Chemical Business Newsbase articles from December 2000, page 5

Chemical Business Newsbase archives from December 2000

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Recycling system is relaxed in Austria.
December 14, 2000... Austria has reduced its recycling/reuse target to 80% for all beverage packaging. The original targets of 96% for water bottles, 94% for beer bottles and metal cans, and 83% for non-alcoholic beverage packaging had proved unrealistic....

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Dow-Cargill establishes operations in Amsterdam.
December 14, 2000... A new plant for the production of polylactide biodegradable plastics could be built in Europe from 2004 by a new 50:50 marketing venture between Dow Chemical and Cargill. The Dow-Cargill venture is headquartered near Amsterdam in the...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Appetite for plastic closures is growing.
December 14, 2000... Demand for plastic caps and closures in Europe grew by 2.6% in 1999 to just under 180 bn units. Growth of 1.4%/y is predicted for coming years. Demand in Eastern Europe is running at 3.6%/y and totalled 21 bn closures in 1999. ...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Window glazing developers face obstacles.
December 14, 2000... Exatec, the R&D joint venture between Bayer and GE Plastics based in Bergisch Gladbach in Germany and Wixom, MI US, is due to open a pilot plant in mid-2002 for the production of a new injection moulded polycarbonate grade (ExatecPlus) for...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: New fire regulations open door for crosslinked PE.
December 14, 2000... Demand for extruded crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) pipe in fire protection devices for residential use could rise significantly following new regulations imposed in the US by the National Fire Protection Association during 1999 that allow...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Polycarbonate and other plastics play big role in Teijin's growth plan.
December 14, 2000... Plastics operations including polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate resin and film, polyethylene naphthalate and polybutylene terephthalate are expected to drive growth for Teijin Group of Tokyo, Japan over the next few years. Teijin...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Inergy becomes global force in fuel tanks.
December 14, 2000... Inergy Automotive Systems, a 50:50 joint venture between Solvay Automotive Systems and Plastics Omnium created in Sep 2000, expects sales of EUR 1 bn during 2001 following sales of EUR 800 M in 2000. The venture employs 3000 people at 30...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: ABC Group specializes in auto systems work.
December 14, 2000... The ABC Group is a consortium of processing and support companies based in Toronto, Canada. It expects to achieve sales of $400 M in 2000 including 90% in the automotive sector with blow moulding accounting for 75% and injection moulding...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Differentiation is watchword for successful US upstart.
December 14, 2000... Pinnacle Plastics Products of Bowling Green, OH, US is profiled. It expects sales of $12 M in 2000 up from $10.5 M in 1999. It employs 112 people and produces 5 tonnes/y large parts for automotive, leisure and sporting goods.

