ECN-European Chemical News articles from February 2005

ECN-European Chemical News archives from February 2005

Is CSR on your company's CV?(Comment)
February 7, 2005... The caring, socially responsible company has long been a part, and indeed a successful part, of western capitalism. But, the codifying of a set of principles on corporate social responsibility (CSR) seems to perplex some companies and actively...

NatureWorks.
February 7, 2005... US corn giant Cargill has renamed the former Dow Chemical joint venture it took over NatureWorks, after the business's best known brand (ECN 31 January). News editor simon.robinson@icis.com

DSM purchase.
February 7, 2005... DSM has completed the purchase of NeoResins from Avecia, paying 515m [euro] cash without assuming any of the business's debt. It will form part of DSM's coatings resins business. News editor simon.robinson@icis.com

Pharma placing.
February 7, 2005... Phytopharm, a pharmaceutical company that uses substances based on those found in plants to develop drugs is planning a UK placing with institutional shareholders, a US private placing and an open offer on the London Stock Exchange. Phytopharm...

Three depart Dor.
February 7, 2005... The chairman, chief executive officer (ceo) and chief financial officer (cfo) of Israel's Dor Chemicals have resigned pending an investigation into the company by the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Michael Yanofski, ceo, and Joseph Dayen, cfo,...

Messer welds deal.
February 7, 2005... German industrial gases group Messer Industrie has bought the cutting, fusion and surface protection technology company MEC from global private equity group Carlyle. MEC has over 2000 employees and last year had a turnover of 328m [euro]. ...

Houdini is tied up with engineering and design.(SINGAPORE: SHELL)
February 7, 2005... Shell Chemicals' integrated refinery and cracker project in Singapore, dubbed Houdini, is at the second, or engineering and design, stage, Rob Routs, Shell's group managing director and chief executive of oil products and chemicals confirmed...

Eastman sells bio stake to Danisco.(EASTMAN: STAKE)
February 7, 2005... Eastman Chemical will sell its 42% holding in biotech firm Genencor International for $419m in cash to its partner Danisco. Meanwhile, Danisco and Genencor have agreed that Danisco will buy up outstanding shares of Genencor, for...

Thermphos job threat.(UK: REDUNDANCIES)
February 7, 2005... Thermphos International the Netherlands-based phosphoros group is to cut 25% of jobs at its Widnes, UK, site, according to local media reports. The company confirmed job cuts will occur, but declined to specify the number, functions...

Dollar slide blamed for poor results.(Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc.)(Brief Article)(Cover Story)
February 7, 2005... Ciba Specialty Chemicals' full-year results were below expectations as the company wrestled with the slide in the dollar and an unexpectedly large charge towards closing the Clayton, UK, pigments and dyes site with 400 jobs to be lost there by...

Arkema studies site proposals.(plans to cut jobs, and shut down plant)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Arkema is 'studying very carefully' proposals made by the president of the general council of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region to save jobs and maintain chlorine production levels at the firm's Saint-Auban site in France. Jean-Louis...

Texas Pacific makes offer.(UK: BRITISH VITA)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... US venture capital firm Texas Pacific Group has confirmed it has approached British Vita, the UK based polyurethane processor, with a revised cash offer of 335p/share, which values the company at around 625m [pounds sterling] (812m...

Frutarom all set for 8 February.(EUROPE: FLOTATION)
February 7, 2005... Frutarom has announced an offer price of Shekel33.50 (5.86 [euro]/$7.62)/ordinary share and $7.63/global depository receipts (GDR) when it lists on the London Stock Exchange for the first time on 8 February. The Israeli flavours and fine...

PVC additives.
February 7, 2005... Degussa and Baerlocher are restructuring their PVC additives marketing and sales venture. Now Baerlocher will be the single sales agent in charge of technical and commercial customer service. News editor simon.robinson@icis.com

Debt agreement.
February 7, 2005... Poland's Nafta Polska wants to negotiate an agreement with the Polish Oil and Gas Company to reduce the debts of the chemical companies in Tarnow and Kedzierzyn, Poland, ahead of privatisation by the end of autumn 2005. The two companies owe...

