Chemical Week articles from January 2012

Chemical Week archives from January 2012

Webcast: enhancing productivity.(chemweek.com)
January 30, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CW on February 8 will host a webcast analyzing how chemical companies optimize systems across their businesses to promote productivity. Speakers for this hour-long event are Axel Steiger-Bagel, CFO for Bayer...

Reformer reductions pinch aromatics.(chemweek.com)
January 30, 2012... U.S. benzene contracts were settled higher by 70 cts/gal for January, up more than 23% from December, and spot aromatics prices have shot even higher. chemweek.com/pricewatch

Misunderstandings of green chemistry.(chemweek.com)
January 30, 2012... James Clark, professor of green chemistry at York University (York, U.K.), in a blog lists 12 misunderstandings of green chemistry and how they can be avoided. chemweek.com/chem_ideas

BOC participates in U.K. CCS Project.(chemweek.com)
January 30, 2012... BOC is to codevelop a carbon capture and storage (CCS) system at the Drax coal-fired power station (Selby, U.K.). chemweek.com/sustainability

Saltigo changes leadership.(chemweek.com)
January 30, 2012... Saltigo is replacing Uwe Brunk with Joerg Schneider as the director of the group's agchems and fine chemicals business line. chemweek.com/markets/fine_chemicals

Most read stories online.(chemweek.com)
January 30, 2012... As of CW press time on January 26 1.Wacker Reports Fourth Quarter Loss, Lower Sales on Weak Solar, Semiconductor Demand 2. Pilot Carbon Emissions Trading System Readied in China 3. Total to Partner Kuwait Petroleum in Donghai Island...

Restocking ahead.(view point)
January 30, 2012... Early earnings reports confirm the weak end to 2011. Volumes fell in the fourth quarter, but revenues and earnings were decent thanks to strong pricing (p. 9, 12). DuPont reported a 10% year-over-year drop in volumes, with demand dragged down...

DuPont solar link.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... DuPont says it is collaborating with Yingli Green Energy (Baoding, China), to advance technology for higher efficiency solar cells, new module manufacturing processes and innovative component designs. Through technical collaboration, the two...

New Petrobras chief.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff will appoint Maria das Gracas Silva Foster to replace Petrobras chief executive Jose Sergio Gabrielli, effective February 9. Foster currently heeds the state oil firm's gas and energy division and has close...

LyondellBasell blast.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... An explosion rocked one of LyondellBasell's low-density polyethylene (LDPE) units at Wesseling, Germany over the weekend, affecting LDPE production. The blast injured seven workers at the site, and the unit remains partially shut, the company...

West Virginia passes tax incentive to Lure Cracker.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lawmakers in West Virginia have passed a law providing 25 years of property tax incentives for companies interested in building a petrochemical cracker based on natural gas from the Marcellus Shale. Governor Earl Ray...

Albemarle adds polyolefin catalysts at Baton Rouge.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Albemarle has installed a production train for finished polyolefin catalysts, which completes the expansion of its Process Development Center at Baton Rouge, LA. Albemarle says the expansion is the latest in a series of projects the company is...

Sensient opens colors and flavors facility in Brazil.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Sensient Technologies (Milwaukee) has opened a colors and flagrance facility at Jundai, Brazil. The site includes a state-of-the-art factory, an application technolgoy center, R&D laboratories for colors and flavors as well as warehouses and...

Propylene producer nominates 40% price hike.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... A U.S. propylene producer has nominated a 22-cts/lb increase for February contracts, market players say. The nomination is a 40% premium to current propylene contracts of 56 cts/lb for polymer-grade propylene (PGP) and 54.5 cts/lb for...

Ampac expand controlled substances productions.
January 30, 2012... Ampac Fine Chemicals (AFC; Rancho Cordova, CA), a subsidiary of American Pacific Corp. (Las Vegas, NV), says it has been granted registration as a manufacturer of controlled substances from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA; Springfield,...

Genomatica Advances Second-Generation Biobased BDO with M&G
January 30, 2012... Renewable chemicals firm Genomatica (San Diego) says it has obtained exclusive worldwide rights to Beta Renewables' (Scrivia, Italy) technology to convert biomass to 1,4-butanediol (BDO), and the two firms plan to begin demonstrationscale...