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: In Japan, Yachiyo spearheads changeover to plastic tanks.
December 14, 2000... Yachiyo Industry Co of Kashiwabara, Japan began blow moulding automotive fuel tanks in May 1999. Of its total sales of $12 bn in 2000 the company expects its blow moulding operations to account for $10 M. In 1999 a profit of $5.6 M...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Consolidation paves the way for polystyrene resurgence. [1 table].
December 14, 2000... The development of the polystyrene industry worldwide during the 1990s is investigated with the focus on Dow Plastics (Styron A-Tech), BASF, Nova and AtoFina. A table shows mergers that have created a new hierarchy in PS supply in North...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Dow unveils polypropylene grade for use on existing LDPE blown film lines.
December 14, 2000... Dow has introduced Inspire 112 polypropylene (PP) to Asia and Europe. The material has a melt strength that is 20 times higher than conventional grades of PP as well as good bubble stability. Inspire 112 is not made with metallocene...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Plateable PPO.
December 14, 2000... New from GE Plastics is Noryl PN275 plateable PPO that has a heat deflection temperature of 137 degrees Celsius, good chemical resistance, excellent hydrolytic stability and low specific gravity. Applications include automotive wheel...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Opflex from Unitika.
December 14, 2000... New from Unitika is Opflex open-cell metallocene olefin foam for use in oil and sound absorption. Mitsubishi has chosen the material for an engine cover for a new vehicle. For more details contact: Unitika Ltd, 3-4-4 Nihonbashi...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Lubri-Tech ATH XC361E from MA Hanna.
December 14, 2000... New from MA Hanna is a self-lubricating acetal homopolymer compound that is known as Lubri-Tech ATH XC361E that includes PTFE and silicone lubricating additives. It can be injection moulded or extruded for applications such as gears,...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: High-impact PP from Union Carbide Corp.
December 14, 2000... New from Union Carbide Corp are Imppax copolymer grades of high impact polypropylene that offer balance impact strength and stiffness for use in automotive, materials handling and appliance applications. Two grades are currently available...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Robotic extrusion from Advanced Elastomer Systems.
December 14, 2000... The Santoprene 121-50E500 thermoplastic rubber grades supplied by Advanced Elastomer Systems is being used for the windscreen and rear window sealing systems in the new Audi TT roadster. A new robotic extrusion technology developed by...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Combo improves RTM.
December 14, 2000... New from BYK-Chemie are two additives, BYK-A515 and BYK-W985 that can be used in tandem to help speed flow rate, reduce surface porosity and improve wet out in resin transfer moulded parts. For more details contact: BYK-Chemie GmbH,...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Antibacterial masterbatch from A Schulman.
December 14, 2000... A Schulman has introduced Polybatch Abact antibacterial masterbatch for film, injection and blow moulded applications. It can be used with polyolefin or polystyrene carriers preventing the growth of yeast, mildew or bacteria. ...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Packaged food protection from Ciba.
December 14, 2000... New from Ciba Specialty Chemicals is Shelfplus 2400 that can absorb oxygen from inside packaging as well as the gas permeating through closure liners, lids and rigid or flexible plastics walls. It can be easily incorporated into...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Improved PP processability from Milliken.
December 14, 2000... Millad 3988 nucleating agent has been introduced by Milliken Europe. It can improve the processability of polypropylene through increased crystallization rate, faster demoulding and shorter injection or blow moulding cycles. High...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: Better mould release from BYK-Chemie.
December 14, 2000... BYK-Chemie has introduced a low-fogging processing additive (BYK-W9050) for use in bulk moulding compound. It can improve mould release and has been specifically formulated for use in the processing of automotive headlights. For more...

MODERN PLASTICS INTERNATIONAL: PVC update. [1 table].
December 14, 2000... The table details capacity changes for PVC in Europe, the Americas and Asia/Pacific until the end of 2002. Details include country, company, location, startup date and capacity. From the end of Apr 2000 Chisso/Ichihara began toll...

THE HINDU: Pierre Balman launches a new perfume.
December 14, 2000... Pierre Balman has introduced Balmain de Balmain, an elegant feminine perfume, claiming Baccarose. It is available in fragrances like green chypre scent, ultra-feminine, elegant modern and sensual and characterised by the contrast between...

THE INDEPENDENT: British Biotech optimistic despite widening losses.
December 14, 2000... British Biotech reported increased losses and cash burn for the first half, but chief executive Dr Elliot Goldstein insists the company's turnaround `continues to gain momentum'. Goldstein claimed a successful first half due to the...

THE INDEPENDENT: Anglo American sells stake in AECI.
December 14, 2000... Mining giant Anglo American (AA) has agreed to sell a 40% stake in South African chemicals business AECI back to the company. AA said the share sale will realise $93.5 M (GBP64.2 M) but it may receive a further $24.5 M depending on the...

THE INDEPENDENT: Medisys syringe gets a booster.
December 14, 2000... Medisys said its Futura safety syringe is to go into high-volume production following a US manufacturing deal with injection-moulding specialist Nypro. The Futura syringe is due to be launched in the US in the first half of next year....

THE INDEPENDENT: Shire falls 16% on takeover of Canadian BioChem group.
December 14, 2000... Shire pharmaceuticals, the UK's fourth-largest drugs firm, saw its shares plunge 16% yesterday after it unveiled the takeover of BioChem Pharma, an under-performing Canadian pharmaceuticals company, in an all-paper deal valuing the enlarged...

FEDERAL REGISTER: Revision to requirements for licensed anti-human globulin and blood grouping reagents; companion to direct final rule.
December 14, 2000... The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend the biologics regulations applicable to microbiological controls for licensed Anti-Human Globulin (AHG) and Blood Grouping Reagents (BGR). FDA is proposing to remove the...