Animal testing.
February 7, 2005... The UK BioIndustry Association has welcomed the UK Government's proposals to make it a criminal offence for animal rights extremists to coerce, harass or intimidate companies that have or are planning commercial relationships with animal...

No privatisation.
February 7, 2005... Belarus has no plans to privatise petrochemicals companies, says Bronislav Sivy, head of state petrochemical company Belneftekhim, because, he says, privatisations in other countries are 'not very successful'. The statement is a marker for...

Loss for Crompton.
February 7, 2005... Speciality chemicals firm Crompton has reported a net loss of $55.9m in the fourth quarter of 2004, including pre-tax charges for antitrust costs of $96.9m and facility closures. Sales in Q4 were up 14% to $639.3m. In 2003 Q4 net losses were...

Sale discrepancy probed.(GERMANY: HOECHST MERGER)
February 7, 2005... The state prosecutor's office in Frankfurt, Germany, is investigating allegations that former Hoechst chairman Jurgen Dormann, along with Richard Markham, former head of its pharmaceuticals arm Hoechst Marion Roussel (HMR), failed to get the...

BASF buys Merck electronics division.(TRANSACTION: ELECTRONIC CHEMICALS)
February 7, 2005... Merck KGaA has sold its global electronic chemicals business to BASF for 270m [euro] to concentrate on its pharmaceuticals and chemicals divisions. The transaction includes Merck Electronic Chemicals' management, technology and production...

Price fixing investigated.(EUROPEAN: COMMISSION)
February 7, 2005... The European Commission is investigating up to 18 companies that may have fixed prices and rigged the European market for hydrogen peroxide, perborate and percarbonate between 1994 and 2001. The Commission's Competition Directorate said...

NPC floats Shiraz: another four subsidiaries to follow.(IRAN: PRIVATISATION)
February 7, 2005... The board of Iran's state-owned National Petrochemical Company (NPC) is evaluating a further five subsidiaries it intends to privatise in the coming weeks. Mansour Moazami, NPC's director of administration and training, said last week that...

Governance changes could invalidate case.(ASHLAND: SHAREHOLDERS)
February 7, 2005... Shareholders complaining that US-based Fortune 500 firm Ashland did not protect their interests could find their case invalid now that the company has implemented corporate governance changes. The case was brought by the US Central...

Bayer slated over Lanxess debt risk.(activists says Bayer AG unloading debts onto LANXESS Holding Hispania S.L.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... A small group of protesters led by the Bayer-critical pressure group CBG Network and Catholic peace activists made a stand against last week's stock market debut of Bayer spin-off Lanxess in Frankfurt, Germany. The protesters complained...

Power costs hit French producers.(FRANCE: ELECTRICITY)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... France's electricity-intensive chemicals producers are 'in a delicate situation' after deregulation in the electricity market, warned the trade group Union des Industries Chimiques (UIC) last week. Dominique Rain, head of energy at UIC,...

MEG numbers 'surprise' EU producers.(monoethylene glycol prices drop, producers show disappointment)(European Union)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Leading European monoethylene glycol (MEG) producers have expressed 'disappointment and surprise' at initial February MEG contracts, which have been agreed at 870 [euro]/tonne, a 30 [euro]/tonne dip on January. They claim the 870...

Aromatics reduction in gasoline ups demand.(MTBE: EXPECTATIONS)
February 7, 2005... The European methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) market is exceeding expectations so far this year, say producers. After faltering slightly at year-end, demand is up and spot numbers have firmed. Prices are $520-545/tonne fob NWE, slightly...

Settlement, but buyers unhappy.(CYCLOHEXANE: PRICE)
February 7, 2005... The first quarter (Q1) cyclohexane delta price has been settled at a 'compromise number' of 102 [euro]/tonne, up 4 [euro]/ tonne on the previous quarter. Buyers and sellers started discussions from very different positions, 98-108...

