ECN-European Chemical News articles from March 2005

ECN-European Chemical News archives from March 2005

Energy futures look dim.(Comment)
March 7, 2005... Energycosts have been on the chemical industry's mind all this winter, and they are finally finding voice with appeals in France, Germany, the US and now the UK to governments and regulators to improve a very unsatisfactory situation. in...

Ciba purchase.
March 7, 2005... Ciba Specialty Chemicals last week bought Metasheen high-reflectance aluminium pigments and plant from Wolstenholme International of Blackburn, UK, for SF45m (29.2m [euro]/$38.3m). Ciba said the pigments will continue to be marketed under the...

Seed approval.
March 7, 2005... Brazil's lower house of Congress has approved a law creating a framework to legalise biotech seed sales. The hotly-contested decision clears the way for rules to allow Monsanto to sell genetically modified soya seeds in the country. Such GM...

Gas agreement.(Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Air Products has signed an agreement to supply its AP-X liquefaction process to Ras Laffan Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) for the sixth train of the GasGas II facility in Qatar. Air Products will provide natural gas liquefaction technology and the...

Petchem drop.
March 7, 2005... The price of many petro-chemicals in India is expected to fall with a changed tax regime. Duty on non-agricultural products falls from 20% to 15%. For polymers and petrochemical intermediates a cut in customs duty is the second to occur in six...

BASF to centralise services.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... BASF plans to establish a centre for routine accounting and human resources services in the former east Berlin. The centre, to be set up in stages up to 2007 at an initial investment of 50-60m [euro], will handle services formerly...

BASF tops table.(SURVEY FORTUNE)
March 7, 2005... BASF has regained pole position as the world's most admired chemicals company, replacing PPG in Fortune magazine's latest listing of companies in 2004. The German chemicals giant rose one place to become the world's most admired chemicals...

Catto profit plunges.(Yule Catto and Company PLC)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Yule Catto saw flat turnover at 549m [pounds sterling] (797m [euro]/$1.05bn) and group operating profit halved to 28.5m [pounds sterling] in 2004. Profit on ordinary activities before tax plunged 68% to 15.5m [pounds sterling] from 49.2m...

Committee to spur growth.(congressional committee)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Tax cuts for US firms that are toiling under 'structural costs far higher than those faced by their foreign competitors', according to National Association of Manufacturers vice president for tax policy Dorothy Coleman, have persuaded a US...

Rhodia set for return to profitability: ceo Jean-Pierre Clamadieu focuses on positive net earnings in 2006, after last year's restructuring.(RHODIA RECOVERY)(Cover Story)
March 7, 2005... Rhodia is 'on track' in its recovery programme, affirms chief executive officer Jean-Pierre Clamadieu. And it is standing by its targets for 2006: a return to positive net earnings and an earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and...

Grace purchase.
March 7, 2005... WR Grace has bought part of Midland Dexter Venezuela (Midevensa), which makes coatings and sealants for rigid packaging for domestic and export markets in South America. The companies declined to outline the terms of the transaction. Grace said...

Seed acquisition.
March 7, 2005... Monsanto's American Seeds subsidiary has bought all of NC+ Hybrids, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, US, in a cash transaction for $40m. Monsanto sees the purchase as strengthening its position in local brands. NC+ Hybrids has about 1% of...

UCB sale complete.
March 7, 2005... UCB has completed the sale of its surface specialities business to US speciality chemicals manufacturer Cytec. The 1.42bn [euro] deal was announced five months ago. Cytec paid 1.19bn [euro] in cash and 225m [euro] in shares, it bought the...

Finnish index up.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... The Finnish chemicals production index rose by 6.3% from 96.6 in January 2004 to 102.7 compared with the same period this year. This continued the upward trend from December, when the production index was up 6% year-on-year. Month-on-month,...

Celanese posts 2004 loss.(restructuring)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Celanese posted a net loss of $175m for the 2004 full year after charges and costs related to the Blackstone takeover and subsequent restructuring. The full-year loss compares with net profits of $148m in 2003. Sales in 2004 were $5.07bn...

