Chemtura Declares Force Majeure Due to Butadiene Shortages
Chemtura says it has declared force majeure on its Blendex plastics additives sourced from North America due to “critical shortages” of butadiene, a key raw material. The company says it will be taking steps to apportion...

Siegfried Posts Higher Earnings and Revenues
The sales increase was diminished by the weaker dollar....

DSM to Close Citric Acid Facility in China
DSM says it will close its citric acid manufacturing plant at Wuxi, China by the first quarter of 2009. This decision follows a request from the Wuxi government to relocate the plant as the location is needed for future urban...

Sipchem and Sabic Hold Cooperation Talks
The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (Riyadh) is mediating between Saudi International Petrochemical Co. (Sipchem; Al Khobar) and Sabic in talks that are expected to lead to Sabic toll manufacturing ethylene and propylene for Sipchem’s...

Feedstock Relief
Chemical makers may welcome the recent retreat in energy prices but lower raw material costs are already creating downward pressure on chemical pricing. Crude oil hit $145/bbl in mid-July but dropped to $121/bbl on August 21. Ethane prices peaked at $1.54/gal...