Chemical Week articles from August 2006

Chemical Week archives from August 2006

Pricing to the letter.(viewpoint, letter warning of a price increase)
August 30, 2006... A letter warning of a price increase is a frequent item of correspondence for chemical customers in today's volatile feedstock environment. Dow Chemical's customers received a letter from CEO Andrew Liveris informing them of continued...

Codexis raises more funding.(plans to build research and development center)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Enzymes technology provider and custom manufacturer Codexis (Redwood City, CA) says it has raised $37 million in a recent round of financing, bringing the total raised to $72 million. Codexis will use proceeds from the funds to expand its R&D...

Nova cost-cutting program on target.(Nova Chemicals Corp.'s restructuring and cost cutting strategy)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Nova Chemicals says it will reach a cost-reduction rate of $45 million/year by the end of the third quarter, and expects to meet its restructuring cost-reduction goal of $65 million/year by year-end. Nova announced a restructuring program...

Solutia completes pharma sale.(Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals acquires pharma services business )(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Solutia says it has completed the sale of its pharma services business unit to custom manufacturing firm Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals (Ahmedabad, India) for $74.5 million, subject to a working capital adjustment. Solutia announced...

Genencor pulls enzyme.(product discontinuation)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Genencor, a subsidiary of Danisco, has decided to voluntarily remove one of its enzyme products from the market, after a ruling by a U.S. Delaware court states that the product infringes on one of Novozymes' patents. Genencor says it will...

Hexion to acquire Orica's adhesives and resins business ...(Hexion Specialty Chemicals )(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Hexion Specialty Chemicals says it has agreed to acquire Orica's $104-million/year adhesives and resins business. Terms were not disclosed. The Orica business makes formaldehyde and formaldehyde-based binding resins used primarily in the...

... Declares force majeure on formaldehyde.(Hexion Specialty Chemicals)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Hexion Specialty Chemicals says it has declared force majeure for formaldehyde and derivatives in North America due to a shortage of methanol, a key raw material. Hexion says it has been put on allocation for methanol after two major...

EU restricts GM rice imports from U.S.(European Union restrics genetically modified rice)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... The European Union (EU), Japan, and other major rice importing countries say they will restrict rice imported from the U.S., after unapproved genetically modified (GM) rice was detected in U.S. rice supplies. The EU says it will allow only...

Eitzen to acquire leading chemical tanker firm for $1.28 billion.(Eitzen Chemical to acquire Songa Shipholding)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Eitzen Chemical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Camillo Eitzen & Co. (CECO; Lysaker, Norway) says it has reached an agreement to acquire Songa Shipholding, which is currently controlled by Arne Blystad (Oslo), for $1.28 billion. Songa owns 49...

Pequiven, China firm consider Petchem plant in Venezuela.(China National Petroleum Company)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Petroleos de Venezuela's (Pdvsa; Caracas) petrochemical subsidiary Pequiven is considering building a petrochemical facility with China's National Petroleum Company (CNPC) at Pdvsa's Paraguana, Venezuela refinery, according to Venezuelan...

Reach agency's budget soars; registration costs may rise.(European Commission plans to establish European Chemicals Agency to administer Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals legislation)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... The European Commission says its draft budget for the planned European Chemicals Agency, to be located at Helsinki, will be about l.2 billion [euro] ($1.5 billion) over 15 years, up from previous estimates of 829 million [euro] over 11 years....

BASF applies for GM potato trials in U.K ...(genetically modified)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... BASF says it has applied to the U.K. government for permission to conduct two field trials for genetically modified (GM) potatoes in the U.K. in 2007. The potatoes feature genes introduced from wild potatoes that BASF says would protect crop...

... Builds electronic materials plant.
August 30, 2006... BASF says it has started building an integrated production plant at Ludwigshafen, dubbed Electronic Material Center Europe, which will produce electronic chemicals for the semiconductor industry, The facility is due to open at the end of...

Europe to adopt UN chemical labeling and classification laws.(European Commission, United Nations' (UN) Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals )(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... The European Commission has published draft regulations to adopt the United Nations' (UN) Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The system would replace existing European Union (EU) chemical...

Huntsman closes U.K. site due to 'deteriorating market'.
August 30, 2006... Huntsman Corp. says it will close its Whitehaven, U.K. surfactants site, shutting a plant at the end of September that produces heavy duty liquids (HDL). The move will result in nine job losses, the company says. "Despite Huntsman's best...