Lanxess progresses China plan.(joint venture to be formed with chemical producer Xinda )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Lanxess is wasting no time in implementing its strategy of locating production activities in China to save costs. The Bayer spin-off last week announced plans for a minority joint venture (jv) with Chinese chemical producer Xinda and...

Dehecq still depends on R&D.(GENERICS SANOFI-AVENTIS)
March 7, 2005... Sanofi-Aventis is examining how generic medicines can form part of the company's strategy but will continue to depend on new products for mid-to long-term growth, according to chairman and chief executive Jean-Francois Dehecq. Dehecq was...

UK natural gas futures are no guide to daily price.(REGULATION GAS)
March 7, 2005... Europe's largest chlorine producer Ineos Chlor said last week that rising UK natural gas prices have forced it to cut production at its Runcorn complex in northwest England to countreract variable cost increases. Ineos Chlor chief...

Commission recovers state aid.(GERMANY GRANT ANNULLED)
March 7, 2005... The European Commission as ordered the German government to recover 6.7m [euro] of illegal state aid from east German phosphoric acid and phosphates producer Chemische Werke Piesteritz. The aid was provided in 1997 and 1998 to help the...

Half of PE/PP is smuggled, admits official.(PHILIPPINES IMPORT TARIFF)
March 7, 2005... In the week that a Philippine government official admitted over half the country's polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) is smuggled into the country, legitimate end-users are hoping for a polymer import tariff cut from 10% to 5% at the end...

Skin-care aquisition.(EUROPE PERSONAL CARE)
March 7, 2005... Surface and materials science company Engelhard is trying to buy French firm Coletica, which develops performance-based skin-care compounds and related technologies for the cosmetic and personal care industries. Engelhard says the $86.82m...

Rubber jv up for sale.(AKZO NOBEL SOLUTIA)
March 7, 2005... Akzo Nobel and Solutia are looking for buyers for Flexsys, their rubber chemicals joint venture. Flexsys is estimated to have generate over $100m in EBITDA on sales of around $600m in 2005. Akzo Nobel and Solutia were looking to sell...

Squeeze on EPS margins.(expandable polystyrene)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... The expandable polystyrene (EPS) market is 'surprised' at the increase in the March styrene contract, with producers now looking for substantial increases in March to compensate for this feedstock hike and the margin erosion in February. ...

Markets face up to hikes.(CONTRACT BENZENE/STYRENE)
March 7, 2005... Benzene and styrene markets are once again coming to terms with a significant hike in contract prices. The March benzene contract jumped to 836 [euro]/tonne, an increase of 135 [euro]/tonne, while initial styrene free delivered barge contracts...

Players seek March price rise.(EUROPE ETHANOLAMINE)
March 7, 2005... Ethanolamine producers are keen to raise prices in March. They believe that the traditionally strong spring sales months will boost demand, while a series of scheduled maintenance outages at both ethylene oxide units and ethylene crackers will...

Players seek hikes to regain margins.(EUROPE PURIFIED ISOPHTHALIC ACID)
March 7, 2005... Price increases are again on the cards for European purified isophthalic acid (PIA) as producers continue their efforts to regain margins. Second quarter (Q2) contract discussions should start in the next few weeks, with players targeting up to...

Epoxy increases.
March 7, 2005... Dow's epoxy products and intermediates business plans to increase global prices of allyl chloride and epichlorohydrin from 1 April. Prices will rise by 85 [euro]/tonne in Europe, 5 cent/Ib in North America and $100/tonne in Asia-Pacific and...

Leather expansion.
March 7, 2005... Lanxess opened a new facility in Wuxi, China, on 28 February to increase its production capacities of leather chemicals. Production of synthetic tanning materials started in January, with the expansion completed in only 15 months. ...

