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Petrochemicals

Specialty chemical firm Chemtura to establish bromine JV with India’s Archean Group

US specialty chemical firm Chemtura signed a deal to establish a strategic alliance, including a joint venture, in bromine and brominated derivatives with India-based Archean Group.

China’s Sinopec, Kuwait Petroleum to begin building $9 billion refining complex in Q1 2012

China’s top refiner Sinopec and state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC) will begin construction of their $9 billion joint venture refining and petrochemical complex in China during the 2012 first quarter, reports said on Monday.

US chemical production increased in April across all regions - ACC

US chemical production rose in April by 0.3% month on month, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) said, returning to growth after a flat March. Production increased in all regions, with the largest gains in the Northeast, Ohio Valley, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Global chemical M&A activity jumps sharply in Q1

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the global chemicals industry jumped significantly in the first quarter of 2011 when compared to the same period of 2010, according to a study from advisory firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

US predicts active 2011 hurricane season, may threaten Gulf refiners, petchems

The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued on Thursday from the US National Weather Service, potentially threatening refining and petrochemical operations along the US Gulf coast and eastern seaboard.

Honeywell to buy US phenol/acetone plant from Sunoco for $85mn

US refiner Sunoco said on Wednesday that it has agreed to sell its 1 billion pounds/year phenol and acetone manufacturing facility in Philadelphia for $85mn to Honeywell.

BASF awards Technip with umbrella contract for chemical project work

Germany-based chemical major BASF awarded Technip with an umbrella contract for engineering services on its chemical and petrochemical projects. Both companies are contemplating a long-term partnership, they said, which would provide BASF access to the resources of Technip for its capital investments notably in Europe, but also in other regions.

Shaw renews contract with Albemarle for engineering work at US specialty chemical sites

The Shaw Group said on Wednesday that it renewed a contract with Albemarle to provide maintenance, engineering, construction, reliability, operations and other labor services at Albemarle's specialty chemicals manufacturing locations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.

SABIC, Sinopec to construct 260,000 tonne/year polycarbonate plant in China by 2015

Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) said on Tuesday that they will build a new polycarbonate production plant in China with a capacity of 260,000 tonnes/year.

Saudi Aramco awards Jacobs with aromatics project work at Ras Tanura refinery

Jacobs has been awarded the Ras Tanura refinery clean fuels and aromatics project, the first major project received from its general engineering and project management services (GES+) contract with Saudi Aramco, the US engineering group said on Tuesday.