BASF is participating in the EU-supported research project BIONEXGEN

(BASF) -- BASF is participating in the EU-supported research project BIONEXGEN (Next Generation of Biocatalysts). └BIONEXGEN brings together 17 partners from industry and academia who share the common goal of developing a new generation of biocatalysts for more sustainable production processes in the chemical industry, said project leader Prof. Nicholas J. Turner, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Biocatalysis, Biotransformations and Biocatalytic Manufacture (CoEBio3) at the University of Manchester. BASF with its decades-long experience in White Biotechnology is taking part in research activities on new biocatalytic amine syntheses and on the use of enzymes for the synthesis of functional polymers from renewable feedstock.


In one of the working groups of the EU project, BASF and its partners are searching for more efficient ways to produce amines using biocatalysts. Amines are important for many industries and have a broad spectrum of applications including fine chemicals, plastics, and agricultural products. The use of enzymes can make the production of these chemicals easier.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.

MRC

(ICIS) -- US butadiene prices should rebound in 2012 after falling sharply since the last of the third quarter, TPC Group CEO Mike McDonnell said on Friday. However, destocking will continue through the rest of 2011, as companies push for a minimal amount of inventory for the end of the year, McDonnell said during the company's third quarter earnings conference call. McDonnell said it is doubtful that the soft market and low prices will be an issue a few months into 2012.

Many of TPC's customers have indicated a more optimistic outlook for 2012. For example, two tyre manufacturers have planned significant building or expansion plans because they forecast an increased demand for tyres, McDonnell said. BD is a key component in styrene butadiene rubber, which is used to manufacture tyres.

He also said when BD prices fell in 2009 to 45 cents/lb ($992/tonne, ┬734/tonne), it rebounded to an average price of 84 cents/lb in 2010. He believes a rebound is in the future for BD again in 2012.
Additionally, there are five ethylene crackers with a planned maintenance turnaround in the first and second quarters of 2012 that will reduce supply on a temporary basis and should drive up the cost of BD, McDonnell said.

Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.

MRC

(LyondellBasell) -- LyondellBasell announced that its Supervisory Board has authorized the company's Management Board to declare a special dividend of $4.50 per share to be paid on Dec. 16, 2011 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 25, 2011, subject to the adoption of a resolution by the Management Board, which is expected to occur on Nov. 25, 2011. The special dividend of approximately $2.6 billion will return value to shareholders and will be financed using a combination of existing cash and proceeds from a recent debt financing.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.

MRC

(ICIS) -- EU chemicals and industrial production fell in September as the economic slowdown began to bite, data from statistics agency Eurostat showed on Monday. EU chemicals production was down by 1.0% in September compared with August, with a 1.2% decline in the 17-member euro area.
Year on year, chemicals production adjusted for the number of working days in each period was 0.6% lower in the 27-member EU and down by 0.7% in the eurozone.

Industrial production in the EU was down by 1.3% month on month in September, and fell by 2.0% in the eurozone, Eurostat said. Year on year in September, industrial output in both zones was 2.2% higher.

Production of capital goods was 3.1% lower month on month in the EU and 4.2% down in the euro area, Eurostat said. Production of durable consumer goods, intermediate goods, energy and non-durable consumer goods were also lower, its statistics showed.

Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- South Korea's KPIC and Honam Petrochemical are on the verge of finalising 2012 naphtha deals at higher prices, as sellers are unwilling to release cargoes at low prices to combat previous sharp losses, as per Reuters. KPIC will likely lock in around 400,000 tons of naphtha for January-December 2012 arrival at premiums of about US$2.50/ton to Japan quotes on a cost-and-freight (C&F) basis. This will be higher vs minus US$1 to premiums of US$1/ton for 250,000 tons for January-December 2011 arrival.

Honam has pegged its bids at US$1/ton discount for cargoes supplied to Yeosu port, and minus 50 cents for supplies delivered to Daesan port. Some sellers are expected to accept Honam's bids and the final volumes the petrochemical maker buys will depend on how many sellers are willing to accept its bids.

Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.

MRC