Distribution deal.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Chemical distributor Barentz Europe (Hoofddorp, the Netherlands) has acquired Forum Products (Redhill, U.K.), a distributor of ingredients to the U.K. pharmaceutical, and food and animal nutrition industries. The deal forms part of Barentz's...

DIC buys inks firm.(Pacific Inks)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... DIG Corp. (Tokyo) has agreed to acquire packaging inks company Pacific Inks (Auckland, New Zealand). The deal will be carried out by DIC Asia Pacific (Singapore), a DIC subsidiary. Pacific Inks has its main production facility at Auckland, as...

Tikkurila details cuts.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Paints and coatings company Tikkurila (Vantaa, Finland) has confirmed details of previously announced job cuts in Finland. The company will cut 62 jobs out of a workforce of about 750 in Finland. Tikkurila had a total workforce of 3,700 in 2011.

Wacker posts fourth-quarter loss, lower sales.(Wacker-Chemie GmbH)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Wacker Chemie, in preliminary fourth-quarter 2011 results, reported a net loss of 85 million [euro] ($110 million) compared with a 100-million [euro] net profit in the year-earlier period. Sales were 16% lower at 1.01 billion [euro]. The company...

Total partners Kuwait, Sinopec in Petchems project.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Kuwait has confirmed that it has selected Total as a partner in a previously announced $9-billion refinery and petrochemicals joint venture with Sinopec, to be built at Donghai Island near Zhanjiang, China. Kuwait's oil minister, Mohammad Al...

Solvay creates energy services business.(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Solvay has created Solvay Energy Services, a business selling expertise within the group and to third parties to optimize energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions. The new business is "the first concrete outcome of the integration of Solvay and...

Indorama to build integrated PTA, PET, and PSF manufacturing complex in India.(purified terephthalic acid)(polyethylene terephthalate )(polyester staple fiber)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Indorama Ventures (Bangkok) says it will construct an integrated facility in India that will consist of plants producing purified terephthalic acid (PTA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyester staple fiber (PSF). The planned complex...

Diversified, commodity firms show mixed results.(top of the week)(Financial report)
January 30, 2012... Fourth-quarter earnings reports at diversified, commodity and industrial gases firms showed mixed results, as strong pricing offset volume declines for many companies. Companies, however, remain cautiously optimistic for 2012 after a soft...

DSM and poet form cellulosic ethanol venture.(business & finance news: United States/America)(DSM Belgium N.V.)
January 30, 2012... DSM and ethanol producer Poet (Sioux Falls, SD) have formed a 50-50 joint venture to produce cellulosic ethanol from crop residue and license related technology. Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels (Sioux Falls, SD) is scheduled to start production in...

U.S. Science academy drafts research plan for nanomaterials.(business & finance news: United States/America)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... The U.S. National Research Council has detailed a plan the U.S. should follow for assessing the safety of nanomaterials in anticipation of their increased use in a wide variety of consumer and other products. "Without a coordinated research plan...

Dow wins appeal against Nova in PE resin patent case.(business & finance news: United States/America)(Dow Chemical Co.)(Nova Chemicals Corp. (Calgary, Alberta))(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... A U.S. appeals court has upheld a 2010 ruling that Nova had infringed on Dow's patents for a line of polyethylene resins used in plastic bags. The court upheld a $61.7 million damage award for Dow, now $76 million with interest. The lawsuit...

Specialty chemical earnings beat estimates.(business & finance news: United States/America)
January 30, 2012... U.S. specialty chemical makers reported year-on-year increases in fourth-quarter earnings last week, beating analyst estimates. Sherwin-Williams reported fourth-quarter net income of $14.6 million, or 14 cts/share, down 80% from the year-ago...

Biochem investors looking to spend, but increase scrutiny.(business & finance news: United States/America)
January 30, 2012... Raising capital funding, developing a market entry strategy, and the necessary elements for a successful public launch were the principal topics of discussion at Biobased Chemicals Summit held last week in San Diego. Overall sentiment was...

