... more
(27 March 2007 10:58)

Nova puts eggs in European basket
Canada’s NOVA Chemicals is to bundle its North American styrenics business into the European styrenics joint venture (jv) it has with INEOS, called.... more
(27 March 2007 10:58)

Poised to expand on the global stage
Netherlands-based IMCD Group is rebranding, and is looking to buy in Europe, Africa and Asia more
(30 March 2007 17:27)

Will the genie go in the bottle?
With global warming a high priority, Richard Corfield wonders whether capturing and storing carbon dioxide is the next step in the battle to cut.... more
(30 March 2007 17:27)

Sumitomo puts faith in Rabigh
The Japanese chemicals company expects a joint venture with Saudi Aramco, producing ethylene, propylene and gasoline, to boost profitability in the.... more
(30 March 2007 17:27)

TDI goes under the microscope
Every major toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) manufacturer seems to be promising a substantial increase in capacity in the next three years. And why not?.... more
(30 March 2007 17:27)