FEDERAL REGISTER: Revision to requirements for licensed anti-human globulin and blood grouping reagents.
December 14, 2000... The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the biologics regulations applicable to microbiological controls for licensed Anti- Human Globulin (AHG) and Blood Grouping Reagents (BGR). FDA is amending the regulations to remove...

FEDERAL REGISTER: National Institutes of Health: government-owned inventions, availability for licensing.
December 14, 2000... The National Institutes of Health have a number of government owned inventions available for licensing. Subject areas include: novel chemotherapeutic agents; therapeutic proteins, and enzyme inhibitors. Federal Register Online via...

FEDERAL REGISTER: Organophosphate pesticide (malathion); availability of revised risk assessments.
December 14, 2000... This notice, from the US Environmental Protection Agency, announces the availability of the revised risk assessments and related documents for the organophosphate pesticide malathion. In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public...

FEDERAL REGISTER: Announcement of import restraint limits for certain cotton, man-made fibre, silk blend and other vegetable fibre textile products produced or manufactured in Oman.
December 14, 2000... On 5 Dec 2000, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements directed the Commissioner of Customs to establish import restraint limits (effective 1 Jan 2001) for certain cotton, man-made fibre, silk blend and other vegetable...

FEDERAL REGISTER: Adjustment of import limits for certain cotton and man-made fibre textile products produced or manufactured in the Dominican Republic.
December 14, 2000... On 5 Dec 2000, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements directed the Commissioner of Customs to establish import restraint limits (effective 12 Dec 2000) for certain cotton and man-made fibre textile products produced or...

FEDERAL REGISTER: New transhipment charges for certain cotton, wool, man-made fibre, silk blend and other vegetable fibre textiles and textile products produced or manufactured in the...
December 14, 2000... On 6 Dec 2000, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements directed the Commissioner of Customs to impose transhipment charges (from 15 Dec 2000) for certain cotton, wool, man- made fibre, silk blend and other vegetable fibre...

FEDERAL REGISTER: Adjustment of import limits for certain cotton textile products produced or manufactured in Sri Lanka.
December 14, 2000... On 7 Dec 2000, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements directed the Commissioner of Customs to establish import restraint limits (effective 13 Dec 2000) for certain cotton textile products produced or manufactured in Sri...

FEDERAL REGISTER: Certain pasta from Italy: final results of antidumping duty administrative review.
December 14, 2000... On 8 Aug 2000, the Department of Commerce published the preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain pasta, manufactured by seven producers from Italy. The period of review was 1 Jul 1998,...

FEDERAL REGISTER: Certain pasta from Turkey: preliminary results of new shipper antidumping duty review.
December 14, 2000... In response to a request by a pasta producer and its affiliated exporter in Turkey the Department of Commerce is conducting a new shipper review of the an tidumping duty order on certain pasta from Turkey. The review covers sales dur ing...

LA TRIBUNE DESFOSSES: Quadrimex takes over Le Nigen N cosmetics activities.
December 14, 2000... Quadrimex has acquired the cosmetics and personal care products activities of the Le Nigen N Industries group which has been in receivership since Mar 1999. Quadrimex will take over the Le Nigen N site at Saint-Benoit near Poitiers. ...

LA TRIBUNE DESFOSSES: Marionnaud acquires 23 new retail outlets since Sep 2000.
December 14, 2000... Marionnaud, one of France's leading perfumes and cosmetics distributors, has acquired 23 new retail outlets since Sep 2000. These newly acquired assets account for annual turnover of EUR 21.3 M. The Marionnaud group now runs 415...

BUSINESS LINE: Cabinet decision soon on airline fuel rates.
December 14, 2000... The Government of India is expected to take a decision regarding the airline fuel rates in the near future. Presently, Air India and Indian Airlines are paying more for procuring fuel compared to foreign airlines, which is affecting their...

BUSINESS LINE: Novartis thrust on consumer health.
December 14, 2000... Novartis India Ltd will concentrate on its consumer health care business especially on over-the-counter (OTC) products. It is to invest in the distribution and marketing of this division. Recently, Calcium Sandoz was relaunched...