Paint plant opens.
February 7, 2005... BASF Coatings de Mexico has opened a coatings manufacturing plant in Monterrey, Mexico. The new state-of-the-art facility includes a laboratory, administrative offices and a 'paint-on-demand' plant, which will shorten delivery times to fewer...

FCC price hike.
February 7, 2005... Albemarle has announced global price increases for FCC catalysts and additives. A 9% increase will offset rising production costs. The hikes will take effect immediately or as contracts allow. Pricing for some FCC additives will rise by more...

HQ for Actives.
February 7, 2005... Actives International has opened a new headquarters in Allendale, New Jersey, US. The new complex includes offices, laboratories and a warehouse. The company's expansion follows increased demand for its refined natural ingredients which are...

PolymerLatex tight.
February 7, 2005... Sustained cost pressure from raw materials, energy prices and transportation has led European latex producer PolymerLatex to push for an increase this quarter. The company hopes to raise its range of pure acrylic-latices by 150 [euro]/tonne and...

Production high.(of Chlorine)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Chlorine production in western Europe reached an all-time high during 2004, up 3.5% on 2003 at 9.85m tonne. Fourth quarter results rose by 4.9% over the same period in 2003. December production was 5.8% higher than November's 820 419 tonne...

Producers fight price drop.(PA: MATERIAL COSTS)(raw materials)
February 7, 2005... Despite raw material contracts undergoing their most significant drop for 18 months, European phthalic anhydride (PA) producers insist they will not pass all the savings on to their customers. Alter a year of unexpectedly volatile orthoxylene...

Consumption and value grow.(CARBON BLACK: MARKET VALUE)
February 7, 2005... The global carbon black market is forecast to grow 3.5%/year until 2010, bringing the market to 10.1m tonne, up from 7.9 m tonne in 2003. Notch Consulting Group also predicts in its Carbon Black Worm Data Book 2004, that market value will...

PX spot market 'paralysed': contract discussions in the Far East have reached stalemate, with South Korean players refusing to accept a $905/tonne contract price. Meanwhile, ammonia prices have risen to $176-178/tonne.(Market trends)
February 7, 2005... Naphtha prices rose in the early part of the week, tracking higher crude oil. However, by mid-week a combination of thinly traded volumes and the continued closure of the arbitrage to Asia pushed prices lower to $400-415/tonne cif NWE. Crude...

Buyers resist substantial price hikes: European commodity plastics producers fail to recoup higher feedstock costs as January destocking sees buyers through. Competitive import material compounds the problem for sellers.(Plastics monitor)
February 7, 2005... Efforts by European commodity plastics producers to recover higher feedstock costs floundered in January. Certain grades of polyolefins registered a roll-over in prices, with maximum increases of 30 [euro]/tonne in more buoyant sectors. January...

MCAA: further restructuring is likely to follow recent moves. Reasonable growth is forecast with Asia, particularly China, the primary driver.(Product profile)
February 7, 2005... Uses Monochloroacetic acid (MCAA) is used exclusively as a chemical intermediate, and is available as a 100% flake or molten liquid, or as a bulk 80% solution in water or alcohol. It is also often supplied as its sodium salt, sodium...

Tennants deal.(chemical company Penta to appoint European distributor )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Germany's Penta has integrated another European distributor as the company aims to strengthen its European coverage. Manchester, UK-based Tennants, with operations in the UK and Ireland and a 139m [euro] turnover, has become the thirteenth...

Turkey move.(Brenntag Kimya Tics new logisics)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Brenntag has set up a new company, Brenntag Kimya Tic, in Turkey, in a move that enables it to realise significant improvements in logistics and services in the region. Brenntag said that Turkey 'not only offers significant growth potential for...

ADR alliance.
February 7, 2005... The growing need for a viable method of delivering ADR packaged products has prompted an alliance between Palletline and The Hazchem Network in the UK. Palletline has chosen to work with the network rather than continue to ship ADR regulated...

Degussa seals deal.
February 7, 2005... Germany's Degussa has appointed Cornelius as its exclusive UK distributor of organofunctional silanes. The agreement started on 1 January. The products distributed by Cornelius are used in adhesives and sealants, composites or as additives in...

