ECN-European Chemical News articles from October 2004

ECN-European Chemical News archives from October 2004

Reaching out for answers.(Comment)
October 4, 2004... The new European commissioners will have a lot of work to do to win over the chemical industry. Even before commissioners Dimas, Verheugen and Potocnik, for the environment, enterprise & industry and science & research, respectively, are...

Azelis buys again.
October 4, 2004... Pan-European distribution group Azelis has gained a foothold in Spain with the acquisition of Impex Quimica, a Barcelona-based specialty chemicals distributor with subsidiaries in France, Switzerland and China. This latest addition to the...

Factoring debts.
October 4, 2004... Israel's Makteshim-Agan is selling its trade receivables to Rabobank of the Netherlands, to change customer debt into cashflow. Rabobank retains a portion of the money as commission. The maximum value of invoices that can be processed this way...

Teva battles on.
October 4, 2004... Teva Pharmaceuticals is being sued by Merck Sharp & Dohme in Tel Aviv. Merck alleges it is producing a copy of its Foslan treatment for osteoporosis. Teva has seen its share price fall by more than 20% recently in the face of competition from...

Conoco move.
October 4, 2004... ConocoPhillips has bought a 7.9% stake in Russian oil and petrochemical firm Lukoil for $2bn, according to Russia's Federal Property Fund (FPF). The stake was bought through Springtime Holdings. The FPF auctioned the stake last week with...

Unions to help investigate Sasol Secunda explosion.(SOUTH AFRICA: INVESTIGATION)
October 4, 2004... Trades unions will take part in the official investigation into the explosion that caused ten deaths at Sasol's Secunda, South Africa, facility in early September, company deputy chairman and chief executive Pieter Cox confirmed last week. ...

Works council calls on BASF to share plans with its employees.(GERMANY: COMMUNICATION)
October 4, 2004... The central works council at BASF has called on management to communicate to employees its long-term perspective for the main site at Ludwigshafen. In a German interview, council president Robert Oswald said Ludwigshafen workers have...

CVC seals ink purchases.(GERMANY: ACQUISITIONS)(BASF Printing Systems Group and ANI Printing Inks)(CVC Capital Partners)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Private equity group CVC last week finalised its acquisition of BASF's printing ink business and Swedish company ANI Printing Inks. CVC plans to bring the two businesses together, creating a new corporation with annual sales in excess of...

Atofina faces strike action.(FRANCE: INDUSTRIAL ACTION)
October 4, 2004... On the day France's Atofina plans to formally unveil the name of its 5bn [euro] chloro-chemicals, intermediates and performance products business, it faces a one-day strike at most of its domestic factories. Trade union CGT is threatening...

Newco announces top executives.(OLEFINS/DERIVATIVES: BPAMOCO)
October 4, 2004... The key players who will head BPAmoco's olefins and derivatives business, nicknamed Newco, have emerged, but the size of the team is still under discussion. Some sources suggest that as many as 10% of non-manufacturing jobs could go. ...

SMEs should not collapse under the weight of Reach.(CHEMICALS: POLICY)
October 4, 2004... We need to look at the impact of Reach on small and medium businesses (SMEs),' said Gunter Verheugen, the German Social Democrat nominated as EU industry commissioner, during his pre-appointment quiz by MEPs. Verheugen added: 'I'm not...

Finland's Kemira to clock 5m [euro] for US-based Tetra divestment.(CALCIUM CHLORIDE: SALE)(Tetra Tech Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Finland's Kemira says it will receive around 5m [euro] for the sale of its calcium chloride business to US-based Tetra. The deal, agreed in August, covers Kemira calcium chloride plants at Kokkola in Finland and Helsingborg in Sweden, as...

EC to look into fertiliser jv.(AMI/RWA: JOINT VENTURE)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The European Commission has promised to look hard at a proposed fertiliser joint venture between AMI Agro Linz and RWA, Austria's largest agricultural wholesale organisation. The proposed jv, called Inter-Fert Dungemittel (Inter-Fert),...

Russia ratifies Kyoto Protocol.(GREENHOUSE: GASES)
October 4, 2004... Russia's chemical industry will take a keener interest in controlling greenhouse gas emissions from its plants after the Russian state last week approved steps towards ratifying the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Ratification could be...

