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Harvest festival: Crodamazon oils from Croda Oleochemicals
F O C U S
PRODUCTS Linear alkylbenzene (LAB) Jintong merged with alkylbenzene plant of Jinling Two Sinopec subsidiaries, Jintong Petrochemicals Co Ltd and Alkylbenzene Plant of Jinling Petrochemical Co, have announced their merger to form a new company with the largest production capacity of washing powder feedstocks in Asia and the second largest in the world. The intention is that the new company will secure the business of the leading local users such as Zhejiang Nice Chemical Industry Co and Unilever. Both the companies have an alkylbenzene capacity of 100,000 tonnes/y. Another alkylbenzene producer, Fushun Detergent Chemical Plant has a capacity of 144,000 tonnes/y and is to expand its capacity to 200,000 tonnes/y. This has influenced the merger decision. The merged company is to make a second attempt at applying to issue public shares. The merged company will continue to produce washing powder feedstocks, and will add a new alkylbenzene production line with capacity of 100,000 tonnes/y. China Chemical Reporter, 16 Aug 2002, 13 (23), 11
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S U R FA C TA N T S
New LAB plant for Egypt An 80,000 tonnes/y linear alkyl benzene plant planned by Echem and several local and Persian Gulf investors for Alexandria has received the go ahead from the Egyptian government. It will use UOP technology and supply the local detergents industry. The plant will cost around $200 M. Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2002, 164 (35), 21
Oleochemicals IOI Corp and Sime resolve Palmco issue IOI Corp Bhd and Sime Darby Bhd (Sime) have suspended their dispute over the acquisition of Palmco Holdings Bhd (Palmco), as Sime has decided to sell 11.77% equity stake in Palmco to IOI at Ringgit 109.2 M in cash. Palmco is a leading oleochemical company that manufactures and markets fatty acids, glycerine, soap noodles, esters and metallic stearates. It is also involved in the milling of palm kernels, cultivation of oil palm, and property development. For the year ended Jun 2002, Palmco registered a pre-taxprofit of Ringgit 135.3 M on turnover of Ringgit 778.2 M.
Indian Oil Corp has awarded a $135 M contract to Samsung Engineering for an n-paraffin/linear alkyl benzene facility at its Baroda refinery in Gujarat. Start-up is expected in Aug 2004. Asian Chemical News, 16 Sep 2002, 8 (371), 7
Samsung wins LAB contract from Indian Oil Samsung Engineering has won an engineering, procurement, and construction contract to erect Indian Oil’s previously announced 120,000 tonnes/y LAB plant at Baroda, India. The unit will use UOP’s process and is due to be completed in 2004. Chemical Week, 18 Sep 2002, 164 (36), 19
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Tomah Products’ new ambitions Tomah Products has sales of $50-60 M/y and profit margins in double digits. The company is aiming to become a speciality surfactant house. The company operates a profitable niche in the speciality surfactants sector. It acquired Shell Chemical’s alkoxylation plant at Reserve, LA. Tomah intends to install a cyanoethylation capability at Reserve within the next 2-3 years. Tomah invests 3-4% of sales in research and development. Business is now expected to post low, but healthy growth. Chemical Week, 28 Aug-4 Sep 2002, 164 (34), 51
New developments Loveland Industries launches Liberate adjuvant Loveland Industries has made available Liberate, a new adjuvant compatible with sulfonylurea herbicides and other pH-sensitive chemistries. The product increases the uptake of plant systemic chemistry through the synergistic effects of a deposition agent, a drift retardant and a penetrating surfactant. Pesticide Outlook, Aug 2002, 13 (4), 134
The Star, 27 Sep 2002 (Website: http://www.thestar.com.my)
Long chain olefins Samsung secures US$135 M LAB contract
Alkoxylates
Unipetrol to save Spolana [1 table] Unipetrol (Czech Republic), holding petrochemical company, wants to do its best to save Spolana (Neratovice, Czech Republic), which was badly affected by the Aug 2002 floods. Spolana suffered damage worth about CEK 1.2 bn to all the holding company is hundreds of millions of CEK higher. Spolana is one of the greatest business partners of Chemopetrol (Czech Republic), from which it takes ethylene worth roughly CEK 3 bn/y. Spolana exports about 75% of its production. Its main products include linear alpha olefins, which are used for the production of synthetic lubricating oils, washing powders and paper sizes. Hospodarske Noviny, 4 Sep 2002, 46 (172), 20 (in Czech)
Harvest festival: Crodamazon oils from Croda Oleochemicals Croda Oleochemicals has launched a line of Crodamazon oils extracted from tropical nuts and fruits, namely cupuacu, pequi and maracuja. The oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids and natural vitamins, are said to contain certain flavonoids and phystosterols that are known to be anti-inflammatory agents. The surfactant soluble oil Crodamazon Crovol Maracuja may be used on personal care detergent systems. The oils may be applied for sun care, colour cosmetics, bath and shower products, skin creams and lotions. SPC, Soap Perfumery and Cosmetics, Aug 2002, 75 (8), 47
