Clariant brings brilliant solutions to FAKUMA 2011

(Clariant) -- FAKUMA 2011 visitors can open the door to the innovative visual, functional and processing differentiation opportunities available to a whole host of applications with Clariant's color and performance masterbatches and compounds.

Clariant Masterbatches, a recognized global leader in color and additive concentrates and performance solutions for plastics, combines technical excellence with unique creative resources and unparalleled service to give its customers the competitive edge.

Highlights at FAKUMA 2011 will focus on adding cutting-edge performance, design and processing features to influence product appeal and functionality in the face of manufacturer's efforts to reduce costs.

MRC

(ICIS) -- The shares of most chemical firms in Asia ended sharply lower on Monday in line with the weakness seen in regional bourses, amid persistent fears over the sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone and its dampening impact on global demand. Greece on Sunday announced an emergency tax on all private property that will be applied this year and 2012 to cover a shortfall in tax revenues.

With the announcement of further tax increases in Greece, the possibility of it receiving the next loan tranche has improved, but a lack of political consensus on how to move ahead both among the G7 countries and within Germany continues to be a concern, said Danske Research senior analyst, Flemming Nielsen.

The financial markets in South Korea, China and Taiwan are closed on Monday for a holiday.
In Malaysia, PETRONAS Chemicals Group was down by 2.50% by the end of trade, with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia down by 1.56%, or 22.86 points, at 1,446.26.

Thailand's petrochemical major PTT group was down by 2.80%, while Siam Cement Group fell by 3.12%. The Thai SET index closed 2.15%, or 22.89 points, lower at 1,039.48.


MRC

(Plastemart) -- Eastman Chemical Company announced a second expansion of its Benzoflex plasticizer line at the Kohtla-Jarve, Estonia, site. The expansion will increase Benzoflex capacity at the site by an additional 11 KT and is expected to be completed by the end of Q2 2012.

The company also announced plans for expansion of the Benzoflex plasticizers and Admex polymeric plasticizers lines at its Chestertown, MD and Kingsport, TN sites. The total capacity for the expansions in North America is approximately 9 KT and is also expected to be completed by the end of Q2 2012. A benzoic acid derivative, Benzoflex is used in coatings, adhesives, sealants and caulks, and is also used to provide flexibility to PVC in a wide variety of applications, including vinyl flooring.

MRC

(Reuters) -- PetroChina plans to add 1.1 million tonnes of biofuels production capacity and import 470 KT of those fuels by 2015, a company official said on Thursday, as the oil firm aims to tap more alternative energy sources.

Of the planned production capacity, fuel ethanol will be 933 KTa and biodiesel will be 165 KTa, Fu Xingguo, deputy chief engineer of PetroChina's Petrochemical Research Institute, said at an industry conference.

The planned biofuel imports, which are likely from countries such as Brazil, will be blended with regular fuels and sold to southern Chinese provinces, he said.

Fu said some aviation biofuel the company produced will be used in a test flight next month. He did not give more details.

China has around 1.52 million tonnes of fuel ethanol capacity which mainly use grains as feedstocks, according to Fu.

MRC

(ICIS) -- European chemical stocks fell on Monday as global markets made further losses from Friday due to continuing fears over the eurozone's debt problems and a sharp drop in bank shares following the recommendation of UK banking reforms.

At 09:43 GMT Barclays was trading down 1.15%, HSBC Holdings was down 1.50%, while shares in Royal Bank of Scotland Group had fallen 0.42%. The Dow Jones Euro Stoxx Chemicals index at 09:46 GMT was trading down 2.42%, as shares in many of Europe's major chemical companies fell.
Top European producers were hit hard - petrochemical major BASF's shares had dropped 2.85%, while fellow Germany-based Bayer had fallen 3.22%. Dutch coatings firm AkzoNobel was down 2.44%, and France's Arkema had fallen by 1.67%.

Belgium's Solvay had fallen 3.65%, France-based industrial gases company Air Liquide was down 3.16%, while Germany's Linde was down 1.29%. Catalysts maker and precious metals trader Johnson Matthey of the UK was down by 1.46% and Swiss specialties maker Clariant was trading down 2.49%.

Asian petrochemical shares also dropped on Monday on renewed concerns on the sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone and its dampening impact on global demand.


MRC