Thai to market.
October 4, 2004... Thai Oil hopes to raise between Baht24.3bn (480.5m [euro]/$588.5m/) and Baht28.8bn in its initial public offering of shares in mid-October. Around 900m shares will be issued with an indicative price range of Baht27-32. There will be 90m new...

Wellman's fine day.
October 4, 2004... US resins and fibres maker Wellman says the US Department of Justice's (DoJ) antitrust division will not try to indict Wellman or its employees in connection with the investigation into polyester staple fibre price-fixing. The company said it...

Iran grows share.(petrochemicals)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Iran's share of the global petrochemicals export market is forecast to jump from 0.5% to 2.2% by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (20 March 2005), according to the National Petrochemical Company. The country looks set to produce 15m...

Human cloning.
October 4, 2004... Ian Wilmut, the man behind the world's first cloned sheep, has asked the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for permission to insert genetic material into spare embryos left over from in vitro fertilisation treatment. He wants to...

Petkim IPO back on cards.(TURKEY: PRIVATISATION)
October 4, 2004... The stop-start privatisation f Turkey's state-owned petrochemical company Petkim looks like it is back on again, with a 47% stake to be sold to the public in about six months, said Gokham Beduk, Petkim's export manager, at the recent EPCA...

Huntsman to slash 1000 jobs.(ACQUISITION: CONSOLIDATION)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Huntsman plans to cut 1000 jobs from its 15 000-strong global workforce, said company president Peter Huntsman at an EPCA meeting in Monte Carlo last week. Up to 90% of positions will be lost via early retirement and voluntary departures. ...

Cognis delays IPO.(GERMANY: STOCK MARKET)
October 4, 2004... German speciality chemicals company Cognis, which was spun off from Henkel in 2001, is not yet ready for a stock market launch, said chief executive Antonio Trius when presenting the company's first-half 2004 results last week. But Trius...

Russia delays sale of stake in KCCC.(TENDER: FLUOROPLASTICS)(Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Combine)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The privatisation of Russia's stake in fluoroplastics and fertiliser producer Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Combine (KCCC) has been delayed by a month until 29 October. The local authority said the sale of its 19% holding in Kirov-based KCCC...

Bayer shareholders to get 10:1 Lanxess offering.(CHEMICALS: STOCK SPLIT)
October 4, 2004... Bayer shareholders are likely to be offered one Lanxess share for every ten of their Bayer shares, according to unconfirmed press reports. When Lanxess began operating independently in July, Bayer announced it would offer the company to its...

Chemical traders predict 'no growth' over next 18 months.(GERMANY: INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION)
October 4, 2004... Germany's chemical traders in the industry association Verband Chemiehandel (VCH) predict 'no growth' in its members' businesses, either in 2004 or 2005. While the soaring price of crude oil is a 'matter of great concern', it is 'not the...

Halliburton considers KBR moves.(ENGINEERING: SUBSIDIARY)
October 4, 2004... Oil and gas service provider Halliburton is considering selling, spinning off or taking public its engineering and construction subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR). Halliburton chief executive Dave Lesar said any of the three courses...

Celanese warns over dividends.(CAC: IMPAIRMENT CHARGE)
October 4, 2004... German chemical company Celanese has said it may have to take a further non-cash impairment charge on its US holding Celanese Americas Corporation (CAC) 'of such a magnitude' it would be unable to pay shareholders a dividend for the business...

Butadiene sparks split settlements.(OLEFINS: CONTRACTS)
October 4, 2004... A split quarter-four (Q4) contract settlement has emerged in Europe's butadiene market. Contract prices of 627 [euro]/ tonne FD and 630 [euro]/tonne FD were announced as initial prices on the same day. However, market players confirm that...

Dow predicts 5% growth.(EPCA: EO/PO)(ethylene oxide)(propylene oxide)
October 4, 2004... The global market for ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) is thriving, with demand growth expected to climb as high as 5% over the next few years, says Earl Shipp, global business vice president for Dow Oxides & Glycols. 'If you'd...