BUSINESS LINE: FIs reduce rates for Shree Cement.
December 14, 2000... Shree Cement Ltd has obtained reduction in the interest rates from 19% to 16.5% on the outstanding project loans for Jul 1999-Jun 2000 from the financial institutions (FIs). Shree Cement raised Rup 550 M from FIs in 1999-2000 to meet the...

BUSINESS LINE: Hind Copper AGM to mandate board on hive-off.
December 14, 2000... In the forthcoming AGM, Hindustan Copper Ltd will seek the approval of its board of directors for implementing the Government of India's decision to hiveoff its manufacturing unit at Khetri in Rajasthan and Taloja in Maharashtra. In the...

BUSINESS LINE: Dumping probe on choline chloride from China and the EU.
December 14, 2000... The Designated Authority in the Department of Commerce has initiated antidumping investigation on imports of choline chloride from China and territory of the European Union (EU). This move was due to the petition filed by Vam Organic...

BUSINESS LINE: Farmers feel rubber price unremunerative. [1 figure].
December 14, 2000... The current price of RSS-4 grade of rubber latex is Rup 27.75/kg. According to the farmers this price is unremunerative. A photograph showing rubber latex being filled in a drum in Kochi for distributing to the market is included.

BUSINESS LINE: MMTC expects $300 M from mineral exports.
December 14, 2000... MMTC Ltd, the Indian Government owned company, expects a 30% growth in export of minerals during 2000-2001 at $300 M due to high demand from China. This would account for 25% of the total revenue of $1.2 bn projected by MMTC. Till...

BUSINESS LINE: Ciba Specialty board approves merger of arms.
December 14, 2000... Ciba Specialty Chemicals India Ltd (Ciba Specialty) has received approval from the board of directors for merging its subsidiaries, Pigment Specialities India Ltd and Indo-Swiss Textile Chemicals Ltd with itself. For the year ended Mar...

BUSINESS LINE: Promoter to acquire Century Enka shares.
December 14, 2000... Acordis Overseas Investments NV, one of the promoters of Century Enka Ltd, is acquiring 4.6 M shares of the company from Akzo Nobel NV and 4.6 m shares from Acordis AG.

BUSINESS LINE: Refinery margins under pressure.
December 14, 2000... The profitability of refineries in India has been adversely affected owing to increasing input costs and product prices, which have not increased correspondingly. Between the period Sep 1999 and 2000, refining margins have fallen 30% to...

BUSINESS LINE: Revival recipe for MCFL sanctioned.
December 14, 2000... The Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) has approved a Rup 4910.1 M revival proposal for Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd (MCFL). The scheme will be implemented over the period 2000-2006, with Industrial...

BUSINESS LINE: Mahratta Chamber sets up panel on biotechnology.
December 14, 2000... The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) has decided to set up a biotechnology sub-committee for preparing a 10-year blueprint to develop Pune into a major bio-tech centre in Asia. The committee is required to...

BUSINESS LINE: Evacuation of iron ore: Rio Tinto-OMC venture studying port options.
December 14, 2000... Rio-Tinto, the Anglo-Australian mining conglomerate, is forming a 51:49 joint venture company- Rio Tinto Orissa Mining Ltd, with Orissa Mining Corp (OMC) for developing an integrated mining complex at Gandhamardan and Malanjtoli areas of...

BUSINESS LINE: IOC floats crude tender for Feb 2001 buy.
December 14, 2000... Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has floated a tender for sweet and sour crudes including Qatar's Al-Shaheen, Australia's Cossack and West African N'Kossa grades, for lifting during Feb 2001. For part one the tender will close on 13 Dec 2000 and for...

BUSINESS LINE: Aluminium output up 6.8% in Apr-Oct 2000.
December 14, 2000... During Apr-Oct 2000, production of aluminium increased by 6.84% at 375,539 tonnes, zinc production increased by 6.66% at 102,506 tonnes and lead production decreased by 16% to 21,963 tonnes. Production of aluminium by different companies...

PROCESSING: ExxonMobil approved for refinery expansion/complex.
December 13, 2000... Approval has been granted to ExxonMobil Corp for a proposed petrochemical complex and major refinery expansion in collaboration with Fujian Petrochemical Co Ltd (FPCL) at the latter's refinery in China. FPCL is owned jointly by the...

