Search

Reports on the continuing investments of firms in the fine chemicals market. Services and products offered by fine chemicals firms; Challenges faced by fine chemicals producers; Expansion of the fine chemicals program of Albemarle and Dow Chemical.

The article offers chemical industry news briefs as of July 21, 2014. Topics include the acquisition of chemical company Rockwood Holdings by rival Albemarle, the planned closure of two chemical plants owned by plastics formulator PolyOne in Brazil, and a call for a ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) by the German states Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Wurttemberg.

The article presents news briefs on the chemical industry as of May 2006. Vinythai saw its first quarter net profit decline by about 75 percent on lower sales volumes and prices compared to the previous year. Albemarle plans to close its bromine chemicals and potassium chloride plants at Thann in France by the end of 2007. The operating profits of Kuraray increased by 5.4 percent in the 2005-2006 financial year. Mosaic will shut down its phosphate mine in Fort Green, Florida by the end of the month.

Reports developments in the chemical industry in the U.S. Announcement of ExxonMobil Chemical Co. on the increase in the production capacity of isopropyl alcohol at its plant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Acquisition of Syntech SpA by DSM NV; Multiyear collaboration between Albemarle Corp. and HTE AG.

This article presents news briefs related to the chemical industry. Degussa AG has signed an agreement with Yingkou Sanzheng Fine Chemicals to participate in a joint venture in northern China to manufacture cyanuric chloride and derivatives. Albemarle Corp. has signed a letter of intent to acquire land in China where it will construct a new technology center, a repackaging facility for polyolefin cocatalysts, and future production centers for various polymer additives. PPG Industries Inc. posted a 27 percent gain in underlying second quarter earnings to $245 million as sales surged 9 percent to a record $2.66 billion.

The article presents news briefs about the chemical industry in the Americas as of September 30, 2013. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) chemical activity barometer (CAB) report predicted U.S. economic growth into 2015. French industrial gas firm Air Liquide announced a planned purchase of the air separation business of Altos Hornos de Mexico. Specialty chemical firm Albermarle plans to divide into two global business units (GBUs) in 2014: performance chemicals and catalyst solutions.

This section offers news briefs of interest to the chemical industry as of June 27, 2016 including the launch of the Solar Impulse 2 aircraft to cross the Atlantic, the acquisition of surface-treatment business of specialty chemicals manufacturer Albemarle Corp. to German chemical maker BASF SE, and the progress made in the production of specialized fabrics. by a U.S. initiative aimed to create jobs and develop leadership.

This section offers news briefs on the chemicals industry as of February 8, 2016. LyondellBasell has reported a net income of 795 million U.S. dollars for the fourth quarter of 2015. Albemarle has completed the sale of its German subsidiary, Martinswerk and its 50% stake in Austrian joint venture Magnifin, to Huber Engineered Materials. Dow Chemical has appointed James Fitterling as president and chief operating officer (COO).

The article presents the views of several analysts on the stock market performance of various chemical firms in 2008. Bank of America analyst Kevin McCarthy picks Albemarle as his top performer, with a $49 price target. Deutsche Bank analyst David Begleiter chooses Celanese as his top pick for the second year in a row. BB&T Capital Markets analyst Frank Mitsch also highlights Celanese as his top pick with a $46 price target.

The article reports on the decision of ICL Industrial Products, Albemarle and Chemtura to initiate an action before the Conseil d'Etat in Belgium seeking the judicial review of the country's readoption of the measure banning the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in electronic equipment. According to Anne Noonan of Chemtura, fire safety initiatives continue to increase because the public realizes that flame retardants save lives.

The article reports on the 20 percent price increase of Albermarle for its fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit carbon monoxide combustion. FCC catalysts are used by refiners in the production of petroleum products such as gasoline and diesel fuel. The increase of prices was approved due to the escalating cost of production especially noble metals. Noble metals that are resistant to corrosion or oxidation includes gold, silver, tantalum, platinum and palladium.

