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Clariant reports fall in 2012 profits
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BASF to start up FCC testing lab in Heidelberg
Clariant International FY 2012: BU Catalysis & Energy
BASF is to establish a FCC testing facility at its hte AG site in Heidelberg. hte is wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF. The site will conduct analysis and characterisation and service customers worldwide.
For its fiscal 2012, the Catalysis & Energy business unit of Clariant International Ltd has reported sales of SFR 751 M (SFR 491 M for its fiscal 2011), EBITDA (before exceptional items) of SFR 161 M (SFR 107 M), EBIT (before exceptional items) of SFR 93 M (SFR 67 M), and EBIT of SFR 83 M (SFR 66 M). For its 4Q 2012, this business unit has reported sales of SFR 226 M (SFR 208 M for its 4Q 2011), EBITDA (before exceptional items) of SFR 61 M (SFR 51 M), EBIT (before exceptional items) of SFR 44 M (SFR 34 M), and EBIT of SFR 43 M (SFR 33 M). A business discussion of 4Q 2012 reveals that fourth quarter sales in Catalysis & Energy were up 9% in local currencies and in Swiss francs. Sales growth was driven by buoyant demand in Asia/Pacific and particularly in the Middle East & Africa. On a comparable basis, Catalysis & Energy sales were 10% higher in local currencies and 12% higher in Swiss francs. Sales were particularly strong in the Petrochemicals segment. To build on the success of its Houdry catalysts, the Business Unit recently announced a capacity increase to be installed at the Louisville, KY, plant. These types of catalysts are used in the onpurpose production of C3 and C4 olefins from light paraffins. The announced capacity increase will go on stream in Sep 2013. Sales growth in most other businesses, namely in Chemicals and Polyolefins remained strong. The business environment for Refinery was stable. The start-up business Battery Materials was impacted by the weak demand for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage. Additionally, the business line had to absorb start-up costs from the plant opened in Canada in early 2012, which manufactures the highly innovative cathode material LFP (lithium iron phosphate). However, there are signs that demand for LFP is increasing. Some major customers in Asia have placed new orders for the material that is superior in quality and has an excellent safety profile compared to other commercially available cathode materials. Year-onyear, the EBITDA margin before exceptionals improved as a result of
Original Source: BASF, website: http://www.basf.com, (13 Mar 2013) © BASF 2013
Biofutures thinks small with Platinum Nanochem buyout UK-listed company Biofutures is acquiring Malaysian green fuel additives producer Platinum Nanochem for GBP 80 M ($129 M). Biofutures has palm oil refining interests in Malaysia. Platinum Nanochem uses nanotechnology in its production of renewable resourcebased speciality chemicals. The company owns the so-called SimPlat technology, which enables the manufacture of a broad variety of intermediate and speciality chemicals from process residue materials and liquid waste. Platinum Nanochem’s Catalyx technology produces graphitic nanoplatelets targeted at oil services firms for improving the performance of their oilfield chemicals. The company also seeks to establish new partnerships to broaden the application of the technology. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Feb 2013, (860), 12 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2013
Clariant reports fall in 2012 profits Clariant has reported a 5.2% fall in its net profit to SFR 238 M (€194 M). Its ebitda dropped by 5% to SFR 835 M but turnover rose by 8% to SFR 6.04 bn. Sales had been boosted by the integration of Süd-Chemie (acquired in 2011). Clariant inherited 2 activities from the German group; Catalysis and Energy (sales of SFR 751 M in 2012) and Functional Materials (SFR 667 M). The activities compensated for poor performances in Clariant’s other divisions (pigments, additives, specialities, masterbatch). Clariant reported 15% growth for its Oil and Mining Services division at SFR 715 M. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 18 Feb 2013, (623), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) (in French) © ETAI Information 2013
APRIL 2013
higher sales volumes. The Catalysis & Energy BU is currently ahead of schedule in its integration roadmap as it has accelerated the implementation of Clariant Excellence measures. The Business Unit expects solid growth in 2013 based on current order intake figures and a backlog greater than last year’s. However, the first half-year is currently expected somewhat below an exceptionally strong previous-year period. Original Source: Clariant International Ltd, Rothaustrasse 61, CH-4132 Muttenz 1, Switzerland, website: http://www.clariant.com (14 Feb 2013) © Clariant 2013
Dow and Davy license LP Oxo Technology to Sinopec project in China Davy Process Technology Ltd (DPT), a Johnson Matthey company, and The Dow Chemical Co have announced that China Petrochemical International Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec), China’s largest petrochemical company, has once again selected LP Oxo Technology to produce 2-ethylhexanol, n-butanol and iso-butanol in a plant in Anqing City, Anhui Province, China. The new LP Oxo unit will be built by Sinopec Corporation Anqing Co with a capacity of 100,000 tonne/y of 2-ethylhexanol, 115,000 tonne/y of n-butanol and 23,000 tonne/y of iso-butanol. The new plant will adopt DPT & Dow’s LP Oxo SELECTOR 10 Technology with liquid phase hydrogenation. Original Source: Dow Chemical Co, 2030, Dow Centre, Midland, MI 48642, USA, tel: +1 989 636 1000, fax: +1 989 636 3518, website: http://www.dow.com (19 Feb 2013) © The Dow Chemical Company 2013
Dyadic commercializes new enzymes Netherlands-based Dyadic has launched in the market, enzymes developed in the mainly EU-funded DISCO project. The project resulted in the development of lignin-tolerant enzymes and enzyme cocktails for converting lingocellulose feedstocks, including spruce, straw, corn cobs, and wheat bran, into products such as ethanol. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Feb 2013, 77 (2), 14 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2013
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BASF to start up FCC testing lab in Heidelberg
Clariant International FY 2012: BU Catalysis & Energy
BASF is to establish a FCC testing facility at its hte AG site in Heidelberg. hte is wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF. The site will conduct analysis and characterisation and service customers worldwide.