Short supply likely into 2005.(EPCA: CAUSTIC SODA)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Players have warned that Europe's 'critically low' caustic soda inventories might not fully recover during 2005. An unusually active summer season, combined with a recent spate of plant outages, has taken its toll on the European market,...

Polymer price rise.
October 4, 2004... Air Products Polymers hopes to raise the price of dispersions by 50 [euro]/tonne from 15 October. The hike, due to rising energy and raw material costs, will affect its Airflex, Vinac, Flexbond and Flexcryl brands. Markets editor...

Promising demand.
October 4, 2004... Demand for enzymes in the US is expected to reach $1.9bn by 2008. A new study by The Freedonia Group predicts that demand will increase by 6%/year over the next four years. Markets editor jane.gibson@rbi.co.uk

Coatings hike.
October 4, 2004... CCP will hike coating resins prices on shipments from 15 October. Alkyds and dispersions will rise by 3 cent/lb, coatings emulsions by 4 cent/ lb, polyesters by 6 cent/lb, and acrylics and additives by 7 cent/lb. Markets editor...

Ivan halts output.
October 4, 2004... Hurricane Ivan has stopped production of propylene oxide (PO) and propylene glycol (PG) products at Dow Chemical's Plaquemine facility Louisiana, US. Dow says it had to declare force majeure as the weather meant all transportation of PO and PG...

Verdugt prices up.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Organic salts and blends producer Verdugt says it plans to raise the cost of propionates and acetates. From 1 November, the firm will increase acetate prices by between 75-130 [euro]/tonne, raise its citrate-based animal feed acifier producers...

Plastics increase.
October 4, 2004... BASF is raising its engineering plastics prices in Europe. PA6 and PA66 will rise by 200 [euro]/tonne, polybutadiene terephthalate and acetal by 150 [euro]/tonne, and polyether-sulphone and polysulphone by 950 [euro]/tonne. Markets editor...

Talks progress on Q4 OX.(ORTHOXYLENE: CONTRACTS)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Discussions are ongoing for the fourth-quarter orthoxylene contract. An announcement is expected soon after players return from the European Petrochemical conference in Monte Carlo. Sources say that a significant hike of 100 [euro]/tonne is...

Benzene could finally go down.(OCTOBER: PRICES)
October 4, 2004... Benzene contract prices could fall in October, say players. Numbers have climbed or rolled over every month since March, when they stood at 450 [euro]/tonne. Spot prices are around $1090-1110/tonne and there is speculation that this could...

Distribution speeds ahead.(POLYMERS: GROWTH)
October 4, 2004... The European polymer distribution sector is displaying more than double the growth of the rest of the market, with figures showing an improvement of at least 6%/year. According to a recently published report by AMI Consulting, polymer...

Crude hits highs of $1090-1110/tonne: Brent crude and WTI topped their highs of $46/bbl and $50/bbl, respectively, with naphtha following on swiftly, Benzene players remain confident that a tight market will lift prices.(Market trends)
October 4, 2004... Naphtha prices jumped to $440-445/tonne cif NWE in the first half of the week, as crude oil futures once again reached record high levels. Brent crude futures topped $46/bbl for the first time to reach $46.28/bbl and WTI in the US broke the...

Bulk chemical prices.(Market trends)(Illustration)
October 4, 2004... [GRAPHICS OMITTED] * EUROPEAN 03 2003-Q4 2004 QUARTERLY AND MONTHLY CONTRACTS, [euro]/TONNE Ethylene Propylene Butadiene Q3 2003 445 430 520 Q4 2003 512 425...

Polymer momentum surges on: the summer has come and gone and commodity polymer producers are looking for further increases across all polymers into October, although resistance from buyers is mounting.(Plastics monitor)
October 4, 2004... European commodity plastics producers continued to press ahead with substantial price increases in September. The majority of commodity polymer grades experienced price hikes of between 50-80 [euro]/tonne last month. Since the last monthly...

n-Butanol: the sector is enjoying a stronger year in 2004, but next year will feel the impact of new capacity starting up in China to support robust growth in Asia.(Product profile)
October 4, 2004... Uses n-Butanol is used in the coatings and adhesives industries either as a precursor to other chemicals or as a solvent. Its major application is in the production of butyl-acrylate and methacrylate esters, which account for about 40% of...