Inter-operability is a priority for transport commissioner.(EUROPE: RAIL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The European Commissioner for Transport, Jacques Barrot, is to nominate a coordinator to oversee the implementation of inter-operability on Europe's rail networks. 'The deployment of inter-operability is a priority, particularly the...

Group seeks common cause.(STEERING GROUP: TANKER EXPLOSIONS)
February 7, 2005... A special steering group has been formed to look at the recent spate of chemical tanker explosions to try and determine if there is a common cause. Information on accidents will be gathered and analysed to establish root causes. Mechanical...

Deltalinqs calls for exemption.(NETHERLANDS: ENVIRONMENT)(mandatory Environmental Effect Report )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Deltalinqs, which represents companies in the Port of Rotterdam, has called for firms planning to establish themselves on Maasvlakte 2, the port's new extension, to be exempt from the mandatory Environmental Effect Report (MER). Roelf de...

Conferences.(Diary)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 7, 2005... EPL dinner 2 March Amsterdam, Netherlands Fax +32 3 226 62 15 E-mail e-p-l@bms-chem.be First ICIS-LOR Asian polymers conference 2-3 March Shanghai, China Contact Sarah Barnes Tel +44 20 8652 3233 Fax...

Air Products.(People on the move)
February 7, 2005... Air Products has chosen Merck executive Margaret McGlynn to sit on its board of directors. McGlynn is president of US human health for Merck. She joined Merck in 1983 as a professional representative and has spent 22 years with the company in...

Cook Composites and Polymers.(People on the move)
February 7, 2005... US-based Cook Composites and Polymers, an affiliate of Total, has appointed Matthew Swenson to the position of director of distribution for the company's composites group. Swenson, who has a business degree from the University of Wyoming, has...

Honeywell.(People on the move)(Barry Russell appointed as vice president at Honeywell Electronic Materials)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Honeywell has appointed Barry Russell as vice president and general manager for Honeywell Electronic Materials. He reports to Nance Dicciani, president and chief executive officer of Honeywell Specialty Materials. Russell joined Honeywell...

Pharmexa.(People on the move)
February 7, 2005... Pharmexa has hired Torsten Skov as senior vice president of drug development. Skov has a PhD in cancer epidemiology. Last year he was employed as medical and regulatory director in CellCure, a biotechnology company focused on cell-based...

Wellington Holdings.(People on the move)
February 7, 2005... David Jones has been appointed chief executive officer (ceo) at Wellington Holdings, which manufactures and distributes polymer seals for engineering and industrial applications. Jones, who has a degree in physics and materials science, joined...

20 years ago: ECN 4 February 1985.(Diary)
February 7, 2005... ICI has won a partial victory in its fight against ethane tax concessions granted to Shell. Esso Chemicals and BP Chemicals for their North Sea-related petrochemical projects in Scotland. The UK High Court ruled that the Inland Revenue had...

Did you know?(Diary)
February 7, 2005... DID YOU KNOW? Distribution of thermoplastic compound demand in Asia 2004 China 58% Indonesia 3% South Korea 11.2% Malaysia 3.5% Singapore 1.3% Taiwan 7.7% Thailand ...

All in the timing: Brazilian group Unipar has projects coming onstream at the peak of the petchem cycle, as demand is rising.(Brazil)
February 7, 2005... With a major complex starting up in Rio de Janeiro in April and approval last month of an expansion in Sao Paulo, Brazilian petrochemicals group Unipar is well positioned to take advantage of rising demand, asserts Unipar president Roberto...

Getting a handle on buckets: risks and liabilities are one 'bucket' of information important in assessing chemical acquisitions. But two others help show how companies perform in the futures.
February 7, 2005... Environmental, health and safety (EHS) issues are among the two or three most challenging in any chemical acquisition or divestiture. The original (now antiquated) idea of due diligence is that you hire a technical consultant to trek out to...