This article focuses on the performance of several chemical firms for the second quarter of 2005. Rohm and Haas Co. posted a 46 percent gain in underlying earnings to $172 million on 11 percent higher sales of $2 billion. Earnings per share were 77 cents. The company is seeing solid growth in electronic materials as well as decorative coatings in North America. Albemarle Corp. posted a 50 percent gain in underlying second quarter profits to $29 million on 54 percent higher acquisition-fueled sales of $503 million. Nova Chemicals Corp. posted a loss of $25 million, or 29 cents in the second quarter.

Reports on the performance of specialty chemical companies in the U.S. Addition of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. to the Focus List of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.; Benefit of Albermarle Corp. and Rohm & Haas Co. from pricing power and falling raw material costs; Improvement in the earnings per share of Rohm and Haas.

Presents news briefs on the chemical industry as of June 20, 2005. Investment of Formosa Chemicals & Fiber in a polycarbonate plant in Taiwan; Amount of money that will be spent by Tetra Technologies to double its liquid calcium chloride production in Southern California; Expansion of the production of mineral-based flame retardants by Albemarle.

Reports on the financial performance of chemical companies in the first quarter of 2005. Earnings of Eastman Chemical and Albemarle Corp.; Companies which fell short of analysts' expectations such as International Flavors and Fragrances.

The article focuses on the financial performance of specialty chemical firms in the U.S. These firms are reporting considerable gains fourth-quarter earnings in 2004 and expect further improvement in 2005 as price increases catch up to raw material costs. Rohm & Haas Co. surprised on the upside, posting underlying earnings per share of 61 cents in the fourth quarter. Albemarle Corp.'s fourth-quarter earnings gained 7 percent to $19.6 million as sales jumped 53 percent lo $451 million, aided by acquisitions.

The article presents information about increase in price in various pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical company Air Products and Chemicals Inc. has, as of October 15, 2004 increased the worldwide price of its dimethylaminopropylamine by 6 cents per pound. Akzo Nobel Poymer Chemicals Ltd. is, as of November 1, increasing the price for its Azo initiators in the Nafta region by 5 percent. Albemarle Corp. will increase the price of Martinal ATH (aluminum hydroxide) flame retardants by a minimum of 40 cents per pound, exwarehouse, for bulk and full container shipments in North America and Asia Pacific effective November 15. The company will also increase Martinal ATH capacity due to global demand.

Reports on the strong gains gained by specialty chemical companies in the second quarter of 2004. Increase in earnings of Albermarle Corp. and Great Lakes Chemical Corp.; Operating profits of Albemarle's polymer chemical segment.

Examines the impact of the pending sale of Akzo Nobel BV's refinery catalysts business to Albemarle Corp. in the United States. Creation of a leading player in the refining catalysts sector; Boost to Albemarle's overall market position in catalysts; Terms of the deal.

Reports on the decision of Albermale Corp. to buy Akzo Nobel's catalyst business in the U.S. Inclusion of leading global positions in fluid catalytic cracking catalysts and hydroprocessing catalysts for refineries; Provision of higher quality fuels; Terms of the agreement.

Presents news briefs on the chemical industry in Europe, as of March 29, 2004. Plan of Crompton to increase the price of its fatty acid derivatives; Decision of Albemarle to apply for a surcharge of its bisphenol A.

Reports on developments in the prices of specialty chemicals for the week ended March 15, 2004. Price increase for select anine products of Air Products and Chemicals Inc.; 15 percent price increase for Albemarle Corp.'s Wellbrom bromine-based clear completion fluids; Price increase for BASF Corp.'s Plurasafe water glycol fluids and concentrates.

Reports on the financial performance of specialty chemicals companies in the first quarter of 2003. Decline in the underlying net income of Albemarle Corp.; Profits posted by Lubrizol Corp.; Earnings by Cabot Corp.

Reports on the wave of insider selling of stocks within the U.S. specialty chemicals industry in 2002. Comments from Timothy Gerdeman, Lehman Brothers analyst; Companies with insider sales for the year; Reasons for selling stocks; Factors influencing insider selling in the industry; Price ranges of the shares sold by Albemarle Corporation.

