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Degussa 2001: Catalysts & initiators
F O C U S technologies. Demand for palladium catchment gauzes from the nitric acid industry was limited by the same market factors that held back demand for platinum catalysts. Previous reference, 36,37
Rhodium overview 2001: autocatalyst Changes in strategic stocks held by auto makers have led to sharp swings in autocatalyst demand for rhodium over the last 2 years, at a time when underlying consumption on catalysts has remained virtually unchanged. During 2000, it is believed that US and Japanese car companies bought substantial quantities of rhodium for inventory; this was partly reversed in 2001, with metal being withdrawn from stockpiles for use in catalysts. As a result, sales of rhodium to the auto industry fell by 29% to 566,000 oz in 2001. In contrast, actual use of rhodium in catalysts was stable in 2001, as modest increases in loadings were offset by lower production of gasoline vehicles in most markets. In North America, rhodium consumption fell; some auto makers have raised the rhodium content of their catalysts as part of their palladium thrifting programmes. It appears that improvements in catalyst design are likely to limit further increases in rhodium loadings. Previous reference, 39,40
COMPANY NEWS
O N
C ATA LY S T S
new Nebula catalyst – developed by Catalysts in collaboration with ExxonMobil and Nippon – Ketjen was introduced, which is twice as efficient in the removal of sulfur from diesel than existing technologies. Akzo Nobel 1Q Report 2002, 23 Apr 2002 (Akzo Nobel NV, Velperweg 76, PO Box 9300, 6800 SB Arnhem, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 26 366 4433. Fax: +31 26 366 3520. Website: http://www.akzonobel.com)
Aventis forms pact with Synetix Aventis has signed an exclusive technology licensing deal with ICI’s Synetix arm to develop Aventis’ enantioselective ferrocenyl phosphine ligand, JAFAPhos. Synetix will develop an economical and scalable route to the ligand and sell it to the asymmetric synthesis sector of the fine chemicals market. Chemical and Engineering News, 29 Apr 2002, 80 (17), 13
JULY 2002
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company has reached a favourable resolution of its patent infringement suit filed against the US government on 26 Mar 1998. The lawsuit alleged that the Department of Energy (DOE) infringed ExxonMobil’s cobalt catalyst and slurry process patents during runs at the DOE reactor in La Porte, TX. The cobalt catalysts and slurry process patents involved in this lawsuit are among ExxonMobil’s portfolio of over 450 US patents covering its AGC-21 technology in the field of gas-toliquids conversion technology. Press release from ExxonMobil, Annandale, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 908 474 6229. Website: http://www.exxonmobil.com (11 April 2002)
Johnson Matthey in pictures
Macplas, Apr 2002, 27 (237), 24 (in Italian)
The figure is a graph of share price (left of graph) relative to PAN EURO on the right. The table shows 2001 actual reported results with forecasts for the next three years (2002 to 2004), with actual and forecast results for a variety of financial parameters in thirteen rows. For Johnson Matthey the forecast trend is for sales to decline over the next three years from actual sales of £5904 M in 2001 to forecast sales of £5409 M by 2004. Pre-tax profit is however forecast to rise from a 2001 actual value of £180.3 M to a value of £201 M by 2004. Operating margin is on a rising forecast trend from a 2001 actual value of 3% to 4% by 2004. The general stance on this stock is neutral.
Degussa 2001: Catalysts & initiators
Merrill Lynch Chemicals, 16 May 2002, 19 (Merrill Lynch, 20 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3NH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)207 772 1000)
Borealis deals with Grace From the beginning of 2002, Borealis has transferred to Grace all production of catalysts at Stenungsund (Sweden) and support catalysts at Porvoo (Finland). Borealis retains ownership of the technology. Borealis will continue to develop advanced catalysts for polyolefins. Borealis has agreed that Ashland Plastics (USA) will continue to distribute Borealis polyolefins in Western Europe as set up under a 1997 agreement. The two companies will develop added value PE and PP via the Borstar technology.