EC grants 15m [euro] to stage I of Marco Polo programme.(FREIGHT: PLANS)(European Commission)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The European Commission as granted 15m [euro] to the 13 best actions selected in the first round of the Marco Polo Programme, aimed at transferring freight from heavily congested roads to more environmentally friendly modes of transport. ...

Oiltanking's new leadership.(GERMANY: APPOINTMENTS)(Gust Spaepen as managing director)(Huib Jansen promoted as managing director of Oiltanking Antwerp, Ghent and Terneuzen)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Gust Spaepen has been appointed managing director of Oiltanking, the Hamburg, Germany-based provider of storage for petroleum products, chemicals and gases, effective 1 October 2004. Spaepen was previously managing director of Oiltanking...

Delayed impact for phase-out.(SINGLE HULL: OIL TANKERS)
October 4, 2004... International Maritime Organisation requirements for the eventual phasing out of single-hull oil tankers are 'likely to have virtually no market impact before 2010', says Intertanko, the international association of independent tanker owners....

Scooping deals.
October 4, 2004... Air Liquide/BOC jv Soxal has scooped contracts to supply ultra-pure nitrogen, hydrogen and speciality gases used in chip fabrication to STMicroelectronics' (ST) semiconductor plants based at ST's Technopark in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore. An Air...

Striking partnership.
October 4, 2004... Poland-based chemicals distributor Hamburska Spolka Handlowa (HSH) has entered into a partnership with pan-European distribution group Pluschem. HSH has offices and commercial activities in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria...

US rail freight up.
October 4, 2004... US rail shipment of chemicals have risen 5.2% in the past year to September, reports the American Association of Railroads. A total of 1.1m carloads of chemicals were shipped by rail by 18 September 2004, compared with 1.06m last year.

NOx deal signed.
October 4, 2004... Mineral fertiliser supplier Yara has signed a deal with Brenntag for the Europe-wide distribution of nitrogen oxide-lowering reagent AdBlue. Air1 AdBlue will be supplied from Yara's urea manufacturing process for distribution through about 100...

Talks conclude.
October 4, 2004... Talks over the sale of Ross Chemicals & Storage, based in Grangemouth, UK, are concluded, says owner Kuwait Petroleum GB [KPGB]. The sale to Kaneb Terminals follows the sale of KPGB's service stations and direct fuel distribution to Refined...

Membership boosts Baltic chemicals: European investment is starting to pay off for the Baltic States' chemical industries.(Baltic States)
October 4, 2004... A decade ago, the Baltic States were facing the huge challenge of rebuilding both their societies and economies. The fact that all three acceded to the European Union in May this year shows their determination to succeed and how effective their...

European exposure: Cath O'Driscoll presents the lowdown on the chemical output of three of the European Union's latest recruits--Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the Baltic States.(Baltic States)
October 4, 2004... Located on the eastern side of the Baltic Sea, the Baltic States border Russia, Belarus and Poland on the east, with easy access to Finland and the rest of Scandinavia. Formerly part of the Soviet bloc, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania gained...

Nordic Reach: central to the Reach proposals is the implementation of a new agency in Finland. The country faces the challenge head on, but not without a degree of caution.(Finland)
October 4, 2004... Home of mobile phone giant Nokia, countless lakes and seemingly endless pine forests, Europe s last great wilderness also boasts a world-class chemical industry. So, it should be no surprise that Finland was chosen last December as the site of...

Three's company: no examination of the Nordic chemicals arena would be complete without input from Industri Kapital, which started a dramatic programme of restructuring six years ago.(Industri Kapital)
October 4, 2004... To outsiders, Industri Kapital may have looked at a loose end since the Finnish government decided not to sell its stake in Kemira to its growing portfolio of Nordic firms, but the company has concentrated on developing its investments Dynea...

A lot to ask: industry leaders pose challenging questions for three new European Commissioners who are set have a powerful role to play in the future of the chemicals sector.(European Commission)
October 4, 2004... Three of the commissioners proposed by Jose Manuel Barroso, the president-designate of the European Commission, will have a key role to play in the future competitiveness of the European chemicals industry. These are Gunter Verheugen, nominated...