Showa Denko chooses Myriant to supply succinic acid for PBS efforts.(business & finance news: United States/America)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Showa Denko has selected Myriant (Quincy, MA) to supply biobased succinic acid for its polybutylene succinate (PBS) production. Financial terms were not disclosed. Showa Denko currently produces limited amounts of petroleum-based PBS in China,...

Report details steps feds should take to regulate BPA.(business & finance news: United States/Americas)(bisphenol A )
January 30, 2012... A health and environment advocacy group has released a report calling for increased federal oversight of bisphenol A (BPA). The group is seeking short-term and long-term action on the part of U.S. federal regulators. Stricter labeling...

S&P: Chemical Company credit on solid ground.(business & finance news: United States/Americas)
January 30, 2012... Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P; New York) says that North American chemical company credit ratings are on solid ground due to good pricing power, high operating margins, strong cash balances and debt refinancing. The stable...

U.S. Silica to launch IPO.(business & finance news: United States/Americas)(initial public offering)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... U.S. Silica (Frederick, MD) says it will launch an initial public offering (IPO) worth up to $243.5 million. The 13.5 million share offering values the company at $16-$18/share. It represents about 75% of the ownership stake of Golden Gate...

LanzaTech raises $56 million in Third Funding Round.(business & finance news: United States/Americas)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... LanzaTech (Auckland), a renewable chemicals and fuels firm, has raised $55.8 million in a third, or Series C, funding round, including an investment from the venture arm of Petronas, Malaysia's national oil company. The funding round was led by...

Lonza replaces CEO after decline in earnings.(business & finance news: Europe/Midwest)
January 30, 2012... Lonza has suddenly fired CEO Stefan Borgas following a series of weak financial results. The company announced plans last week to appoint a new CEO and, during a transitional period Rolf Soiron, Lonza chairman, will coordinate its management...

Total's GPN subsidiary signs deal to buy BASF out of fertilizer JV.(business & finance news: Europe/Midwest)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... GPN, the fertilizer subsidiary of Total, has signed a contract to acquire BASF s 50% stake in the companies' PEC-Rhin fertilizer joint venture. GPN is exercising its pre-emption rights to buy the BASF stake, and becomes sole owner of PEC-Rhin....

Jacobs awarded contract for Saudi Soda Ash Project.(business & finance news: Europe/Midwest)(IDEA Soda Ash and Calcium Chloride)(Jacobs Engineering Group Inc)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... IDEA Soda Ash and Calcium Chloride (ISACC; AI Khobar, Saudi Arabia) has awarded a contract to Jacobs Engineering to provide engineering, procurement, and construction, and project management services, for a previously announced soda ash and...

Ineos eyes organic growth but U.K. Cracker will close.(business & finance news: Europe/Midwest)
January 30, 2012... Ineos will have a greater focus on organic growth than on acquisitions in the future, group director Tom Crotty tells CW. "We have to do a lot more organic growth than we used to... because from a competition law point of view it is quite hard...

Bayer commits to food security, speeds phaseout of old insecticides.(business & finance news: Europe/Midwest)(Bayer CropScience AG)
January 30, 2012... Bayer CropScience, one of the leading producers of agricultural chemicals, has affirmed its commitment to addressing the challenges posed by population growth; growing demand for food, feed, and renewable raw materials; limited natural...

Shin-Etsu builds LED material, rare earth plants in Vietnam.(business & finance news: Asia/Pacific)
January 30, 2012... Shin-Etsu Chemical it has established says its first two subsidiaries in Vietnam. They are Shin-Etsu Electronics Materials Vietnam for the manufacture of silicone-based materials for high-brightness, light-emitting diode (LED) packaging; and...

Toray buys ExxonMobil out of battery separator jv.(business & finance news: Asia/Pacific)
January 30, 2012... Toray Industries says it has decided to purchase the shares it does not own in Toray Tonen Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha (Nasushiobara, Japan), a 50-50 battery separator film (BSF) joint venture with TonenGeneral Sekiyu (Tokyo), part of the...