Polyalcohol rise.
March 7, 2005... BASF is targeting higher European prices for polyalcohols from March. Neopentyl glycol and trimethylolpropane will increase by 90 [euro]/tonne and 1,6-hexanediol by 200 [euro]/tonne. jane.gibson@icis.com

Surfactants hike.
March 7, 2005... Stepan UK intends to raise surfactants prices from 1 April. Its products will increase between 20 [euro]-50 (29 [euro]-73/$38-g5)/tonne. jane.gibson@icis.com

Polo starts up $40m BOPP line.(biaxially oriented polypropylene )(Polo Industria e Comercio)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Polo Industria e Comercio has brought its new 32 500 tonne/year biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) line onstream in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. Davide Bottom Polo's commercial director, says the $40m line is...

LME to add deliverable grades.(London Metal Exchange plastics futures contracts )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... The London Metal Exchange (LME) is introducing two additional deliverable grades to the polypropylene contract before the launch of its plastics futures contracts on 27 May. In addition to the MFR 12 general purpose injection moulding...

Naphtha volatile, benzene rockets: crude oil prices have affected naphtha's movements. Tight supply has partly contributed to soaring benzene numbers but, overall, the increase remains a mystery. Styrene has followed benzene's lead.(Market trends)
March 7, 2005... Naphtha markets have been volatile, with prices falling towards $430/tonne before rallying to $435-450/tonne cif NWE, largely following rocky crude oil numbers. However, higher naphtha prices have been supported by increased shipments from the...

Reversals amid changing sentiment: price erosion is a feature across the polymers market, with converters' ability to resist increases, pressure on sellers to make low offers and improved availability contributing to the downward turn.(Plastics monitor)
March 7, 2005... European commodity plastic prices experienced a series of reversals last month, with price erosions a feature of many polymer markets. Despite producers' hopes of further price rises in February, converters managed to initiate a number of price...

EPDM: recent industry moves have given the market a more positive glow. However, profits need to be reinstated before new capacity can be added to tackle increasing demand in China.(ethylene-propylene diene monomer rubber)
March 7, 2005... Uses Ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is the third most-used synthetic rubber after styrene butadiene rubber and butadiene rubber. The automotive market is the largest consumer, using over a third of global EPDM output. Its...

TDG eves Benelux foothold.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... UK logistics group TDG is seeking an acquisition in mainland Europe to meet its aim of establishing a continental platform for its chemicals business. David Garman, TDG's chief executive, told ECN: 'Our first preference is the Benelux area...

AMI setting up own subsidiary.(AMI Agrolinz elamine International)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Austria's AMI Agrolinz elamine International is setting up its own fertiliser distribution subsidiary after the failure of a proposed joint venture. From this month, wholly owned subsidiary Linzer Agro Trade will be one of the largest...

Q4 aids Stolt-Nielsen recovery.(Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Continuing strength in the parcel tanker market has returned Stolt-Nielsen to financial fitness. The group's full-year 2004 net income bounced back to $74.9m from a net loss of $316m the year before. The recovery was boosted by buoyant...

Nova distribution.(Nova Chemicals Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Nova Chemicals has restructured its European distribution network for its performance products NAS, Zylar and Styrosun. John Barron, Nova Chemicals' business director, solid polystyrene and performance products, said: 'We have tested using...

Panalpina IPO.
March 7, 2005... Logistics company Panalpina is considering an initial public offering (IPO) on the Swiss Exchange. The Ernst Goehner Foundation, which owns 100% of Panalpina, intends to place a majority of shares with the public as part of its strategy to...

Brenntag US site.
March 7, 2005... Germany's Brenntag opened a distribution centre in Lancaster, Texas, US, last month. The site has a total tank storage capacity of 1.5m litres and a white room providing optimum conditions for the storage and packaging of chemicals for the food...

Marketing deal.
March 7, 2005... Johnson Polymer in the Netherlands has chosen the UK's Chance & Hunt to market its coatings products in the UK and Ireland. The agreement is effective from 1 February. Johnson Polymer said that Chance & Hunt, part of the Azelis group, was...

R&D partnering: a necessary luxury: Rohm and Haas has welcomed the move towards increased cooperation in developing new technologies. The company is using a $5.2m US government grant to look at developments in saving energy.(Process technology)
March 7, 2005... Many chemical producers bemoan the fact that the slim margins on their products can make R&D activity something of a luxury. But changing economic, geopolitical and environmental pressures are making R&D a luxury that many chemical producers...