PetroChina's earnings slump.
August 30, 2006... PetroChina says first-half operating profits at its chemicals business decreased 49%, to Rmb2.9 billion ($364 million), on sales up 7%, to Rmb39.6 billion. The earnings dip reflects increased raw material costs and the sales hike reflects...

Three more firms appeal PMMA fine.(Arkema)(price of polymethyl methacrylate)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Arkema, Lucite International, and Quinn Barlo (Dublin) have joined ICI in lodging separate appeals at the European Court of First Instance (Luxembourg) against fines imposed by the European Commission for conspiring to fix the price of...

Univation bags China PE contract.(China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. signs contract with Univation Technologies)(polyethylene)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Univation Technologies says its Unipol polyethylene (PE) process has been selected by Sinopec for a 450,000-m.t./year plant at Ningbo, China. Sinopec's Zhenhai Refining and Chemical subsidiary is due to start up the PE plant in 2009,...

Lanxess fire sparks force majeure.(LANXESS Holding Hispania S.L., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Lanxess says it has declared force majeure on deliveries of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in Europe and Latin America, following a fire at the company's Tarragona, Spain ABS unit on August 18. "The situation is likely to continue for...

BOC pushes HCFC alternatives.(hydrochlorofluorocarbons and refrigerants, consumer education campaign)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... BOC says it has started a campaign in the U.K. to raise awareness across the refrigeration industry about the available alternatives to ozone-depleting refrigerants, including hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC). The use of virgin HCFCs and a...

Ashland to sell APAC for $1.3 billion.(Ashland Chemical Co. sells Ashland Paving and Construction to Oldcastle Materials Group)
August 30, 2006... Ashland has agreed to sell its $2.9-billion Ashland Paving and Construction (APAC; Atlanta) division, the nation's largest transportation construction contractor, to Oldcastle Materials (Washington), a subsidiary of building materials company...

DOI issues lease sale plan for parts of OCS.(Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service plans to lease outer continental shelves )(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... The Department of the Interior (DOI) has released a plan for leasing parts of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for developing oil and gas drilling. ACC says the Minerals Management Service (MMS) plan falls "far short of what is required" to...

Air products realigns management; sells amines to Taminco.(Air Products and Chemicals Inc. promotes John E. McGlade, Mark L. Bye resigns)
August 30, 2006... Air Products says that John E. McGlade, currently group v.p responsible for Air Products' chemicals operations, has been named president and COO, effective October 1. Mark L. Bye, currently group v.p. responsible for the company's gases and...

Private equity firm agrees to buy Ferro's specialty plastics unit.
August 30, 2006... Private equity firm Wind Point Partners (Chicago) has agreed to acquire Ferro's specialty plastics business, Ferro says. Media reports say Wind Point Partners has agreed to pay $133 million for the business, but the company would not confirm...

Wellman considers alternatives for noncore operations.(planning)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Wellman says it is exploring options to improve its operating performance, including "strategic alternatives for its noncore businesses," such as a possible sale of those businesses. "The company did not specify which businesses it considers...

BP cuts Prudhoe Bay output, again.(British Petroleum Company PLC, production management)
August 30, 2006... BP says it has reduced the output at its Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska, the second time in less than a month, due to equipment issues. BP stopped production of 90,000 bbl/day last Wednesday at the western side of the field because of a...

Nynas assumes LCR lubricant sales.(Nynas USA signs contract to purchase oils from Lyondell-CITGO Refining Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Nynas USA, a joint venture of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA; Caracas) and Neste Oil, says it will begin purchasing all of the naphthenic lubricant oils produced by Lyondell-Citgo Refining (LCR; Houston), effective September 6. Under the...

Michigan high court prohibits bundling asbestos cases.(Michigan's Supreme Court issues rules regarding asbestos-related personal injury lawsuits)
August 30, 2006... Michigan's Supreme Court has issued an administrative order making 'it illegal to "bundle" asbestos-related personal injury claims, a move that industry attorneys say is good news for insurers and companies who have long argued that the...

DuPont breaks ground on $50 million photovoltaics plant in the U.S.(E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. invests to expand its North Carolina facility)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... DuPont says it will invest $50 million in a new production unit for Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film at its Fayetteville, NC facility The new plant is due onstream by 2007. The company says the market for its Tedlar PVF films is growing...