Relaying risks: retailers are asking for more and more information on the chemicals used in the products they sell, so they can respond quickly to customer worries and meet their CSR targets.(CIA conference)
February 7, 2005... Retailers and manufacturers of consumer products are increasingly demanding that chemical suppliers keep them informed about the ingredients that go into their products, so they can respond to growing customer and NGO requests for information...

Mercury's phase-out set for 2011.(European Commission to phase out export of mercury)
February 7, 2005... The European Commission has decided to phase out the export of mercury by 2011. The move is part of the Commission's strategy to cut the use and emission of mercury in the EU and globally. The strategy also includes a restriction on the...

Industry told to scrutinise TDM.(ASSESSMENT: TERT-DODECANETHIOL)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Following a risk assessment on tert-dodecanethiol (TDM), which indicated that the chemical poses a risk to the environment, the UK's Environment Agency has requested that industry 'take a closer look at the chemical'. TDM is used in the...

UK: climate.(Environment)
February 7, 2005... Scientists from around the world met last week in the UK to advance scientifc understanding and encourage debate on the long-term implications of climate change. Topics considered included technological options available for achieving...

Rhodia recognises its responsibility.(TRADE UNIONS: CSR)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Rhodia has reached an agreement with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) related to the group's global corporate social responsibility. Rhodia said that this international agreement...

Biodegradable plastic waste exemption.(GERMANY: PACKAGING)
February 7, 2005... Germany's amended packaging ordinance has removed a hurdle to the use of degradable plastic packaging based on renewable raw materials. The legislation, passed by the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, late last year, exempts...

New Mutabilis labs.
February 7, 2005... French biopharmaceutical company Mutabilis has opened a medicinal chemistry department at the company's new headquarters at the Biocitech technology park in Romainville near Paris. The department will have eight staff as well as a 600[m.sup.2]...

Canola oil alliance.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Bayer CropScience and foods and agrochemicals provider Cargill have formed an alliance to produce speciality canola (rape seed) oil for Cargill's food industry customers. The oil does not require hydrogenation and is used by food processors...

Technology deal.
February 7, 2005... Danish biopharmaceuticals company Biolmage has signed a licensing agreement granting Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals permission to use its Redistribution technology in its drug discovery research. The technology allows high-throughput...

ClonePix updated.(Genetix Group)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Hampshire, UK-based Genetix Group has launched its next-generation mammalian cell imaging and picking instrument, the [ClonePix.sup.FL]. The instrument is a follow-up to ClonePix, the first instrument developed to target one of the major...

Challenge to EU directive.(UK: VITAMINS)
February 7, 2005... UK health food manufacturers and suppliers have joined forces to challenge an European Union directive that critics argue could see thousands of health foods withdrawn from sale after it comes into force in August this year. According to...

Lonza sees group sales slip.(SWITZERLAND: RESULTS)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Swiss chemicals group Lonza has reported a fall in group sales in 2004 to SF2.18bn (1.41bn [euro]/$1.84bn), down 2.7% against 2003. Group operating income (before special items and amortisation of goodwill) for 2004 was in line with...

Bayer houses BioGenius R&D.(GERMANY: BIOCIDES)
February 7, 2005... Speciality biocides business BioGenius has launched its research, development and testing activities at Bayer's site in Monheim, Germany. BioGenius was officially established last December, after consultation with the Bayer Chemical Start-Up...

Danisco gets go-ahead for alternative plasticiser.(EUROPE: AUTHORISATION)
February 7, 2005... Food ingredients and sugar company Danisco has received authorisation to use and sell its vegetable oil-based plasticiser in the European Union. Danisco claims that the authorisation is a breakthrough in the plasticiser sector where it says...

SiYPro gives plants full service.(DEGUSSA: PETROCHEMICALS)(Simplify Your Process )(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Degussa's Building Blocks business has developed a service package for the production of monomers in the petrochemical sector. The service package, known as Simplify Your Process (SiYPro), aims to keep plant operation at an optimal level and...

