ICIS - Search Articles by Date : August 30 2004 - September 05 2004

IFP sees higher oil prices to come
The Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) believes the price of oil could rise as high as $80/bbl if there is further global instability this year. This.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Smaller biotech players show signs of optimism
After a ‘difficult’ 2002 and 2003, Germany’s small and medium-sized biotechnology companies are now more optimistic, said the president of industry.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Specialties Pricing
Albemarle Corp., as of September 1, has increased the prices of all its organometallic products by 15c. per pound globally. more
(03 September 2004 18:14)

Tight supply boosts MEG
ASIAN monoethylene glycol (MEG) spot prices have surged by US$250-260/tonne in the past month, driven by tight supply, robust demand and high.... more
(31 August 2004 09:25)

Zhenrong mulls aromatics base
ZHUHAI Zhenrong is looking at setting up an aromatics base in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China, ACN was told. more
(31 August 2004 09:24)

YNCC to expand styrene, C2
YEOCHUN NCC (YNCC) plans to double its styrene capacity in Yeochun, South Korea, a company source told ACN. more
(31 August 2004 09:24)

Maoming adds ldPE project
MAOMING Petrochemical is to build a 250 000 tonne/year low-density polyethylene (ldPE) unit in the Maoming Chemical Industry Park, Guangdong, China,.... more
(31 August 2004 09:25)

Specialities roundup
BASF and Dow have confirmed plans to build a world-scale hydrogen peroxide-to-propylene oxide (HP-PO) plant, but said the commercial.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Ube follows customers’ lead
UBE Industries is following its battery-manufacturer customers as they enter the Chinese market. more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

First MHRA award for an Indian CRO
WELLQUEST last month became the first clinical research organisation (CRO) in India to receive an award for good clinical practices (GCP) from the.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

New deadline for Sinochem, Inchon
TAKEOVER talks between Sinochem and Inchon Oil and its creditors are expected to be completed by 24 September. more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Kolon cuts losses from long strike
KOLON Industries managed to minimise its losses during the recent 64-day strike at its Gumi, South Korea, plant by not paying the striking workers’.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

US levies ADD on Chinese, Thai, M’sian PE bags
THE US International Trade Commission (ITC) has found that imports of polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs) from Thailand, China, and Malaysia.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

A stitch in time
Many countries face economic and social turmoil once the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing expires in January 2005. These are the countries that.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Global roundup
From stories supplied by the CNI and ACN teams. more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Market Trends: C2, C3 prices surge
Butadiene also sustains its upward trend. But softening SBR prices in China could lead to customer resistance in the coming weeks. Naphtha continues.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

MDI up by US$200/tonne
METHYLENE di-phenylene isocyanate (MDI) prices in the Asian spot market were surging last week on the back of strong demand and tight supply. more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

PET fibre producers up exports to India, ME
SOUTH Korean and Taiwanese producers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibre chips have, over the last few months, significantly increased their.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Buyers sceptical about butadiene price rally
HOW long will the Asian butadiene price rally last? According to producers, there was little possibility of prices coming down in the near future, as.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

C2 and C3 prices on bull run
ETHYLENE and propylene producers were last week optimistic that Asian markets would continue to be bullish in the coming months, despite the fall in.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Blue Star mulls second acrylics unit in Shenyang
CHINA National Blue Star (Group) Co is considering building a second acrylic acid/acrylates facility in Shenyang, Liaoning, with the aim of becoming.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Taita revives ABS
TAITA Chemical is looking at setting up an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plant in Daya Bay, Huizhou, Guangdong, China, a company source told.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Ningbo PTA in Q2?
YISHENG Petrochemical aims to start feeding its purified terephthalic acid (PTA) project in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, with paraxylene feedstock and.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Chengdu govt submits C2 study
THE Chengdu municipal government has submitted a cracker project proposal along with a feasibility study to the National Development and Reform.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Awaiting approval
KINGBOARD Chemical Holdings aims to start up a hydrogen peroxide unit and a sodium hydrosulphite unit in Panyu, Guangdong, China, at the end of this.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Fushun opts for greenfield C2
FUSHUN Petrochemical has dropped a cracker-expansion plan in favour of a greenfield unit, company sources told ACN. more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Markor plans 1,4-butanediol unit
MARKOR Investment Group is to shelve its previously announced polyvinyl chloride (PVC) project for the time being and to pursue a 60 000 tonne/year.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Lianji considers increase in PSF capacity
SHANGHAI Lianji Synthetic Fibre is considering adding polyester staple fibre (PSF) capacity at its Pudong site in Shanghai, China, a company source.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Piat surveys Chinese C2 sites
THE Petrochemical Industry Association of Taiwan (Piat) recently led a delegation to China to survey sites for a cracker project, according to a Piat.... more
(03 September 2004 17:24)