Reliance reports fall in quarterly profits.(business & finance news: Asia/Pacific)(Reliance Industries Ltd.)(Financial report)
January 30, 2012... Reliance Industries says that net profits for the company's fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2011 decreased 13.6% compared with the same period of the previous year, to about Rs44.4 billion ($883 million). Sales increased 40%, to Rs874.8...

PetroChina, QPI, and Shell ink deal for Taizhou complex.(new construction projects)
January 30, 2012... China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), the parent of PetroChina; Qatar Petroleum International (QPI); and Shell signed an agreement recently to proceed with a previously announced refinery and petrochemical complex at Taizhou, Zhejiang Province,...

Bayer MaterialScience invests in PU coating raw materials in Germany.(new construction projects)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Bayer MaterialScience has started construction of a multipurpose facility to produce polyurethane (PU) coating raw materials at Leverknsen. The facility will produce hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), which are...

BASF Fina JV awards cracker furnace contract to Selas.(new construction projects)
January 30, 2012... BASF Fina Petrochemicals, a 60-40 joint venture between BASF Corp. and Total Petrochemicals, has awarded a contract to Selas Fluid Processing Corp., a Linde Engineering subsidiary, for a cracking furnace. The furnace will be installed at the...

Kuwait details Olefins III investment plans.(new construction projects)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Kuwait's previously announced Olefins III project is expected to be completed by the end of 2016, Maha Mulla Hussain, chairperson of Petrochemical Industries Co. (PIC) tells CW. The planned complex will be designed to produce 1.4 million...

AkzoNobel awards chlor-alkali contract to Tebodin.(new construction projects)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... AkzoNobel has selected consulting and engineering firm Tebodin (The Hague) for the engineering, procurement, and construction management contract for a previously announced chlor-alkali plant at Frankfurt that will be based on membrane-cell...

Soaps and detergents: performance trends drive demand.(Cover story)
January 30, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Global consumption of detergents is expected to grow at or around GDP in 2012, producers say. The key developing regions of China, Eastern Europe, and India are expected to continue growing strongly, and market...

Commodity costs, weak demand pinch soapers.
January 30, 2012... Soap and detergent makers are hopeful of seeing a small improvement in demand and margins this year, after 2011 was marked by weaker-than-expected consumer demand and rising commodity costs. The outlook for consumer spending is murky, but...

EU parliament approves phosphate ban.(European Union)
January 30, 2012... European authorities have approved a restriction of the use of phosphates in consumer laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents by June 30, 2013, and January 1, 2017, respectively. High levels of phosphates in waterways can cause rapid algae...

Rosenberg details ACI's 2012 agenda.(Emie Rosenberg)(American Cleaning Institute)
January 30, 2012... Improving the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), work on a planned ACI sustainability charter, and preventing attempts to undermine confidential business information (CBI) protections top American Cleaning Institute (ACI) advocacy...

Capacity additions signal structural shift.(Methanol)(Statistical data)
January 30, 2012... Recent announcements that methanol producers will significantly increase capacity in North America is more than just a shift to take advantage of low feedstock prices, players say. If expansion plans are carded out, they will have knock-on...

Chlor-alkali production rises.(Digest)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Average U.S. chlor-alkali operating rates rose 4 percentage points in December, to 81%, according to the latest statistics reported by the Chlorine Institute (Arlington, VA). Total chlorine production increased about 7.5% in December compared...

BASF declares force majeure.(Digest)(Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... BASF has declared force majeure on purified ethylene oxide (EO) produced at its Geismar, LA plant citing "a mechanical failure of a critical piece of equipment." The force majeure is placed on all of its EO-containing polyester products sold...

Enterprise extends ethane shipper commitment period.(basic chemicals and plastics)(Enterprise Products Partners L.P.)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Enterprise Products Partners says it will extend its open commitment period for ethane volumes from its ATEX Express pipeline by two weeks due to increased demand. Enterprise announced earlier this month it has received the long-term...

EU to tighten, harmonize biocides regulation.(Biocides)(European Union)
January 30, 2012... The European Parliament approved earlier this month a proposal for new legislation to harmonize the various regulations for biocides in the European Union (EU). The new Biocidal Products Regulation, as it will be known, replace the EU's current...