Agrium to continue producing ammonia at Alaska.(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Agrium says it has secured enough gas supply from several gas producers to keep operating its nitrogen facility at Kenai, AK in 2007. The facility was previously expected to close at the end of October due to a shortage of natural gas. The...

Russian oil firm plans to establish itself in petchems.(EUROPE/MIDEAST)
August 30, 2006... Tatneft (Almetyevsk, Russia), a leading oil producer, says it will spend $3.2 billion to build a refining and petrochemical complex at Nizhnekamsk, Russia. The company has purchased 400 hectares of land adjacent to manufacturing facilities...

Many firms are 'hardly aware' of reach's implications, survey says.(chemical companies' survey on European Union's Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals legislation)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... A recent survey by consulting firm KPMG (London) of 102 chemical firms in the Netherlands found that 40% of the companies are "hardly aware of the implications" of the European Union's (EU) proposed Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation...

BASF confirms talks on Russian JV with Gazprom.(joint venture)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... BASF has confirmed that it is "considering a number of options to expand its production activities" in Russia (CW, Oct. 12, 2005, p. 19). The company declined to elaborate on reports that it will build a chemical plant there, but says that...

Chinese mining firm to acquire, upgrade coal-to-chemicals plant.(China National Coal Industry Import and Export Corp., Harbin Coal Chemical Engineering Co.)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... China National Coal Group (CNCG; Beijing) has agreed to acquire a coal-to-methanol plant at Harbin, China and plans to upgrade the facility to produce ethylene and propylene, according to a report in the China Daily last week. The project...

Thai petrochemical firms report higher sales.(business & finance news)
August 30, 2006... Siam Cement says its Cementhai Chemicals subsidiary registered an 8% decrease in second-quarter operating profits, to baht3.4 billion ($90 million), on sales up 50%, to baht30.4 billion. The sales increase reflects the company's success in...

In China launches dumping probe.(China's Ministry of Commerce conducts investigations of methylene chloride imports)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... The Ministry of Commerce (Beijing) says it has decided to launch an anti-dumping investigation into imports of methylene chloride by China from Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, the U.K., and the U.S. The inquiry will be completed by August...

Showa Denko's profits dive.(business & finance news)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Showa Denko posted a 6% decline in first-half net profits, to [yen] 15.1 billion ($130 million), on sales up 36%, to [yen] 427 billion. Second-quarter figures were not disclosed. The company cites high energy and raw material costs. Showa...

Tosoh creates warehouse subsidiary.(establishing Tosoh Logistics Warehouse )(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Tosoh says it has established a subsidiary, Tosoh Logistics Warehouse (Guangzhou, China), to store and distribute polyvinyl chloride (PVC) produced by Tosoh at Guangzhou. Tosoh is due to start up a 220,000-m.t./year PVC plant there at the end...

Reliance selects Unipol, Aker Kvaerner for big PP complex at Jamnagar.(Reliance Industries Ltd. planning a polypropylene plant)
August 30, 2006... Reliance Industries has selected Unipol polypropylene (PP) technology for its previously announced world-scale complex at Jamnagar, India, CW has learned (CW, Aug. 23, p. 19). The complex will comprise two lines, each designed to produce...

Solvay forms HF venture in China.(joint venture with Zhejiang Lantian Environmental Protection Hi-Tech Co.)(hydrogen fluoride )(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Solvay says it has signed an agreement with Zhejiang Lantian Environmental Protection Hi-Tech Co. (Quzhou, China) to form a hydrogen fluoride (HF) joint venture. A 20,000-m.t./year HF plant will be built at the Zhejiang Quzhou Hi-Tech...

Uhde signs big PVC contract in Ukraine ...(new construction projects)
August 30, 2006... Lukoil Neftekhim (Moscow) has confirmed CW's exclusive report that it has appointed Uhde to build a 300,000-m.t./year suspension polyvinyl chloride (PVC) complex at Kalush, Ukraine (CW, May 17 p. 18). The award, valued at about $100 million,...

... To Engineer PP Plant for Sinopec at Tianjin.(Uhde GmbH signs contract with Sinopec Tianjin Petrochemical Company Ltd.)(polypropylene)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Uhde says it has been awarded a contract to engineer Sinopec Tianjin Petrochemical's previously announced 450,000-m.t./year polypropylene (PP) plant at Tianjin (CW, Aug. 9, p. 16). The unit will use Basell's Spherizone technology, and be...