EU supports restrictions on phthalates in children's toys.(EUROPE: PHTHALATE RESTRICTIONS)
October 4, 2004... The EU's Competitiveness Council has unanimously backed an agreement restricting the use of certain phthalates in toys and childcare items (ECN 13 September). On the basis of the text agreed by the Council, articles containing DEHP, DBP and BBP...

Low doses of BPA not harmful.(BISPHENOL-A: RISK ANALYSIS)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... A Panel from the Harvard Centre for Risk Analysis has concluded that extremely low doses of bisphenol-A (BPA) do not have an adverse effect on human health. According to the panel, the 'low-dose hypothesis' has generally been based on...

Akzo Nobel and Mitsubishi join UN initiative.(UNITED NATIONS: GLOBAL COMPACT)
October 4, 2004... Both Akzo Nobel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) are to participate in the United Nation's Global Compact initiative. Akzo Nobel said: 'We have embraced the Corporate Social Responsibility process to bring structure and transparency...

Chemistry campaign.(Cefic)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Cefic has launched a campaign to increase knowledge and awareness of chemistry. The initiative stresses chemistry's importance and impact on daily life. Alain Perroy, Cefic director general, said: 'Many people just do not realise how big a part...

GMO poll results.(Genetically Modified Organism)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Seeds and crop-protection trade groups have published the results of a poll commissioned during September that sought the opinions of 1000 people concerning GMOs. The poll revealed that more than 67% of people consider the growing of new plant...

Chrysotile block.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... WWF says it is 'appalled' by Canada and Russia's decision to block the listing of chrysotile asbestos on major international toxics conventions, despite the clear obligation to list the harmful substance based on scientific evidence. WWF said...

Science park.
October 4, 2004... Acadia Pharmaceutics and Medeon Science Park are to establish a modern chemistry research and development facility in Malmo, Sweden. The new laboratory will be located within the Medicon Valley region, home to more than 60% of Scandinavian...

Enzyme demand.
October 4, 2004... US demand for enzymes is forecast to increase 6%/year to $1.9bn in 2008, bolstered by the introduction of higher-value products that address specific needs in pharmaceuticals, animal feed and other fast-growing markets. Volume gains will record...

Indian IPA boost.
October 4, 2004... Rising demand for isopropanol from India's pharmaceutical industry is driving a wave of new projects in that country, including a new plant at Taloja and a restart of an earlier shuttered facility. Market sources said Reliance Industries was to...

Price rises in Br.(Great Lakes Chemical raises price of ethylene dibromide and methyl bromide)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Speciality chemicals maker Great Lakes Chemical intends to increase global minimum prices of elemental bromine, 48% hydrobromic acid, ethylene dibromide and methyl bromide industrial from 1 October where contracts allow. The company said the...

Carbon nanotube sales forecast to reach $540m.(CARBON NANOTUBES: MARKET OVERVIEW)
October 4, 2004... The global carbon nanotube (CNT) market is set to grow explosively at a compound annual rate of 98%, reaching sales of $540m by 2007, according to market consultancy Frost & Sullivan (F&S). 'There are immense opportunities ahead for CNTs in...

Biotech firms expand agreement.(IMAGING AGENTS: COLLABORATION)
October 4, 2004... US biotechnology company Kereos, which develops targeted therapeutics and imaging agents for cancer and cardiovascular disease, and DowPharma have signed a licensing agreement to allow both companies access to patent portfolios for the...

Mitsubishi plans Jiangsu joint venture.(CHINA: JOINT VENTURE)(Junsei Chemical)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Mitsubishi Corp plans to establish a joint venture company to construct a multipurpose organic synthesis plant in Jiangsu, China, with Japan's Junsei Chemical and a Shanghai-based fine chemical firm in November. It will be 36%-owned by...

Roche to develop Glycart antibodies.(BIOTECHNOLOGY: LICENCE)
October 4, 2004... Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche has agreed to use compatriot biotechnology firm Glycart's GlycoMAb technology to discover next-generation therapeutic antibodies. Under the deal, Roche will have the option to develop and market worldwide...