For its fiscal 2012, the Catalysis & Energy business unit of Clariant International Ltd has reported sales of SFR 751 M (SFR 491 M for its fiscal 2011), EBITDA (before exceptional items) of SFR 161 M (SFR 107 M), EBIT (before exceptional items) of SFR 93 M (SFR 67 M), and EBIT of SFR 83 M (SFR 66 M). For its 4Q 2012, this business unit has reported sales of SFR 226 M (SFR 208 M for its 4Q 2011), EBITDA (before exceptional items) of SFR 61 M (SFR 51 M), EBIT (before exceptional items) of SFR 44 M (SFR 34 M), and EBIT of SFR 43 M (SFR 33 M). A business discussion of 4Q 2012 reveals that fourth quarter sales in Catalysis & Energy were up 9% in local currencies and in Swiss francs. Sales growth was driven by buoyant demand in Asia/Pacific and particularly in the Middle East & Africa. On a comparable basis, Catalysis & Energy sales were 10% higher in local currencies and 12% higher in Swiss francs. Sales were particularly strong in the Petrochemicals segment. To build on the success of its Houdry catalysts, the Business Unit recently announced a capacity increase to be installed at the Louisville, KY, plant. These types of catalysts are used in the onpurpose production of C3 and C4 olefins from light paraffins. The announced capacity increase will go on stream in Sep 2013. Sales growth in most other businesses, namely in Chemicals and Polyolefins remained strong. The business environment for Refinery was stable. The start-up business Battery Materials was impacted by the weak demand for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage. Additionally, the business line had to absorb start-up costs from the plant opened in Canada in early 2012, which manufactures the highly innovative cathode material LFP (lithium iron phosphate). However, there are signs that demand for LFP is increasing. Some major customers in Asia have placed new orders for the material that is superior in quality and has an excellent safety profile compared to other commercially available cathode materials. Year-onyear, the EBITDA margin before exceptionals improved as a result of
Original Source: BASF, website: http://www.basf.com, (13 Mar 2013) © BASF 2013
Biofutures thinks small with Platinum Nanochem buyout UK-listed company Biofutures is acquiring Malaysian green fuel additives producer Platinum Nanochem for GBP 80 M ($129 M). Biofutures has palm oil refining interests in Malaysia. Platinum Nanochem uses nanotechnology in its production of renewable resourcebased speciality chemicals. The company owns the so-called SimPlat technology, which enables the manufacture of a broad variety of intermediate and speciality chemicals from process residue materials and liquid waste. Platinum Nanochem’s Catalyx technology produces graphitic nanoplatelets targeted at oil services firms for improving the performance of their oilfield chemicals. The company also seeks to establish new partnerships to broaden the application of the technology. Original Source: TCE (formerly The Chemical Engineer), Feb 2013, (860), 12 (Website: http://www.tcetoday.com) © Institution of Chemical Engineers 2013
Clariant reports fall in 2012 profits Clariant has reported a 5.2% fall in its net profit to SFR 238 M (€194 M). Its ebitda dropped by 5% to SFR 835 M but turnover rose by 8% to SFR 6.04 bn. Sales had been boosted by the integration of Süd-Chemie (acquired in 2011). Clariant inherited 2 activities from the German group; Catalysis and Energy (sales of SFR 751 M in 2012) and Functional Materials (SFR 667 M). The activities compensated for poor performances in Clariant’s other divisions (pigments, additives, specialities, masterbatch). Clariant reported 15% growth for its Oil and Mining Services division at SFR 715 M. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 18 Feb 2013, (623), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) (in French) © ETAI Information 2013
APRIL 2013
higher sales volumes. The Catalysis & Energy BU is currently ahead of schedule in its integration roadmap as it has accelerated the implementation of Clariant Excellence measures. The Business Unit expects solid growth in 2013 based on current order intake figures and a backlog greater than last year’s. However, the first half-year is currently expected somewhat below an exceptionally strong previous-year period. Original Source: Clariant International Ltd, Rothaustrasse 61, CH-4132 Muttenz 1, Switzerland, website: http://www.clariant.com (14 Feb 2013) © Clariant 2013
Dow and Davy license LP Oxo Technology to Sinopec project in China Davy Process Technology Ltd (DPT), a Johnson Matthey company, and The Dow Chemical Co have announced that China Petrochemical International Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec), China’s largest petrochemical company, has once again selected LP Oxo Technology to produce 2-ethylhexanol, n-butanol and iso-butanol in a plant in Anqing City, Anhui Province, China. The new LP Oxo unit will be built by Sinopec Corporation Anqing Co with a capacity of 100,000 tonne/y of 2-ethylhexanol, 115,000 tonne/y of n-butanol and 23,000 tonne/y of iso-butanol. The new plant will adopt DPT & Dow’s LP Oxo SELECTOR 10 Technology with liquid phase hydrogenation. Original Source: Dow Chemical Co, 2030, Dow Centre, Midland, MI 48642, USA, tel: +1 989 636 1000, fax: +1 989 636 3518, website: http://www.dow.com (19 Feb 2013) © The Dow Chemical Company 2013
Dyadic commercializes new enzymes Netherlands-based Dyadic has launched in the market, enzymes developed in the mainly EU-funded DISCO project. The project resulted in the development of lignin-tolerant enzymes and enzyme cocktails for converting lingocellulose feedstocks, including spruce, straw, corn cobs, and wheat bran, into products such as ethanol. Original Source: Chemistry and Industry (London), Feb 2013, 77 (2), 14 (Website: http://www.soci.org/) © Society of Chemical Industry 2013
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