PROCESSING: CDTECH technology commercialized by refinery: Motiva.
December 13, 2000... Motiva Enterprises LLC has commercialized the CDHDS technology of Catalytic Distillation Technologies (CDTECH) for petrol desulfurization at its refinery in Port Arthur. Commissioning of the CDHDS installation took place in May 2000. ...

PROCESSING: Fluor to provide services for liquefaction plant.
December 13, 2000... Sakhalin Energy Investment Co Ltd, Russia, has commissioned Fluor Daniel BV, Netherlands, to supply engineering services for the preparation of project specification and documentation for its 9 M ton/y facility for the liquefaction of liquid...

PROCESSING: LUKoil PNOS awards contract to ABB.
December 13, 2000... LUKoil PNOS has commissioned ABB to provide services associated with the manufacture and supply of helically baffled heat exchangers for a new hydroprocessing unit being built at the company's refinery in Perm, Russia. The latter is...

PROCESSING: Krupp Uhde awarded contract for electrolysis plant.
December 13, 2000... Krupp Uhde has won a contract to convert Solvay SA's 40,000 ton/y chlorine facility at Jemeppe, Belgium, from mercury to membrane cell technology. Completion is scheduled for Jun 2001.

PROCESSING: LG-Caltex chooses Meridium reliability solution.
December 13, 2000... LG-Caltex Oil Corp has signed a licensing agreement with Meridium Inc whereby it will use the latter's enterprise-reliability management system (ERMS) at its 600,000 bpd refinery in Yosu, S Korea. The installment of this software system,...

PROCESSING: Howe-Baker Engineers begins EPC activities for new project.
December 13, 2000... Eastman Chemical has commissioned Howe-Baker Engineers Inc, in partnership with Air Liquide America Inc, to design, assemble, and build a 48,000 scfd facility for the production of hydrogen/carbon monoxide syngas at Longview, TX. The...

PROCESSING: UOP unit commissioned at Formosa Petrochemical.
December 13, 2000... A resid FCC catalytic cracking unit designed by UOP has been started up by Formosa Petrochemical Corp at its Mai Liao refinery in Taiwan. Formosa Petrochemical has already increased the feed capacity at its $12.74 bn complex to more than...

PROCESSING: Honeywell Manageability agreement with Syncrude Canada.
December 13, 2000... A $117 M, 10-year Manageability agreement has been entered into by Syncrude Canada Ltd and Honeywell's Industrial Control operation. This will cover the supply of Honeywell's advanced controls and maintenance service for Syncrude's...

PROCESSING: Graphite-based sheet-jointing material.
December 13, 2000... Econosto Nederland BV has developed Novus Graftec, a sheet jointing which brings together the benefits of traditional aramide-based sheet jointing with the sealing properties of graphite. The sheet thereby acquires increased chemical...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: North American distributors face tightening margins.
December 13, 2000... According to chemical distributors, business is improving, although margins are under pressure with the high price of crude oil not helping at all. In 2000 there has not been a great deal of consolidation among chemical distributors,...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: Transportation mergers and acquisitions.
December 13, 2000... In keeping with the trend in the chemical industry generally, chemical transportation carriers are responding to the changing competitive environment by restructuring. In Jul 2000, Trimac Corp revealed its plans to raise its presence in...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: Bulk liquid terminal market in expansionary mode.
December 13, 2000... Utilisation rates in the chemical industry are high (more than 90%) and liquid terminalers are responding with new capacity, despite a consolidating customer base. A number of terminal companies are planning significant construction...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: Distributor/transporta tion focus: Vopak. [1 figure].
December 13, 2000... Royal Vopak, the result of the merger between Royal Van Ommeren and Royal Pakhoed, is working to improve returns with a product and market focus. Royal Pakhoed is targeting as strategic areas chemical distribution and logistics, together...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: e-Logistics.
December 13, 2000... A number of ventures have been created to establish e-business in chemical logistics, including ShipChem.com and Optimum Logistics. ShipChem.con was formed by Eastman Chemical Co and Global Logistics Technologies (G-Log), a developer of...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: Vinyl industry in Louisiana assailed by Greenpeace.
December 13, 2000... Environmental Group Greenpeace is calling for a suspension of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's (LDEQ) permitting authority and EPA's Region 6 for issuing illegal air permits and violating the Civil Rights Act. ...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: Auto sector decline bodes ill for chemical profitability.
December 13, 2000... The chemical industry's prospects for improved profitability in 2001 are being undermined by increasing signs of a slow down in the US auto industry. Weak demand in key markets such as auto and construction, together with climbing...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: Titanium dioxide pricing remains stable, but inventories rise.
December 13, 2000... Rising interest rates and a stagnant euro have reduced the momentum in the titanium dioxide market, though there is still some strength in prices - in the US and Asia at any rate. Consumption in Jan-Aug was down only slightly on a year...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: Palm oil market faces oversupply, falling prices.
December 13, 2000... With production and stock levels high, the palm oil market is experiencing downward pricing pressures. Attempts by Malaysia and Indonesia to improve conditions by either removing or reducing export duties have had mixed success. ...