Degussa signs [H.sub.2][O.sub.2] deal.(HYDROGEN PEROXIDE: PARTNERSHIP)
October 4, 2004... Degussa and US-based Headwaters have signed an agreement to establish a 50:50 joint venture to develop and commercialise a direct synthesis process for hydrogen peroxide ([H.sub.2][O.sub.2]). Degussa said the partnership aims to invest in...

Biotech aids food production.(US: BIOTECHNOLOGY)
October 4, 2004... The acceptance of biotechnology and its positive benefits is increasing, according to DuPont's chairman and chief executive officer Charles Holliday. Speaking last week at the Asian biotechnology conference, BioJapan 2004, held in Tokyo,...

Dow Corning connects with UK.(INVINT: ELECTRONICS)
October 4, 2004... Dow Corning has signed a joint development contract with the UK's Invint, which specialises in conductive polymer interconnect technology. The deal is expected to lead to the development of a variety of new interconnect technologies for the...

Polysilicon process.(Wacker Polysilicon)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Wacker Polysilicon is developing a process for producing granular polysilicon. Known as the fluidised bed process, the method uses trichlorosilane as a raw material. Wacker said that the advantages of silicon granules are not only their...

Tenants move in.(commercial leases)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... BASF said that the first two tenants have moved into its Chemical Technology Centre, which is located on its site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The Centre was established in July this year following the signing of an agreement between BASF, the...

R&D tax credit.
October 4, 2004... The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has said that it applauds a decision by Congress to extend the R&D tax credit. Both the House and the Senate passed bills extending the credit. The ACC said that Congressional leaders understood the...

Scratch resistance.
October 4, 2004... Borealis has developed a scratch resistant injection moulding compound aimed at the automotive market. Borealis said that the scratch resistant nature of the polypropylene compounds is the result of engineering as much performance as possible...

Air Liquide union.
October 4, 2004... Air Liquide will build a cogeneration plant fed with natural gas in cooperation with Shell in Pernis, Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The 250MW unit will produce 600 tonne/ hour of steam at completion in 2008. Air Liquide will provide 190m [euro]...

Cracker growth.
October 4, 2004... Turkey's Petkim will shut its cracker from December through to March next year as part of a $400m expansion of its complex in Aliaga, Turkey. The expansion will boost ethylene capacity from 400 000 tonne/year to 520 000 tonne/year and raise...

Indian expansion.
October 4, 2004... India's Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Co is expanding its nameplate methanol capacity by 29 700 tonne/year to 158 700 tonne/ year at Narmadanagar in the Bharuch district of Gujarat at a cost Rupee220.2m (3.9m [euro]/ $4.8m). A new methanol...

Persulphate build.
October 4, 2004... Following State approval RheinPerChemie will build a persulphate plant in Luzhou, Sichuan, China. With construction under way the unit will start up early in 2005, adding 6000 tonne/year to the company's existing plant in Rheinfelden, Germany....

Ineos firms up cracker build.(GERMANY: ETHYLENE)
October 4, 2004... Ineos Capital is to proceed with its plans for a new cracker and ethylene pipeline in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. A letter of intent was signed late last month between Ineos and the German Federal state. Wilhelmshaven is Germany's largest...

Equate II inked in for mid-2005.(KUWAIT: PETROCHEMICALS)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Construction work on Equate I1 in Kuwait will begin in mid-2005, after a cracker licensor was appointed. Start-up is now scheduled for 2007-08, says Equate chief executive officer Hamad Al-Terkait (ECN 29 January). The planned complex...

New Pars complex.(IRAN: GROUND BREAKING)
October 4, 2004... Pars Petrochemical complex at Assaluyeh, Iran, is to finish by March 2006. The complex includes petchem units of 645 000 tonne/year ethylbenzene (EB), 600 000 tonne/year of styrene and 250 000 tonne/year of polystyrene. Groundbreaking has...

Fertiliser firm swells.(US: PURIFIED PHOSPHORIC ACID)(Potash Corporation Of Saskatchewan Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Canadian fertiliser major Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS) will invest $73m in an expansion of its purified phosphoric acid capacity in Aurora, North Carolina, US. The capacity in Aurora will rise by 82 000 tonne/year to 327 000...