Petrochemicals
FMC to acquire Europe persulfates business of RheinPerChemie
US-based chemicals firm FMC Corp. has agreed to acquire the European persulfates business of RheinPerChemie GmbH from Unionchimica SpA. The acquisition will strengthen FMC Peroxygens' global reach by establishing a market position for persulfates in Europe, company officials said.
Braskem to buy global polypropylene business of Dow Chemical for $340mn
US-based Dow Chemical has agreed to sell its polypropylene (PP) business for $340 million to Braskem, a move which makes Braskem the top polypropylene producer in North America. The assets involved in the deal include two manufacturing plants in the US and two in Germany, with a total annual polypropylene production capacity of 2.3 billion pounds.
Rare earths sales likely to triple by 2015 - study
World demand for rare earths is forecast to expand by 7.1%/year to 180,000 metric tons by 2015, according to a new study from US industry market research firm The Freedonia Group. In dollar terms, sales are expected to more than triple from $3.0 billion in 2010 to $9.2 billion in 2015.
Dow plans water technology plant in Saudi Arabia
Dow Chemical said Tuesday that it plans to build a world-scale manufacturing facility for a reverse osmosis (RO) membranes plant in Saudi Arabia.
Statoil to supply ethane for NOVA Canada cracker
NOVA Chemicals has signed a memorandum of understanding with Statoil to secure a long-term supply of ethane from the Marcellus Shale basin. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Dow, Saudi Aramco JV wins board approval to build $20bn chemical complex
The boards of directors of Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco have approved the formation of a joint venture (JV) to build and operate a world-scale, fully-integrated chemicals complex at Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia.
DuPont buys US solar technology firm Innovalight
US-based chemicals major DuPont has acquired Innovalight, a company specializing in advanced silicon inks and process technologies that increase the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells.
Cabot plans 25% expansion for Europe fumed silica
Cabot will expand production capacity by 25% at its fumed silica facility in Barry, Wales, company officials said on Monday. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2012 and is part of a three-year plan to increase Cabot’s global fumed metal oxide capacity by 35% to 40%.
KBR inks EPC deal for Molycorp chlor-alkali plant
Rare earth oxides producer Molycorp awarded an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to KBR to build a chlor-alkali plant as part of the company’s $781 million expansion at its flagship rare earth facility in Mountain Pass, Calif.
Olin breaks ground on chlor-alkali expansion at Tennessee plant
Olin broke ground Friday on an expansion of its chlor-alkali plant in Charleston, Tenn., which includes a new state-of-the-art membrane cell manufacturing facility. Olin is investing $160 million in the new facility, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.
- Transitional Industries and CFEnergia sign feedstock supply contract for $3.3-B Pacifico Mexinol project 2/17
- Neste and World Fuel Services extend partnership, expanding SAF availability at more than 100 airports in Europe 2/17
- Japan's oil and gas independence climbs to highest since 2009 2/17
- BASF supports European 1,4‑butanediol supply security through increased production in Ludwigshafen 2/16
- Vitol backs proposed $3-billion LNG power plant for South Africa's Durban port 2/16
- HAMR Energy receives additional funding for low-carbon liquid fuels projects 2/16