Versatile propylene: propylene has experienced rapid growth, but is struggling with its status as an industry by-product sensitive to ethylene's vagaries, This is affecting its growth and is putting continued stress on traditional sources. Jeffrey Plotkin and Edward Glatzer report on latest developments.(Process technology)
March 7, 2005... In the petrochemical industry, ethylene has always reigned supreme, with propylene and the other building blocks, butadiene and the aromatics, figuring as by-products of steam cracking technology. But the continued rapid growth of key propylene...

Breeding profits: Codexis' tailored biocatalysts can extend pharmaceutical patent protection and streamline processes.(Process technology)
March 7, 2005... When California, US-based company Codexis was spun out of Maxygen in 2002, it inherited an intellectual property goldmine--hundreds of patents around a directed molecular evolution technology platform named MolecularBreeding. 'We have the...

A sharper focus: Aker Kvaerner has abandoned adventurous projects and instead targeted reliability and quality. It seems to be working: the group's value has increased by NKr4.4bn.(Process technology)
March 7, 2005... Earlier this year, Norwegian contractor Aker Kvaerner (AK) announced a radical shift in the group's strategy, away from general contracting to a more specialised, process-led approach. As Inge Hansen, president and chief executive officer,...

The beating of drums: SRM has come up with a hazardous waste disposal system that meets the European landfill regulations due to come into force in July.(Process technology)
March 7, 2005... With the appearance of the new European landfill regulations in July, the problem of what to do with hazardous wastes looks set to become even more challenging. The regulations, part of the European Landfill Directive, 'will mean an end to the...

Going in deeper: SAP has become the ERP system of choice for many large chemical concerns, but now the German software company is looking to sell into the next tier of producers.(Process Technolgy)
March 7, 2005... German software company SAP has done well from the chemical industry's investment in enterprise resource management (ERP) systems over the past decade. Despite difficulties encountered in implementing early projects, the SAP system has become...

Kyoto success.
March 7, 2005... Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects developed by Gujarat Fluorochemicals in India and Foosung Group in Ulsan, South Korea, have been registered by the executive board for the CDM. Both projects, in which Ineos Fluor provided technical...

DuPont settlement.
March 7, 2005... DuPont has welcomed receiving final court approval to the proposed settlement of the class action law suit relating to the release of perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) from the company's Washington Works, West Virginia, US, site (ECN 20 September...

Chlorine accident.(Environmental Protection Agency, hazardous chemical)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled an administrative case involving a hazardous chemical release. The EPA claims that in 2003 some 150kg of gaseous chlorine was released from a local waste water plant in Warren, Michigan,...

Ek tables Reach changes.(right of information in chemical industry)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Lena EE MEP, rapporteur n Reach for the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, has proposed amendments to Reach, including a 'duty of care' clause, which would give the chemical industry greater responsibility to...

ECPA in pesticide benefits campaign.(EUROPE CROP PROTECTION)
March 7, 2005... The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of pesticides. Known as CommonGround, the campaign is an EU-wide initiative of the ECPA and its national associations in 25 European...

WCC applauds Unep proposal.(MERCURY POLLUTION)
March 7, 2005... The World Chlorine Council (WCC) has expressed its support for the United Nations Environment Programme's (Unep) efforts to reduce mercury pollution from all sources. The WCC said that proposals such as the multiple stakeholder...

Oil firms foot $1.5m MTBE bill.(US CONTAMINATION)
March 7, 2005... Several oil companies will pay the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) $1.5m for the costs incurred while carrying out the investigation and clean-up of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from a ground water basin in California, US. The...

Evotec agreement.
March 7, 2005... Drug-discovery company Evotec CAl of Hamburg, Germany, has entered into an agreement with Mitsubishi Pharma Corp (MPC), based in Osaka, Japan, to support MPC in its medicinal chemistry programmes. Evotec CAl will use its computational...