PetroChina builds fertilizer complex in inner Mongolia ...(PetroChina Company Ltd. to build a fertilizer plant)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... PetorChina says it is building a world-scale fertilizer complex at Korla of Bayin' guoleng in the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. The complex will have capacity to produce 1,500 m.t./day of ammonia and 2,640 m.t./ day of urea using gas...

... Starts work on Fushun Petchem project.(Fushun Petrochemical Co. to build a refining and ethlene complex)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... PetroChina says its Fushun Petrochemical (Fushun, China) subsidiary has broken ground on a previously announced refining and ethylene complex at Fushun (CW, Sept. 14, 2005, p. 13). The complex will comprise 13 large plants, including an...

China the boom continues.(chemical industry report)(Industry overview)(Cover story)
August 30, 2006... China's economy continues to grow at dramatically high rates, despite government efforts to prevent overheating. The boom, particularly in the manufacturing sector, is having a huge impact on chemicals. "Given the movement of end-use customer...

Asahi Kasei.(Company overview)
August 30, 2006... Growing in China The Asahi Kasei Group launched its Growth Action--2010 strategic business plan in April 2006 to advance a transformation of the company's business portfolio for expansion and growth. The two main pillars of the plan are...

PVC industry takes the acetylene route.(polyvinyl chloride demand and market growth, forecast)(Cover story)
August 30, 2006... China was until recently the largest importer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC,) and Chinese demand underpinned merchant vinyl markets throughout Asia. But China's domestic market has surged over the last 10 years, buoyed by the country's booming...

Pollution incidents highlight 'severe environmental risk'.(impact on the environment aspect)
August 30, 2006... Environmentalists have contended for a number of years that China's head-long rush to economic growth has been without due consideration for those policies' impact on the environment. Their fears were confirmed last November by one of China's...

Nature inspires the future.(biomaterials production, usage and forecast discussed at Institut de Science et d'Ingenierie Supramoleculaires)(BASF AG also develops biomaterials)
August 30, 2006... Novel processes and materials that mimic biomaterials or structures of biomaterials found in nature are under development, with some nearing the roll-out stage, say researchers who spoke at a symposium sponsored by the Institut de Science et...

India to become a key pharma manufacturing hub.(MARKETS)
August 30, 2006... The Indian pharmaceuticals sector is shifting from a focus on generics and becoming a regional hub for R&D, manufacturing, and export of ethical drugs, says a recent report by consulting firm KPMG International (London). Opportunities for...

Production problems expected to hurt Patheon's third-quarter results.(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Contract manufacturer and research firm Patheon (Toronto) says it expects to report a third-quarter net loss of $74 million-$9.3 million, and to decrease Ebitda by more than $9 million compared to the year-ago quarter, citing production...

SAFC buys research services firm.(Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals acquires Pharmorphix)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals (SAFC) says it has acquired privately owned pharma research services firm Pharmorphix (Cambridge, U.K.) for an undisclosed sum. Pharmorphix, with annual sales of about $5 million, provides pharma and biotech firms...

Helsinn on track for second HPAPI.(Helsinn Fine Chemicals to start production of pharma ingredients)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Helsinn Fine Chemicals says it is on track to begin production at its second high-potency active pharma ingredient (HPAPI) facility at Biasca, Switzerland between October 2006 and January 2007. Helsinn says it will be able to produce HPAPI...

Oxiteno starts expansion; P&G puts project on hold.(OLEOCHEMICALS)(Oxiteno)
August 30, 2006... Activity has picked up in the oleochemicals market recently. Ultrapar subsidiary Oxiteno (Sao Paulo) says it has begun construction of its previously announced $120-million fatty alcohols plant at Camacari, Brazil, and Procter & Gamble...

Suppliers pick up prices amid higher energy and freight costs.(chemical price increases)
August 30, 2006... Higher energy, raw material, and transportation costs are the main reasons behind a spate of paper chemical price increases so far this summer, suppliers and analysts say. Several producers have announced resin increases, in particular. ...

DSM opens animal feed premix unit in China.(DSM Chemicals North America Inc.)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... DSM says it has opened a second feed premix plant at Liaocheng, China, which will produce about 15,000 tons/year of vitamin and mineral premixes. The plant will serve customers in North and Northeast China, and primarily those in Shandong,...