Akzo Nobel seeks new project partner.(SOLAR CELLS: COMMERCIALISATION)
February 7, 2005... Akzo Nobel is looking for a new partner for its solar cell production technology following the end of an existing collaboration. The project, known as Helianthos, was launched in July 2001 with Shell Solar, and was designed to pave the way for...

Ziegler on sale.
February 7, 2005... Basell's new family of Ziegler catalysts designed for use in gas-phase polyethylene technologies is available for worldwide purchase. The catalysts will be marketed as Avant Z 230. Basell claims that the catalysts can produce the entire range...

Funding for BIA.
February 7, 2005... The BioIndustry Association (BIA) has been awarded UK government funding totalling 3m [pounds sterling] (4.34m [euro]/$5.66m) over three years and nine months to establish a national bioprocessing knowledge transfer network (KTN). The KTN will...

Capital gains.(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... IP2IPO, an intellectual property company that commercialises university technology, has completed the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Techtran Group. IP21PO originally acquired 20% of Techtran's share capital in July 2004....

Shin-Etsu ups PVC capacity at Pernis.(POLYVINYL CHLORIDE)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Japan's Shin-Etsu Chemical is to increase polyvinyl chloride (PVC) capacity at its Pernis, the Netherlands, site by 100 000 tonne/year to 450 000 tonne/ year, in two stages. Completion is expected in October 2006 at an estimated cost of 50m...

BIPC development push will respond to competition.(IRAN: INVESTMENT)
February 7, 2005... Iran's Bandar Imam Petrochemical Co (BIPC) will complete a number of expansion projects this year, designed to keep it competitive against huge investments being made by its new neighbour in the Petzone at Mahshahr, National Petrochemical Co...

Yara and Qafco plan fertiliser expansion with Qafco-5 plants.(QATAR: AMMONIA/UREA)
February 7, 2005... Yara International and Qafco are proposing further investment in their fertiliser operations in Messaieed, Qatar, with the building of a 1m tonne/year ammonia plant and 1.1m tonne/ year urea unit. The development, named Qafco-5, has been...

Shell boosts IPA at Pernis.(isopropyl alcohol)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Shell Chemicals is planning to boost capacity for isopropyl alcohol (IPA) at its Pernis, Netherlands, site by 50000 tonne/year by the second quarter of 2006. The additional production is intended to improve significantly the overall...

ExxonMobil iso-nonyl addition.(SINGAPORE: OXO-ALCOHOLS)
February 7, 2005... ExxonMobil Chemical is adding 40 000 tonne/year of capacity to its Singapore oxo-alcohols plant to boost production of iso-nonyl alcohol. The extra capacity should be onstream in the third quarter of 2006 and will feed into the region's rapidly...

Foster Wheeler wins PMC work.(ABU DHABI: GAS DEVELOPMENT)
February 7, 2005... Foster Wheeler has won the project management consultancy (PMC) work on a major gas development project in Abu Dhabi that will deliver ethane, propane, butane and C5 streams at Ruwais and condensate for export. The contract is for Abu...

Basell ups PP ...
February 7, 2005... Basell is to hike polypropylene capacity at its Geetong plant in Victoria, Australia, by 60 000 tonne/year to 130 000 tonne/year by the first quarter of 2006. Basell also has a 170 000 tonne/ year PP plant in Sydney and has recently bought the...

... Wins Saudi PE.
February 7, 2005... Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical have selected Basell's Hostalen technology for the 300 000 tonne/year hdPE unit to be built as part of the Rabigh refinery and petrochemicals complex in Saudi Arabia. This is Basell's 12th announced PE/PP...

Solvay in China.
February 7, 2005... Solvay Padanaplast and Shanghai Original Enterprise Development of China are to create a 50:50 joint venture to make and sell halogen-free flame-retardant thermoplastic and irradiation-crosslinkable compounds. Padanaplast Original Advanced...

GE adds Ultem.
February 7, 2005... General Electric Advanced Materials says it will build new capacity for its high performance Ultem polyetherimide polymer in Cartagena, Spain, alongside its newly opened polycarbonate plant. No further details were given. New projects...