CHEMICAL MARKET REPORTER: Plasticizers expected to outlast potential controversies.
December 13, 2000... Despite continuing concerns and proposals for regulatory measures from a number of organizations, analysts are confident over plasticizers' ability to endure. Analysts point out that children's sucking toys and medical tubing and similar...

CHEMICALWEEK ASIA: WMC relaunches Australian DAP project.
December 13, 2000... The postponed second startup stage has been commenced at the $368 M phosphate fertilizer complex of Western Mining Corp (WMC) at Phosphate Hill, Australia. The facility was finished late in 1999 but because of technical problems has been...

CHEMICALWEEK ASIA: Mitsubishi Gas expands formalin plant in Japan.
December 13, 2000... The 60,000 tonne/y formalin unit of Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) at Niigata, Japan, is to be debottlenecked to 66,000 tonne/y. Commissioning of the extra capacity is scheduled for Jun 2001. The MGC/Dainippon Ink and Chemicals joint...

CHEMICALWEEK ASIA: BASF acquires PS maker from Chatterjee.
December 13, 2000... Majority ownership in the Indian polystyrene manufacturer Pushpa Polymers has been acquired by BASF. The company's 60,000 tonne/y PS facility at Dahej makes both high-impact and general purpose PS for the Indian market but BASF may raise...

CHEMICALWEEK ASIA: Chiyoda wins Singapore polycarbonate expansion.
December 13, 2000... Chiyoda has won a contract to construct a 50,000 tonne/y polycarbonate unit for Teijin Polycarbonate Singapore (TPS) on Jurong Island, Singapore. Completion is scheduled for the middle of 2001. This will be TPS's third PC plant and a...

CHEMICALWEEK ASIA: Chinese firm expands dimethyl carbonate.
December 13, 2000... The dimethyl carbonate capacity at Chaoyang Chemical's facility in Tangshan, China is to be expanded by 50% to 6000 tonne/y. At the moment Chaoyang is endeavouring to raise funds for the project.

CHEMICALWEEK ASIA: Yongsan Mitsui plans acrylamide venture in Korea.
December 13, 2000... The construction of a 5000 tonne/y acrylamide unit at Yongsan, Korea, is being planned by Yongsan Mitsui Chemicals, which is a 50/50 joint undertaking of Mitsui Chemicals and Yongsan Chemicals. The project should be completed by the end...

CHEMICALWEEK ASIA: Workers' protests delay TPI debt restructuring.
December 13, 2000... Plans to restructure Thai Petrochemical Industry's (TPI) debts have been at risk because of vehement demonstrations by the company's employees who fear job losses. A meeting of creditors on 16 Nov 2000, in which the plans were to have...

CHEMICALWEEK ASIA: Merger of Sumitomo and Mitsui will create Asia's top producer.
December 13, 2000... As a means of coping with growing international competition, partly by way of a reduction in Japanese plastic tariffs in 2004, Mitsui Chemicals and Sumitomo Chemical will merge by Oct 2003. The resultant undertaking will be the world's...

CHEMICALWEEK ASIA: Asia market report: p-xylene Nov 2000.
December 13, 2000... In spite of production cutbacks in Asia, there is still an abundant supply of p-xylene and prices have also been brought down by the polyester and PTA markets. Early in Nov 2000 some spot cargoes were being offered at around $430/tonne...