Erco to shut Alberta chlorate plant; Canexus expands capacity.(Erco Industries Ltd.)
August 30, 2006... Erco says it will close its 80,000-m.t./year sodium chlorate plant at Bruderheim, AB later this year. Erco says expectation of chlorate oversupply in North America through 2007 drove the decision, which was part of a review of the business...

Supply snags drive methanol higher.(supply shortages raised Methanol prices )(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Methanol spot prices broke new records last week, hitting $1.40/gal fob, as another force majeure plagued the market. Methanol Holdings Trinidad (Point Lisas, Trinidad) has reportedly declared force majeure on deliveries from its 1.9-million...

China isocyanates complex onstream.(BASF AG, and Huntsman Chemical Corp. starts a chemical plant in China)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... BASF, Huntsman, and their Chinese partners have started up their joint venture isocyanates complex at Caojing, China, BASF says. The Chinese partners in the complex are Shanghai Chloro Alkali Chemical, Shanghai Huayi Group, and Sinopec...

Problems down Mitsubishi cracker.(Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. shuts cracker facility fore inspections)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Mitsubishi Chemical says it has taken down its 375,000-m.t./year ethylene plant at Kashima, Japan because of mechanical problems. The cracker is expected to be down until at least August 29 for inspections, and possibly until September 8 if...

Fortron to double PPS capacity.(basic chemicals & plastics)
August 30, 2006... Fortron Industries says it is on schedule to double polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) capacity at Wilmington, NC to 15,000 m.t./year by third-quarter 2007. Fortron is a joint venture between Ticona and Kureha Chemical Industry (Tokyo)

Shintech eyes 2007 vinyls startup.(plans to begin production at Louisiana facility)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Shintech expects to start up the first phase of its integrated vinyls complex at Plaquemine, LA in the fourth quarter, a company source says. The first phase will include about 272,000 tons/year of chlorine, 300,000 tons/ year of caustic...

Ammonia.(product focus)
August 30, 2006... Prices U.S.: $257/m.t. c&f Tampa; $270/s.t. fob, New Orleans EUROPE: $208-$212/m.t. fob, Black Sea ASIA/PACIFIC: $250-$270/m.t. c&f, Northeast Asia Outlook The worldwide ammonia market has emerged from a trough that...

CW price report.(COMMENTARY)(Crude oil and feedstock prices)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Crude oil and feedstock prices eased last week, pulling down petrochemicals. U.S. ethylene spot prices plummeted to 44 cts/lb del the prior week, before edging back last week to 48 cts-49 cts/lb del for August and about 48.5 cts-49.5 cts/lb...

Report cites concerns over fragrances in Lake Sediments.(fragrance chemicals research for danger to ecosystem)
August 30, 2006... Concentrations of polycyclic and nitro musk fragrances, many of which researchers say are suspected persistent, bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs), have increased in Great Lakes sediment over the past 15 years, a trend that some scientists say...

EPA proposes emission caps for degreasers.(Environmental Protection Agency proposes new rules )(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... EPA has proposed a rule for industrial degreasers that would establish emission caps for methylene chloride, trichloroethylene (TCE), and perchtorethylene (perc). EPA has proposed two options, and industry and other stakeholders have until...

Judge slashes punitive damages in dry cleaning case.(regulatory)
August 30, 2006... A San Francisco judge has ordered that $175 million in punitive damages levied against Dow Chemical and Vulcan be reduced to $12.5 million. The city of Modesto, CA sued the companies, alleging soil and groundwater contamination from...

CW75 stock performance.(chemical stocks statistics)
August 30, 2006... The CW75 fell 1% for the week ending August 23, slightly lagging broader market indexes including the Morgan Stanley global composite and the Standard & Poor's 500, which were both flat. Basic chemical stocks declined 2.1%, diversified...

Leading indicator.(key changes)(Industry overview)
August 30, 2006... The leading indicator for the chemical industry fell 1% in July, pushed down by a declining housing industry, weak expansion in industrial production in the chemical process industries, and falling orders for various manufactured products,...