Reports on the earnings posted by specialty chemical companies in the fourth quarter of 2001. Decline in the profits of Cytec Industries Inc.; Full year profits of Albemarle Corp.; Number of common stock shares which Albemarle agreed to purchase from Bruce C. Gottwald; Debt incurred by Minerals Technologies Inc. during the quarter.

Reports on the decline in the demand for flame retardants in Europe and Asia. Impact of the decline in the flame retardants market on Great Lakes and Albemarle, the top producers of flame retardants; Expectations of Great Lakes; Investment plans of Albemarle.

Presents information on the performance of several chemical companies in the United States as of December 11, 2000. Stock performance of Crompton Corporation; Factors that contributed to the gains in profit of Albemarle Corporation; Profit gain of Hawkins Chemical Inc.

The article discusses the expectation of investment bank Young & Partners president Peter Young for the level of mergers and acquisitions activity in the chemical sector to level off after peaking in 2015. It takes note of stock market valuations and global economic issues bringing caution to deals after the acquisition of research chemicals company Sigma-Aldrich by Merck KGaA and of Rockwood Holdings by the Albemarle firm. Prospects for mergers in India and China are also discussed.

States that Albemarle Corp.'s effort to purchase Albright & Wilson PLC was praised by industry analysts. Details on the acquisition plan of Albemarle; Significance of the plan; Information on the companies.

Reports the acquisition bid by Albemarle Corp. on Albright & Wilson PLC. Value of the acquisition offer; Information on the company; Views from industry analysts.

Presents information on the global growth strategy of Albermarle Corp., a pharmaceutical company, in 2000. Comments from Mike Gaudet, Albermarle's global business director for pharmaceuticals; Innovation of the company in the ibuprofen pharmaceutical market; Albermarle's plans to develop other core products.

Reports on the groundbreaking ceremony for Albemarle Corp.'s planned worldscale tetrabromobisphenol-a (TBBA) flame retardant plant at its South Plant complex in Magnolia, Arkansas. First continuous process TBBA plant in the world; Plan to avoid creating an oversupply; Aspiration to raise the TBBA industry's quality standards.

Reports on Albemarle Corp.'s signing of a memorandum of understanding with Arab Potash Co.'s Jordan Dead Sea Industries Co. and the nation of Jordan for the construction of a world-scale joint-venture bromides facility in Safi, Jordan. Attempt to position the company for the long-term supply of bromine chemicals in Europe and Asia; Increase in the global supply of tetrabromobisphenol-A.

The article reports on the planned merger of chemical companies Albemarle and Rockwood Holdings, focusing on details of the acquisition and the financial market reaction to the announcement as of July 21, 2014. Topics include analysis of "step-out" merger and acquisition (M&A) plans aimed at diversification, the $6.2 billion cost of the deal, and a fall in Albemarle's stock price.

The article discusses the chemical industry's preference for step out or mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions for business growth. Industry executives and investors generally agree that chemical M&A deals are respected and rewarded for expanding the business. The article cites several examples of beneficial step out deals involving chemical companies including the acquisition of AkzoNobel by Albemarle Corp., and Sud Chemie by Clariant.

The article reports on the partnership between materials companies Novomer and Albemarle to produce the first large-scale manufacturing run of polypropylene carbonate (PPC) polyol. Ron Valente, vice president of research at Novomer, mentions that they are pleased with the results of PPC production. It states that the PPC polyol offered by Novomer polyol has a polycarbonate backbone which can increase the strength and durability of polyurethane products.

The article offers news briefs related to the chemical industry, including Taiwan's Chang Chun Petrochemical Co. Ltd.'s plans to invest 2.4 billion dollars to build a petrochemical base in China, Saudi Kayan's trial operations at its phenolics complex in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and a hydroprocessing catalyst plant to be made in Brazil by U.S.-based Albemarle Corp. and Brazil-based Petrobras.