Dow and Teknor Apex link on biobased plasticizers for flexible vinyl.(Plasticizers)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Dow Chemical and Teknor Apex (Pawtucket, RI) have entered into a joint market development agreement for flexible vinyl in several application areas. Teknor Apex has been granted exclusive marketing rights in North America for flexible vinyl...

GAM completes acquisition of Cabot tantalum business.(specialties)(Global Advanced Metals)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Global Advanced Metals' (GAM; West Perth, Australia) has completed its $400million acquisition of Cabot's Supermetals business, a leading maker of tantalum-based products, following approval by U.S. regulatory authorities. The acquisition was...

CW75 stock performance.
January 30, 2012... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Overview The CW75 index rose 1.4% for the week ended January 24, lagging the MSCI World Index and the S&P 500, which rose 2.1% and 1.6%, respectively. Basic chemical shares rose 2.4%, diversified...

Chevron Phillips Chemical.(key changes--leading indicator)
January 30, 2012... Chevron Phillips Chemical has announced three senior management changes. Greg Wagner has been named v.p./human resources, replacing Chantal Veeyaete, who has been named to the executive team of Phillips 66, the independent downstream firm....

Airgas.(key changes--leading indicator)(appointment of Jag Worley in Airgas Carbonic Inc.)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Airgas has named Jag Worley v.p./strategic pricing, with responsibility for aligning pricing practices with the company's goals. He was most recently v.p./communications and investor relations, a role he has held since 2008. Worley joined Airgas...

RPM International.(key changes--leading indicator)(appointment of Scott Copeland)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... RPM International has named Scott Copeland director/corporate development. He will focus on RPM's acquisition strategy. Copeland was most recently director/transaction services at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he worked M&A deals, including...

Metabolix.(key changes--leading indicator)(appointment of Celeste Beeks Mastin)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Metabolix has named Celeste Beeks Mastin to its board of directors, effective January 19. Mastin was most recently CEO of MMI Products, a $750 million building materials company. She previously held senior management roles with Ferro and Shell...

OM Group.(key changes--leading indicator)(appointment of Hans-Georg Betz)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... OM Group has named Hans-Georg Betz to its board of directors. He will be the company's seventh independent director. Betz was CEO of Advanced Energy, a power conversion products firm, from 2005 to 2011. He previously worked at various...

Asahi Kasei Plastics.(key changes--leading indicator)(appointment of Ramesh Iyer)(Brief article)
January 30, 2012... Asahi Kasei Plastics has named Ramesh Iyer v.p./commercial operations. He will be responsible for operations related to polypropylene products in Europe, Brazil, India and China, and will continue to direct marketing and new business development...

Steady going.(key changes--leading indicator)(Statistical data)
January 30, 2012... The leading indicator was flat for January, after two months of strong expansion. Output in the chemical process industries rose 0.4% in the latest month after falling slightly in the previous period. Production rose in nonferrous metals, rubber...

Rolling out cradle-to-cradle systems.(chemweek.com)(Desso (Waalwijk, the Netherlands) adopts cradle-to-cradle production system)(Brief article)
January 16, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CW reports on floor tile and carpet manufacturer Desso (Waalwijk, the Netherlands), which has consulted with Dow Chemical to help adopt a more sustainable closed-loop manufacturing system, or "cradle-to-cradle"...

Aromatics activity higher in New Year.(chemweek.com)(Brief article)
January 16, 2012... Aromatics were reported to be varied, but generally higher. Spot benzene on the U.S. Gulf rose $20/m.t., but the big gainer for the group was spot toluene, higher by half a dollar, players say. chemweek.com/pricewatch

Fuel cell starts up at Germany plant.(chemweek.com)
January 16, 2012... AFC Energy (Cranleigh, U.K.) is generating electricity from waste hydrogen at AkzoNobel's Bitterfeld, Germany chlor-alkali site. chemweek.com/envirotech

Value-added innovation soars.(chemweek.com)
January 16, 2012... In a blog, Andy Talkington, senior client partner at Korn/Ferry International (Los Angeles) analyses trends in "value-added innovation." chemweek.com/chem_ideas

