Petrochemicals
South America: Venezuela
Fig. 1 illustrates the annual gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation from 2006 to 2011 for Venezuela. High crude oil prices have helped domestic GDP growth, suggesting a healthy economy. ..
South America: Brazil
Brazil’s economic improvement was remarkable over the past decade, following many years of slow growth. On average, the Brazilian gross output of goods and services increased at an annual average..
Asia: India
The Indian economy has come a long way since the 1991 economic reforms. A decade and a half of economic reform and globalization is yielding returns that cut across all income groups. The domestic eco..
Asia: Japan
The Japanese economy showed steady recovery for 2003–2007. However, due to the global recession in late 2008, Japan’s GDP growth decreased to –1% in 2008 and to –5.5% in 2009. Due ..
Europe: United Kingdom
The United Kingdom (UK) is Europe’s fourth largest chemical economy, after Germany, France and Italy. It accounts for 8% of the European Union’s (EU’s) $900 billion overall chemical pro..
AkzoNobel to raise Middle East coatings output by expanding Kanoo venture
Under the terms of the new expanded agreement, AkzoNobel will offer products in its performance coatings portfolio, including professional woodcare, automotive refinish, marine, yacht, fire protection, protective and powder coatings. The old deal only covered coil and packaging coatings.
Fujian picks KBC software for China petrochemical, refining optimization project
Under this multi-million dollar contract, KBC will provide a 5-year Petro-SIM and ProSteam software license, build a refinery and petrochemical integrated flowsheet model, online utility optimiser and complex-wide LP model, and will train company personnel on software model building and applications.
WR Grace acquires China catalysts firm Noblestar
WR Grace officially acquired Noblestar Catalysts, a Qingdao, China-based manufacturer of FCC catalysts, catalyst intermediates and related refining industry products. Grace said it expects to make additional investments at the site for environmental, safety and manufacturing upgrades.
Sinopec plans Hong Kong IPO for new downstream engineering business
Beijing-based Sinopec Engineering Co., which was set up in September with a registered capital of 3.1 billion yuan ($500 million), is hoping that a Hong Kong listeing could raise its profile in the international market, as it strives to secure more overseas engineering and construction projects, a source said.
US monthly chemicals output nudges higher – ACC
Chemical production rose in all regions except the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and West Coast, which declined. Within the manufacturing sector, output in several key chemistry end-use markets increased, the ACC noted, including appliances, aerospace and structural panels.
- OXEA confirms final investment decision for major capacity expansion at plant 7/10
- TotalEnergies ships to Asia the first cargo produced by the ECA LNG plant 7/10
- ADNOC L&S expands LNG fleet with order for four new carriers 7/10
- India's ONGC plans to build 13-MMbbl national strategic oil reserve 7/10
- Russian refineries, oil terminal, tankers hit, Ukraine says 7/10
- Tajikistan says it has 60 days' fuel in reserve amid Russian supply crunch 7/10