The article reports on the plan of the U.S.-based catalyst producer Albermarle Corp. to build a metallocene polyolefin catalyst and trimethyl gallium (TMG) plant in Yeosu, South Korea.

The article announces several appointments including Mary Ann Hancook being appointed as the director of marketing and communications of the company Viachem, Nicole Daniel being appointed as vice president of Albemarle Corp., and Vonnie Estes being appointed as vice president of Codexis Inc.

The article announces several appointments including Ian Schott as president of Institution of Chemical Engineers, Richard Breum as press spokesperson for BioScience at Bayer CropScience, and Luther Kissam as executive vice president of Albemarle Corp.

The article reports on the expansion of Albemarle Corp. of its martinal fine precipitated aluminum trihydrate flame retardants in Bergheim an der Erft, Germany. It mentioned that the company expand the production by 20,000 tonnes/ year, thus, raising the capacity by more than 15% and expected to be completed by the end of 2007. Business manager Wolfgang Hardtke of Albemarle Corp. mentioned that it will sustain a source of effective mineral flame retardant fillers for global market.

The article focuses on free cash flow. According to analyst Laurence Alexander, investing in firms with positive free cash flows would gave delivered a 9.4% annual return, outpacing the S&P 500 by a full percentage point. He says that firms with negative free cash flows will have difficulty maintaining current operations without selling assets, issuing debt or issuing equity. Alexander reveals that the chemical companies with the most attractive free cash flow profiles include Albemarle, Hercules and Nalco.

This section offers news briefs related to the chemical industry. Albemarle plans to move the operations of its pilot plant in Dayton, Ohio to its pharmaceutical plant in South Haven, Michigan. Praxair and Norwegian fertilizer firm Yara are to enter into a 50-50 joint venture to enhance the industrial gases business into new product segments and geographical areas. Lyondell completed the sale of its titanium dioxide business to National Titanium Dioxide Co. of Saudi Arabia.

The article reports on the financial performance of several specialty chemical companies for the first quarter of 2007. Rohm and Haas reported an 8% decline in year-on-year earnings-per-share (EPS). The EPS of Ashland increased by 76% and Albermarle's also increased by 60%. Laurence & Co. analyst Laurence Alexander predicted an increase in the shares of Ashland in the future.

The article offers news briefs in the chemical industry. Albemarle is raising global prices of the neat portion of its aluminum alkyl products by around 25% from April 1, or as contracts allow. Maruzen Petrochemical has cut production at its 170,000 tonnes/year methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) plant in Chiba, Japan due to minor maintenance works. OM Group has increased prices of selected metal organic products by up to 45% for February.

The article offers news briefs in the chemical industry as of February 2007. Fourth quarter operating profits of Celanese rose by 10 percent. Canada is likely to levy environmental fees on polyethylene terephthalate and other packaging materials by 2010. Albemarle announced a share split, with the split to take place on March 1.

The author argues that big rewards await chemical companies that beat the earnings forecast of Wall Street. The author mentioned these rewards including the ability of firms to demonstrate pricing power derived from innovation, capital discipline and margin expansion. One company that exceeded analysts' expectation for the fifth consecutive year was Albemarle.

The article reports on the financial performance of chemical maker Albemarle. The company posted earnings per share of $1.18 compared to analysts' estimated of 93 cents. Company shares increased from $4.77 or 6.66% to $77.01. Remarks from President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Rohr regarding the company's performance are presented.

This article reports on the earnings growth of specialty chemical firm Albermarle. Shares of Albemarle increased by $4.77, or 6.6 percent, to $77.01. Underlying profits soared by 69 percent to $57.6 million on sales flat at $585 million. Fine chemicals profits more than doubled to $22.5 million as sales rose by 13 percent to $163 million.

The article offers information on the prices of various chemicals in the market. Albemarle says it is planning to increase the global price of its Saytex CP-2000 flame retardant by $300/tonne. The hike will affect all shipments made from February 1, 2007, or as contracts allow. Chemtura is increasing prices for tin stabilisers in Europe by 7-9% and mixed metals stabilisers by 5% immediately, or as contracts allow.