Cancer vaccines.
March 7, 2005... US biotech firm Anosys and UK biotech firm Avidex have validated T-cell antigen expression on Anosys' Sexosome cancer vaccines, using Avidex's soluble T-cell receptors. Avidex claims this is the first time that levels of antigen expression have...

Biotech partners.
March 7, 2005... German biotech company Brain has announced further cooperation with Henkel over the development of improved enzymes for laundry applications, with the aim of developing novel proteases active at low temperatures. The companies will screen...

Deal in doubt.(Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical licensing agreement)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical has advised UK-based Phytopharm that it is likely to terminate its licensing agreement, covering Japan and other Asian countries, for Cogane, the latter's candidate product for Alzheimer's disease. The decision has not...

Polyketide funding plans.(UK BIOTICA/CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY)
March 7, 2005... Biotica Technology and the UK's Cambridge University have announced funding plans for a three-year, 1m [pounds sterling] (1.45m [euro]/ $1.92m) research programme. The programme will involve the development of a toolkit for the efficient...

China is aroma key.(AROMATICS LANSDOWNE CHEMICALS)
March 7, 2005... Fine chemicals manufacturer and distributor Lansdowne Chemicals has opened its first office in China this month. Lansdowne Chemicals China will be located in Kunshan, about 50km from Shanghai, and will function mainly to source materials in...

Givaudin profits rise.(L. Givaudan et Compagnie S.A.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Improved operating margins helped Swiss fragrance and flavours company Givaudin to record a 17% rise in operating profits for 2004, to SF484m (314m [euro]/$414m) before goodwill amortisation. Net profit increased 20% against 2003 to SF350m....

Multi-product deal for Ionix.(ALLIANCE PAIN RELIEF)
March 7, 2005... UK drug-discovery company Ionix Pharmaceuticals has entered into a multi-product strategic alliance with Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare. Under the arrangement, Cambridge-based Ionix, a specialist in the area of analgesics, will manage a Phase...

COIM Brasil builds plant to pilot developing products.(Chimica Organica Industriale Milanese)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Italy's Chimica Organica Industriale Milanese (COIM) has built a pilot plant at its Brazilian production site in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo state, for the development of new products. Edgard Mingoni, commercial manager of COIM Brasil, said the...

PTA cooperation.(purified terephthalic acid)(Davy McKee AG. Zimmer AG and Interquisa sign licensing agreement)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Zimmer and Interquisa have entered into a technology co-operation agreement for the licensing of Interquisa's purified terephthalic acid (PTA) technology. The cooperation combines the engineering and design strengths of Zimmer with the...

Three-year fuel cell deal agreed.(DOW CHEMICAL MILLENNIUM CELL)
March 7, 2005... Millennium Cell and the Dow Chemical Company have entered into a three-year, joint-development programme to collaborate on development and commercialisation of portable fuel cell systems. These systems, for use in consumer electronics and...

R&D boost for Dow AgroScience.(DENMARK CANOLA RESEARCH)
March 7, 2005... Dow AgroScience's subsidiary Dow AgroScience Danmark is to get seven members of staff from Denmark's Abed Foundation's plant breeding station to support Dow AgroScience's research and development of its Nexera canola seed and Natreon canola oil...

Rohm and Haas research site announced.(research and development centre in Shanghai, China)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Rohm and Haas has decided to build its China research and development centre in Shanghai, China. Located on more than eight acres, Rohm and Haas said that the site will anchor the company's research and commercial presence in one of the...

BAPCO plans $1bn upgrade.(BAHRAIN PETROCHEMICALS)
March 7, 2005... Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) is planning a $1bn upgrade of its refinery in Bahrain, as well as expanding its adjoining petrochemical complex. The plans include the construction of a hydrogen plant and a sulphur unit, along with plans...

Shin-Etsu joint expansion.(Shin-Etsu Chemical)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Japan's Shin-Etsu Chemical is planning a major expansion of its methyl cellulose production capacity in both Germany and Japan. The combined investment for the two projects is yen 20bn (145.2m [euro]/$191.5m). Capacity at the SE Tylose...