Dupont.(E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. promotes Susan Stalnecker, and Barry Niziolek )(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... DUPONT has named Susan Stalnecker v.p. and treasurer, and Barry Niziolek as v.p. and controller. They succeed John Jessup and Dan Smith, respectively, who are both retiring. Stalnecker was formerly v.p./risk management. Niziolek was formerly...

Brenntag.(key changes)
August 30, 2006... BRENNTAG has promoted Jody L. Smith to regional v.p. of Brenntag MidSouth. Smith was formerly branch sales manager.

General Electric (GE).(appointed John G. Rice president)(Lloyd G. Trotter head of General Electric Industrial)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE) has appointed John G. Rice president and CEO of GE Infrastructure, and Lloyd G. Trotter head of GE Industrial. Rice was previously president and CEO of GE Industrial. Trotter was previously executive v.p./operations.

The Perstorp Group.(appointed Bo Dankis as a president)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... THE PERSTORP GROUP has appointed Bo Dankis president and CEO. Dankis replaces Lennart Holm, who will become chairman of the board. Dankis was most recently president and CEO of Assa Abloy.

Evan J. O'Neill has joined Headwaters Energy Services as senior v.p..(vice president)(Brief article)
August 30, 2006... Evan J, O'Neill has joined HEADWATERS ENERGY SERVICES as senior v.p. O'Neill joins Headwaters from DTE Coal Services, where he was president before retiring.

Milacron.(key changes)
August 30, 2006... MILACRON has named Milos Brajovic to its board of directors. Brajovic is a senior member of Glencore Finance.

TRONOX's.(key changes)
August 30, 2006... Peter Kinnear has been appointed lead director for TRONOX's board of directors. Kinnear is president and COO of FMC Technologies.

NAZDAR.(key changes)
August 30, 2006... NAZDAR has appointed Jamie Moores director/operations. Moores was previously European operations director for Fuji Film/Sericol.

Chemical Industry Global Outlook 2007 Conference.(Conferences and conventions)
August 30, 2006... ADDITIONAL FEATURED SPEAKERS: * Paul Jennings, President and Chief Executive Officer, Innospec Inc * John Gaither, President and Chief Executive Officer, Reichhold, Inc * David Feldker, Vice President, SAFC Pharma--The...

Phoenix rising (again).(Pemex Petroquimica, Nova Chemicals Corp., Grupo IDESA S.A. de C.V. in a joint venture )
August 23, 2006... Things are looking up in the Mexican petrochemical sector, as our cover story this week by senior editor Kara Sissell shows. Most significant among developments are that private firm Grupo Idesa, state-owned petrochemical company Pemex...

Contractor killed at Lyondell plant.(Lyondell Chemical Co.'s Kenny Ruthart dies )(Brief article)
August 23, 2006... Authorities are investigating the death of a contractor who was killed on August 12 while performing scheduled maintenance work at Lyondell Chemical's Equistar Channelview, TX plant, Lyondell says. Kenny Ruthart was working on an unspecified...

Celanese elects directors.(Martin G. McGuinn, John K. Wulff appointed)(Brief article)
August 23, 2006... Celanese says that its shareholders have elected Martin G. McGuinn, former chairman and CEO of Mellon, and John K. Wulff, former CFO of Union Carbide, to its board of directors at a special meeting of shareholders held last week in Dallas....

Cytec completes composites unit.(Cytec Industries Inc.'s polymer production unit )(Brief article)
August 23, 2006... Cytec Industries says it has commissioned an $18-million polymer production unit at Kalamazoo, MI. The polymers are a "key component" in manufacturing of high-performance composites used in commercial and military aviation. "There is growing...

Cabot opens silica plant in China.(Cabot Bluestar Chemical Co.)(Brief article)
August 23, 2006... Cabot Bluestar Chemical (Jiangxi) Co., the 90-10 joint venture between Cabot Corp. and Bluestar New Chemical Materials (Wuxi, China), says it has started operations at its world-scale fumed silica plant at Nanchang, China. The jv announced...

Oxiteno secures new ethylene supply to fuel expansions.(Braskem S.A. contracts with Ultrapar Participacoes S.A.'s subsidiary)(Brief article)
August 23, 2006... Ultrapar subsidiary Oxiteno (Sao Paulo, Brazil) says it has negotiated a new contract for 265,000 m.t./year of ethylene supply from the Camacari, Brazil complex, controlled by Braskem (Sao Paulo). The new contract gives Oxiteno an additional...