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Polymers

AkzoNobel plans €140mn expansion, upgrade to German chlorine plant

AkzoNobel will invest €140 million to convert its chlorine plant in Frankfurt, Germany, to state-of-the-art membrane electrolysis technology, the company said on Monday.

IEA sees increasing natgas use, warns of high oil prices curbing demand

Annual growth in oil demand could average 1.2 million barrels per day (mb/d) between now and 2016, while natural gas demand could grow by around 500 billion cubic meters – around 2.5 times Russia’s current gas exports – during the same time, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) medium-term oil and gas market outlook.

SABIC plans new carbon fiber plant in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) announced on Wednesday that it signed a technology agreement with Montefibre S.p.A (Montefibre) granting SABIC and its affiliates an extensive international licence on carbon fiber technology developed by Montefibre. SABIC said it will first use the technology for a new carbon fiber plant to be built in Saudi Arabia.

Tessenderlo to sell Europe PVC, chlor-alkali units to INEOS for €110mn

Tessenderlo will sell its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlor-alkali businesses to INEOS subsidiary Kerling for €110mn, the companies said on Tuesday.

BASF raises compounding capacity for engineering plastics in Europe

BASF is increasing its compounding capacities for the engineering plastics Ultramid (polyamide) and Ultradur (PBT: polybutylene terephthalate) at its Schwarzheide site in eastern Germany by 10,000 metric tons/year, the company said on Tuesday.

Dow opens water technology R&D center in Spain

Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of Dow Chemical, celebrated the grand opening of its Global Water Technology Development Center in a ceremony at the Dow facilities in Tarragona, Spain.

Momentive begins expansion of specialty ceramics plant in Ohio

Momentive Performance Materials has begun expanding specialty ceramic powders production at its manufacturing facility in Strongsville, Ohio, the company said on Friday.

BP unveils annual energy review, sees China passing US as top consumer

China became the world’s largest energy consumer in 2010, overtaking the US during a year which saw the global economic recovery drive consumption higher and at a rate not seen since the aftermath of the 1973 oil price shocks, BP said in its annual global energy review.

SKC to build new PET plant in South Korea

German engineering firm Uhde Inventa-Fischer said Monday that it had signed a contract to build a polyethylene terepthalate (PET) plant for SKC Co. at Jincheon in South Korea.

Chemtura to construct new China plant to serve petroleum additives, urethanes

US-based specialty chemicals firm Chemtura is planning to build a new multi-purpose manufacturing facility in Nantong, China, to serve its petroleum additives and urethanes businesses.