QP signs with Shell to develop Qatar complex.(QATAR PETROCHEMICALS)
March 7, 2005... Qatar Petroleum (QP) has signed a letter of intent with Shell Chemicals to develop a $3bn ethane-based cracker and petrochemicals complex at Ras Laffan industrial city, Qatar. In June last year ExxonMobil Chemical and Qatar Petroleum signed...

GAIL/NPC conduct plant study.(IRAN METHANOL)
March 7, 2005... GAIL (India) and Iran's National Petrochemical Company (NPC) are conducting a joint feasibility study on a methanol plant in Iran's South Pars Zone, Assaluyeh. The two companies have also agreed to commission a separate study into setting...

DuPont in Ti[O.sub.2] plant talks.(CHINA TITANIUM DIOXIDE)
March 7, 2005... DuPont has opened talks with the city of Dongying, China, regarding the construction of a world-class titanium dioxide (Ti[O.sub.2]) plant. The world-scale facility, which could produce as much as 200 000 tonne/year, will be built in the...

Basell/Tasnee to build complex.(SAUDIA ARABIA POLYETHYLENE)
March 7, 2005... Basell has signed an agreement with the National Petrochemical Industrialisation Company (Tasnee Petrochemicals) to build an integrated polyethylene (PE) complex in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The complex will include a lm tonne/year gas...

Oman aromatics.
March 7, 2005... Oman Polypropylene has decided to build an $800m aromatics plant on the back of the Mina-al-Fahal refinery, which is owned and operated by the Oman Refinery Company. Oman Polypropylene is also developing a 340 000 tonne/year polypropylene plant...

Invista starts work.
March 7, 2005... Invista has broken ground on a $100m spandex facility at Foshan, Guangdong province, China. The project is a 90:10 joint venture between Invista and local company Foshan Plastics. Located in the Xinan Industrial Park, the 12 000 tonne/year...

Perstorp to launch.(propionic acid plant)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Sydsvenska Kemi has confirmed plans for its subsidiary Perstorp to build a dedicated propionic acid plant in Stenungsund, Sweden (ECN 16 November 2003). A multipurpose propionic acid and 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) plant will be switched to...

Vinythai to double units' output.(Vinythai PCL to expand to increase production of vinyl chloride monomer)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Solvay's vinyls joint venture in Thailand, Vinythai, will double the size of its chlorine and ethylene dichloride (EDC) units at Map Ta Phut to feed an expansion of its vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) capacity which was announced last year (ECN 15...

New projects summary.
March 7, 2005... REPORTED IN ECN 31 JANUARY AND 7 FEBRUARY 2005 Company Product Capacity Process Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Abu Dhabi, UAE NGL -- -- Bandar Imam Petrochemical Company...

Innovation platform makes progress.(Comment)
March 14, 2005... The chemical industry is building up a good head of steam behind its initiative to play a major part in the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme (FP7) for research, to run from 2006 to 2010. It took a bold initiative last year, through...

Sanolfi R&D.
March 14, 2005... Jean-Francois Dehecq, chairman and ceo of Sanofi Aventis, told Hungarian prime minister Serenc Gyucsany, his group would invest 15m [euro] to expand R&D at its Chinoin pharmaceuticals subsidiary in Hungary, promising a further 30 m [euro]/year...

HH buys Jakota.(Hugo Haffner )(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... German speciality chemicals distributor Hugo Haffner has expanded its east European presence through the acquisition of Jakota Bohemia, based in Prague and Bratislava. With the deal it has also acquired a logistics centre in Melnik, Czech...

ACC web help.(American Chemistry Council and American Plastics Council)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the American Plastics Council (APC) have unveiled two websites to provide workers in the chemicals and plastics industries with a way to make their opinions on industry issues known to public officials....

Cargill buys Citrico.
March 14, 2005... Cargill announced it will acquire the global pectin business of German-based Citrico, marking the US agribusiness giant's first entry into the pectin-based market. Citrico's German pectin plant produces more than 4500 tonne/year of pectin. ...