Chemtura transfers oleochemicals activity to US firm PMC

F O C U S additions to its silicone surfactants range. Unlike last year with the acquisition of Uniqema by Croda, there has been no single stand-out transaction on the acquisitions and divestments front. In fact, one of the major strategic moves of 2007 could perhaps be best described as a non-event – namely, the decision by Sasol to retain its olefins and surfactants division after failing to find a suitable buyer [ibid, Jun 2007]. Instead the company has undertaken to improve the division’s performance and, to that end, has already reduced its LAB and n-paraffin operations and closed its German HQ. In Brazil, Oxiteno bought a sulfation and sulfonation plant from Clariant in order to increase its surfactants capacity, while Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Kepong purchased European nonionic surfactant producer Dr W Kolb [ibid, Mar 2007]. Other strategic developments include Budelpack’s acquisition of Europe’s largest soap plant from Beiersdorf, the product-line swap between Stepan and Hallstar, and the establishment of the Wheatoleo joint venture to commercialize sugar-based speciality surfactants. And this annual snapshot would not be complete without a mention of Unilever’s decision to withdraw from the North American laundry detergents sector [ibid, Oct 2007] as part of a major restructuring programme. Caroline Edser

RAW MATERIALS Cepsa considers setting up LAB plant in Peru Spain’s energy and mining minister disclosed that Cepsa is considering building a facility in Peru to produce linear alkylbenzene (LAB), for use in detergents, from oil residuals. The Spanish oil and gas company previously stated its interest in opening discussions with Petroperu, the Peruvian state oil firm, in relation to utilizing the oil residuals that the company generates. Petresa, a subsidiary of Cepsa, has a capacity to manufacture 560,000 tonnes/y of 2

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LAB. The subsidiary operates plants in Brazil, Canada and Spain. BNAmericas Petrochemicals News, 24 Jan 2008, (Business News Americas Ltda, website: http://www.bnamericas.com)

Chemtura transfers oleochemicals activity to US firm PMC Chemtura has sold its global oleochemicals activity and Memphis, TN site to the US firm PMC Group. The deal was scheduled for completion at the end of the first quarter of 2008. No financial details have been released. Proceeds from the sale will be used primarily for debt reduction. Chemtura is focusing on sectors where its products are well established. The divested business manufactures products from renewable raw materials for the plastics, rubber, personal care, household chemicals, lubricants and industrial consumer product sectors, and had sales of approximately $175 M in 2007. The Memphis site produces fatty acids and fatty esters, pharmaceutical grade glycerin, glycerol esters, amides, stearates and triglycerides. The facility has around 260 employees all of whom will be given the opportunity to transfer to PMC. Founded in 1994, PMC is a privately held global manufacturer of speciality chemicals and plastics. It is headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ, USA, and operates manufacturing facilities in the US, Canada, France and India. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 4 Feb 2008, (411), 12 (in French) & press release from: PMC Group, 1288 Route 73 South, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, USA. Tel: +1 856 533 1866. Fax: +1 856 533 1867. Website: http://pmc-group.com (28 Jan 2008)

Dow Amines plant fully operational, ethanolamine expansion delayed Dow Chemical’s new integrated speciality alkanolamines facility constructed by its Amines business in Plaquemine, LA, USA, has passed all design tests and is now fully operational and producing products to Dow specifications. According to the company, the new unit is unique among North American speciality alkanolamine production plants because it produces both isopropanolamine (IPA) and alkyl alkanolamine (AAA) products. This will give Dow extensive mix flexibility

in the production of amine products to better meet the changing needs of IPA and AAA customers. The company says the new plant also reduces levels of co-products and byproducts common in earlier amines operations, which results in greater overall efficiency. In addition, key raw materials ethylene oxide and propylene oxide are also produced at the Plaquemine site, which further enhances the competitiveness of the new plant and also eliminates transportation of hazardous chemicals. Isopropanolamines are typically used in agriculture, coatings, rubber, surfactants and gas-treating applications and can also be used in personal care products, metal working fluids, electronics and industrial cleaning products. Among other uses, alkyl alkanolamines are useful intermediates in the synthesis of fabric softeners and coatings. In other developments, the 45,000 tonnes ethanolamines nameplate capacity expansion planned at Dow subsidiary Union Carbide’s St Charles operation in Hahnville, LA, originally announced in Oct 2006 for completion in 2007, will be delayed until the second half of 2008 due to tight labour supply throughout the US Gulf Coast. When completed, the expansion will bring Dow’s total ethanolamines nameplate capacity on the Gulf Coast to nearly 358,000 tonnes, and worldwide to some 454,000 tonnes. The company has also introduced a series of price increases affecting certain surfactants, intermediates and related products. All off-list and list prices for all grades of monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA) and Amine SD have been increased globally by $0.05/lb to direct customers and $0.045/lb to distribution. In the US and Canada, all off-list prices for monoisopropanolamine and triisopropanolamine products have been increased by $.05/lb to all direct and indirect customers. Due to unprecedented increases in raw material costs, Dow Polyglycols and Surfactants has announced a price increase in Europe and India, the Middle East and Africa of 3-7% for grades of Tergitol™ L series and Dowfax™ series nonionic surfactants and P series PPGs, and 2% for Triton™ and Tergitol speciality MARCH 2008