Akzo Nobel 1Q 2001: Chemicals For 1Q 2002, the chemicals division of Akzo Nobel NV has reported total sales of EUR 1176 M (EUR 1182 M in 1Q 2001), operating income of EUR 102 M (EUR 99 M), EBITDA of EUR 183 M (EUR 183 M), capital expenditures of EUR 60 M (EUR 58 M), and headcount of 15,000 (15,100). There is a sales breakdown by product group. The major cost-saving programs are progressing well and contributed to 1Q 2002 performance. This especially goes for Catalysts, which turned in a substantially better performance after the closure of the Los Angeles site and benefited from lower energy prices. In 1Q 2002 the
ExxonMobil resolves GTL patent dispute
For fiscal 2001, the catalysts & initiators business unit of the fine & industrial chemicals division of Degussa AG has reported sales of EUR 250 M. The business’ main products are organic peroxides, persulfates, metal catalysts, and process and polymerisation catalysts. There is a review of the business, including: product applications, international network, capital investments (Brazil and Germany). Degussa Annual Report 2001, 1 Mar 2002 (Degussa AG, Benningsenplatz 1, D-40474 Düsseldorf, Germany. Tel: +49 211 650 41367. Fax: +49 211 650 41527. Website: http://www.degussa.com)
Johnson Matthey results, 2001 Johnson Matthey had sales of $8.49 bn in the year ending 31 Mar 2001 and net profits of $185 M. Precious metals accounted for 70% of sales, catalysts and chemicals 25%. N America accounts for 40% of profits, Europe 43%, and the rest of the world 17%. Operating profits in 2000-2001 were $271 M, with colours and coatings accounting for $46 M, precious metals $83 M, and catalysts and chemicals $142 M. Fuel cells are seen as the future star in the
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Rhodium overview 2001: autocatalyst Changes in strategic stocks held by auto makers have led to sharp swings in autocatalyst demand for rhodium over the last 2 years, at a time when underlying consumption on catalysts has remained virtually unchanged. During 2000, it is believed that US and Japanese car companies bought substantial quantities of rhodium for inventory; this was partly reversed in 2001, with metal being withdrawn from stockpiles for use in catalysts. As a result, sales of rhodium to the auto industry fell by 29% to 566,000 oz in 2001. In contrast, actual use of rhodium in catalysts was stable in 2001, as modest increases in loadings were offset by lower production of gasoline vehicles in most markets. In North America, rhodium consumption fell; some auto makers have raised the rhodium content of their catalysts as part of their palladium thrifting programmes. It appears that improvements in catalyst design are likely to limit further increases in rhodium loadings. Previous reference, 39,40
COMPANY NEWS
O N
C ATA LY S T S
new Nebula catalyst – developed by Catalysts in collaboration with ExxonMobil and Nippon – Ketjen was introduced, which is twice as efficient in the removal of sulfur from diesel than existing technologies. Akzo Nobel 1Q Report 2002, 23 Apr 2002 (Akzo Nobel NV, Velperweg 76, PO Box 9300, 6800 SB Arnhem, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 26 366 4433. Fax: +31 26 366 3520. Website: http://www.akzonobel.com)
Aventis forms pact with Synetix Aventis has signed an exclusive technology licensing deal with ICI’s Synetix arm to develop Aventis’ enantioselective ferrocenyl phosphine ligand, JAFAPhos. Synetix will develop an economical and scalable route to the ligand and sell it to the asymmetric synthesis sector of the fine chemicals market. Chemical and Engineering News, 29 Apr 2002, 80 (17), 13
JULY 2002
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company has reached a favourable resolution of its patent infringement suit filed against the US government on 26 Mar 1998. The lawsuit alleged that the Department of Energy (DOE) infringed ExxonMobil’s cobalt catalyst and slurry process patents during runs at the DOE reactor in La Porte, TX. The cobalt catalysts and slurry process patents involved in this lawsuit are among ExxonMobil’s portfolio of over 450 US patents covering its AGC-21 technology in the field of gas-toliquids conversion technology. Press release from ExxonMobil, Annandale, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 908 474 6229. Website: http://www.exxonmobil.com (11 April 2002)
Johnson Matthey in pictures
Macplas, Apr 2002, 27 (237), 24 (in Italian)
The figure is a graph of share price (left of graph) relative to PAN EURO on the right. The table shows 2001 actual reported results with forecasts for the next three years (2002 to 2004), with actual and forecast results for a variety of financial parameters in thirteen rows. For Johnson Matthey the forecast trend is for sales to decline over the next three years from actual sales of £5904 M in 2001 to forecast sales of £5409 M by 2004. Pre-tax profit is however forecast to rise from a 2001 actual value of £180.3 M to a value of £201 M by 2004. Operating margin is on a rising forecast trend from a 2001 actual value of 3% to 4% by 2004. The general stance on this stock is neutral.
Degussa 2001: Catalysts & initiators
Merrill Lynch Chemicals, 16 May 2002, 19 (Merrill Lynch, 20 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3NH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)207 772 1000)
Borealis deals with Grace From the beginning of 2002, Borealis has transferred to Grace all production of catalysts at Stenungsund (Sweden) and support catalysts at Porvoo (Finland). Borealis retains ownership of the technology. Borealis will continue to develop advanced catalysts for polyolefins. Borealis has agreed that Ashland Plastics (USA) will continue to distribute Borealis polyolefins in Western Europe as set up under a 1997 agreement. The two companies will develop added value PE and PP via the Borstar technology.
Akzo Nobel 1Q 2001: Chemicals For 1Q 2002, the chemicals division of Akzo Nobel NV has reported total sales of EUR 1176 M (EUR 1182 M in 1Q 2001), operating income of EUR 102 M (EUR 99 M), EBITDA of EUR 183 M (EUR 183 M), capital expenditures of EUR 60 M (EUR 58 M), and headcount of 15,000 (15,100). There is a sales breakdown by product group. The major cost-saving programs are progressing well and contributed to 1Q 2002 performance. This especially goes for Catalysts, which turned in a substantially better performance after the closure of the Los Angeles site and benefited from lower energy prices. In 1Q 2002 the
ExxonMobil resolves GTL patent dispute
For fiscal 2001, the catalysts & initiators business unit of the fine & industrial chemicals division of Degussa AG has reported sales of EUR 250 M. The business’ main products are organic peroxides, persulfates, metal catalysts, and process and polymerisation catalysts. There is a review of the business, including: product applications, international network, capital investments (Brazil and Germany). Degussa Annual Report 2001, 1 Mar 2002 (Degussa AG, Benningsenplatz 1, D-40474 Düsseldorf, Germany. Tel: +49 211 650 41367. Fax: +49 211 650 41527. Website: http://www.degussa.com)
Johnson Matthey results, 2001 Johnson Matthey had sales of $8.49 bn in the year ending 31 Mar 2001 and net profits of $185 M. Precious metals accounted for 70% of sales, catalysts and chemicals 25%. N America accounts for 40% of profits, Europe 43%, and the rest of the world 17%. Operating profits in 2000-2001 were $271 M, with colours and coatings accounting for $46 M, precious metals $83 M, and catalysts and chemicals $142 M. Fuel cells are seen as the future star in the
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