Endeavour developing liquid cathode.(chemweek.com)(Endeavour Specialty Chemicals Ltd)(ACAL Energy)(Brief article)
January 16, 2012... Endeavour Speciality Chemicals (Daventry, U.K.) has been hired by ACAL Energy (Runcorn, U.K.) to scale up a process to make a low cost, liquid cathode for fuel cells. chemsustainability.com

Most read stories online.(chemweek.com)
January 16, 2012... As of CW press time on January 19 1. DSM and Sinochem Explore Collaboration in Biotechnology 2. UOP Technology Selected for Samsung Total's Aromatics Project in Korea 3. Kuwait Details Olefins III 4. U.K. Launches Hydrogen Fuel Cell...

Water treatment.(viewpoint)
January 16, 2012... CW's cover story this week focuses on the market for water treatment chemicals and services (p.19). Water scarcity, regulatory pressures, and rapid industrial development in areas where high-quality water is limited continues to provide strong...

Asahi buys LED firm.
January 16, 2012... Asahi Kasei has acquired Crystal IS (Green Island, NY), a manufacturer of ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs) using high-quality aluminum nitride substrates. Financial details were not disclosed. Asahi Kasei says that in July 2010, it...

Peru phosphates deal.
January 16, 2012... Mitsubishi Corp. and fertilizer manufacturer Zuari Industries (Goa, India) say they have acquired a 30% stake in phosphate rock producer Fasfatos del Pacifico (Fospac). Mitsubishi Corp. and Zuari have established a 70-30 joint venture to acquire...

Praxair buys distributor.
January 16, 2012... Praxair has acquired Welders Industrial Supply (WIS; Pasadena, TX), a distributor of gases, and welding equipment in the greater Houston area. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. WIS operates from a newly constructed retail and...

Celanese cuts 2011 earnings outlook on weak Europe.(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 16, 2012... Celanese cut its full-year 2011 adjusted earnings outlook to $4.45/ share, 15 cts-25 cts below previous estimates, citing weak European demand for acetyl intermediates. Celanese's updated outlook implies fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 56...

IFF to restructure fragrances group.
January 16, 2012... International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) says it will restructure its fragrance business unit, cutting 70 jobs globally. The program will generate pre-tax savings of $9 million in 2012. IFF will reallocate some resources in its functional...

Albemarle forms electronic materials unit.(Brief article)
January 16, 2012... Albemarle has formed an electronic materials business unit within the company's performance catalyst solutions division. The new unit will sell electronics-grade metal organic materials to the light-emitting diode (LED), compound semiconductor...

Brenntag acquires Amco.(Brief article)
January 16, 2012... Brenntag has acquired Amco Internacional (Mexico City), a distributor of aroma chemicals, essential oils, and food ingredients for the flavors and fragrances market. Financial terms were not disclosed. Amco operates four distribution centers in...

DuPont CEO: close U.S. skills gap.
January 16, 2012... DuPont chair and CEO Ellen Kullman says U.S. companies are struggling to fill openings for skilled workers, and that the education system needs to keep pace with the evolving demands of the job market. Kullman and Facebook CO0 Sheryl Sandberg...

Sabic reports lower fourth-quarter profits.(Saudi Basic Industries Corp. revenue report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 16, 2012... Sabic reported a 10% drop in net profits for the fourth quarter of 2011, to SR5.24 billion ($1.4 billion), on sales 15% higher, at SR47 billion. Speaking at a recent press conference, Sabic CEO Mohamed Al Mady said 2011 started well but that...

UOP selected for Samsung total aromatics project.
January 16, 2012... UOP, a Honeywell subsidiary, has been selected by Samsung Total Petrochemicals, a 50-50 joint venture between the Samsung Group and Total, to provide technology for a recently announced aromatics project at Daesan, Korea. The facility will use...

Linde to buy Air Products' homecare business in five European countries.(Brief article)
January 16, 2012... Air Products has agreed to sell its homecare business in continental Europe to Linde for E590 million ($747 million). The business specializes in patient-based oxygen-therapy, sleep-therapy, and infusion-therapy services. It serves a patient...