Sakura Finetech, Kao develop medical cleaning agents Kao Corp and Sakura Finetechnical NOVEMBER 2002
PRODUCTS Linear alkylbenzene (LAB) Jintong merged with alkylbenzene plant of Jinling Two Sinopec subsidiaries, Jintong Petrochemicals Co Ltd and Alkylbenzene Plant of Jinling Petrochemical Co, have announced their merger to form a new company with the largest production capacity of washing powder feedstocks in Asia and the second largest in the world. The intention is that the new company will secure the business of the leading local users such as Zhejiang Nice Chemical Industry Co and Unilever. Both the companies have an alkylbenzene capacity of 100,000 tonnes/y. Another alkylbenzene producer, Fushun Detergent Chemical Plant has a capacity of 144,000 tonnes/y and is to expand its capacity to 200,000 tonnes/y. This has influenced the merger decision. The merged company is to make a second attempt at applying to issue public shares. The merged company will continue to produce washing powder feedstocks, and will add a new alkylbenzene production line with capacity of 100,000 tonnes/y. China Chemical Reporter, 16 Aug 2002, 13 (23), 11
O N
S U R FA C TA N T S
New LAB plant for Egypt An 80,000 tonnes/y linear alkyl benzene plant planned by Echem and several local and Persian Gulf investors for Alexandria has received the go ahead from the Egyptian government. It will use UOP technology and supply the local detergents industry. The plant will cost around $200 M. Chemical Week, 11 Sep 2002, 164 (35), 21
Oleochemicals IOI Corp and Sime resolve Palmco issue IOI Corp Bhd and Sime Darby Bhd (Sime) have suspended their dispute over the acquisition of Palmco Holdings Bhd (Palmco), as Sime has decided to sell 11.77% equity stake in Palmco to IOI at Ringgit 109.2 M in cash. Palmco is a leading oleochemical company that manufactures and markets fatty acids, glycerine, soap noodles, esters and metallic stearates. It is also involved in the milling of palm kernels, cultivation of oil palm, and property development. For the year ended Jun 2002, Palmco registered a pre-taxprofit of Ringgit 135.3 M on turnover of Ringgit 778.2 M.
Indian Oil Corp has awarded a $135 M contract to Samsung Engineering for an n-paraffin/linear alkyl benzene facility at its Baroda refinery in Gujarat. Start-up is expected in Aug 2004. Asian Chemical News, 16 Sep 2002, 8 (371), 7
Samsung wins LAB contract from Indian Oil Samsung Engineering has won an engineering, procurement, and construction contract to erect Indian Oil’s previously announced 120,000 tonnes/y LAB plant at Baroda, India. The unit will use UOP’s process and is due to be completed in 2004. Chemical Week, 18 Sep 2002, 164 (36), 19
2
Tomah Products’ new ambitions Tomah Products has sales of $50-60 M/y and profit margins in double digits. The company is aiming to become a speciality surfactant house. The company operates a profitable niche in the speciality surfactants sector. It acquired Shell Chemical’s alkoxylation plant at Reserve, LA. Tomah intends to install a cyanoethylation capability at Reserve within the next 2-3 years. Tomah invests 3-4% of sales in research and development. Business is now expected to post low, but healthy growth. Chemical Week, 28 Aug-4 Sep 2002, 164 (34), 51
New developments Loveland Industries launches Liberate adjuvant Loveland Industries has made available Liberate, a new adjuvant compatible with sulfonylurea herbicides and other pH-sensitive chemistries. The product increases the uptake of plant systemic chemistry through the synergistic effects of a deposition agent, a drift retardant and a penetrating surfactant. Pesticide Outlook, Aug 2002, 13 (4), 134
The Star, 27 Sep 2002 (Website: http://www.thestar.com.my)
Long chain olefins Samsung secures US$135 M LAB contract
Alkoxylates
Unipetrol to save Spolana [1 table] Unipetrol (Czech Republic), holding petrochemical company, wants to do its best to save Spolana (Neratovice, Czech Republic), which was badly affected by the Aug 2002 floods. Spolana suffered damage worth about CEK 1.2 bn to all the holding company is hundreds of millions of CEK higher. Spolana is one of the greatest business partners of Chemopetrol (Czech Republic), from which it takes ethylene worth roughly CEK 3 bn/y. Spolana exports about 75% of its production. Its main products include linear alpha olefins, which are used for the production of synthetic lubricating oils, washing powders and paper sizes. Hospodarske Noviny, 4 Sep 2002, 46 (172), 20 (in Czech)
Harvest festival: Crodamazon oils from Croda Oleochemicals Croda Oleochemicals has launched a line of Crodamazon oils extracted from tropical nuts and fruits, namely cupuacu, pequi and maracuja. The oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids and natural vitamins, are said to contain certain flavonoids and phystosterols that are known to be anti-inflammatory agents. The surfactant soluble oil Crodamazon Crovol Maracuja may be used on personal care detergent systems. The oils may be applied for sun care, colour cosmetics, bath and shower products, skin creams and lotions. SPC, Soap Perfumery and Cosmetics, Aug 2002, 75 (8), 47
Sakura Finetech, Kao develop medical cleaning agents Kao Corp and Sakura Finetechnical NOVEMBER 2002