Making the good times last
As Asia’s chemical industry enjoys record pricing, the ACIC conference will examine both the current good times and longer-term challenges. more
(03 September 2004 17:55)

Shell’s investment looks strong
The construction of Shell Chemicals’ joint-venture cracker complex in Daya Bay, China, has proved timely as demand in the country grows very rapidly. more
(03 September 2004 17:54)

Celanese sweetener sale falters
Plans for German group Celanese to sell its Nutrinova artificial sweeteners and sorbates subsidiary have faltered, says chief shareholder, US private.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

CLC drives sciences for greater fusion
Chemistry education needs to be integrated with other disciplines, in particular chemical engineering, if the industry is to have a successful future.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

A toast to DSM
  DSM has signed a deal with German sports nutrition company Haleko to make its peptide sports drink .... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

ICI Pakistan sells PTA stake to pay debt
UK speciality chemicals company ICI has announced that its Pakistan subsidiary has sold an 18.9% stake in its purified terephthalic acid (PTA).... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Business in brief
Silicone strength Dow Corning Toray Silicone, Dow Corning’s joint venture in Japan, is planning to buy the silicone division of Nippon Unicar.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Ex-nuclear plant for sale
Russia’s Kirov regional authority plans to sell its remaining 19% stake in Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Combine for $24m. more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Indian tariffs threat
India is investigating whether it should impose tariffs on chemicals used to give rubber its rubbery properties. more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

CIA Reaches out for answer
The UK Chemical Industries Association (CIA) and European independent analytical laboratory LGC are planning to set up a centre to advise on the.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Orica sells land
Orica, the Australian explosives, chemical and fertiliser company, has sold surplus land at its Deer Park, Melbourne, site to Investa Property for.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Sanofi results out prior to Aventis in
Sanofi-Aventis announced its last results before Aventis is incorporated into the company, and saw consolidated sales up 18.9% at €4.58bn for the.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

People on the move
Brunner Mond   Martin Keighley Martin Keighley has been appointed to the newly created role of managing.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

25 years ago
ECN 3 September 1979 more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

WWF warns of perfluorinates
Environmental organisation WWF is urging parents across Europe to check the labels of children’s clothes for perfluorinated chemicals. more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Syngenta/D&PL sign seeds deal
Syngenta and US-based Delta & Pine Land (D&PL) have entered into a long-term agreement to develop and commercialise biotechnology products for cotton. more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Denmark calculates savings from Reach
Denmark’s environment agency has calculated that the social and economic benefits of implementing Reach within the country are in the region of.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

EC pushes for chemicals ban
The European Commission (EC) is pushing for a further nine chemicals to be banned under the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Damage payment agreed
Eight companies, including BP Products North America, DuPont and Exxon-Mobil, have agreed to pay nearly $60m to restore natural resources in the.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

Environment in brief
EPA agreement The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with Abbott Laboratories on alleged violations of EPA.... more
(03 September 2004 17:27)

A year of transition
The Top 100 shows the sector climbing out of the trough of a prolonged downturn, with petrochemicals taking the clear lead Nigel Davis reports more
(03 September 2004 17:27)