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catalysts, and energy-efficient lighting. The growth of this Business Cluster, greater than the organic growth of the markets served, is driven by the challenges of sustainable development. Rhodia’s competitive advantage resides in its technological lead, economies of scale, innovative capability and worldwide presence. Its activity in the first half of 2011 was driven by very solid market growth. The Business Cluster reported a 22.8% overall organic volume growth compared to the same period in 2010. Silica benefited from significant market growth in the high dispersible silica segment, and, for the first time, a substantial contribution from the new Chinese site in Qingdao. Rare Earth Systems recorded high demand across all its markets, particularly the Electronics market. The growth of the automotive catalysts market, however, was curbed temporarily due to the events in Japan.
M. The Group made a loss of -€6.7 M, compared to a profit of €13.2 M in 1H 2010. Capital expenditure rose to €37.0 M (1H 2010: €33.9 M). Expenditure on the start-up sectors of Battery Materials and Biocatalysis had an adverse effect on earnings performance. The costs of R&D were €31.5 M in 1H 2011, compared to €29.3 M for 1H 2010. The total basic/diluted earnings per share was -€0.57, compared to €1.11 for 1H 2010. At the end of 1H 2011, 6496 personnel were employed by SüdChemie, compared to 6461 at the end of 1H 2010. Key results data are tabulated.
Rhodia Results 1H 2011, 3 Aug 2011, 12, 34 (Rhodia SA, Immeuble Coeur Defense, Tour A, 110 esplanade Charles de Gaulle, 92400 Courbevoie, France. Tel: +33 1 5356 6464. Fax: +33 1 5356 6459. Website: http://www.rhodia.com)
Süd-Chemie’s Catalytic Technologies Business Unit consists of four industry groups, namely Chemicals, Petrochemicals, Refinery, and Olefin Polymerisation. For 1H 2011, the Catalytic Technologies Business Unit reported revenues of €202.1 M (1H 2010: €197.4 M). EBITDA amounted to €38.2 M (1H 2010: €29.2 M) and EBIT totalled €24.6 M (1H 2010: €26.4 M). Capital expenditure by the Unit was €7.7 M (1H 2010: €21.1 M). At the end of 1H 2011, the Catalytic Technologies Business Unit employed 2372 personnel (end of 1H 2010: 2385). Key results data are tabulated.
Shell and Cosan complete jv Shell and Cosan have finalized their $12 bn Brazilian jv to establish Raizen, which boasts of an ethanol production capacity of more than 2 bn litre/y and a distribution network of 4500 fuel stations. The jv also has an installed capacity of 900 MW of electric power from sugarcane bagasse, and 24 sugar mills. Raizen will take Royal Dutch Shell plc’s 15.7% stake in Codexis, with aim of deploying Codexis’ “super enzymes” for more rapid processing of plant waste into transport fuels. Original Source: Oils and Fats International, Jul 2011, 27 (6), 6 (Website: http://www.oilsandfatsinternational.com/) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2011
Süd-Chemie 1H 2011: key figures For 1H 2011, Süd-Chemie Group reported sales of €673.1 M (1H 2010: €576.9 M). EBITDA for 1H 2011 was 63.8 M (1H 2010: €72.8 M) and EBIT was €31.4 M (1H 2010: €41.5 M). This downturn was solely the result of non-recurring items. Transaction costs in connection with the sale of SüdChemie share packages to Clariant and restructuring costs amounted to €18.0
OCTOBER 2011
Süd-Chemie’s Interim Report 1H 2011, 27 Jul 2011, 2,6-7,18-21 (Süd-Chemie AG, Lenbachplatz 6, 80333 Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 5110 0. Fax: +49 89 5110 375. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com)
Süd-Chemie 1H 2011: Catalytic Technologies Business Unit results
Research progress in titanium dioxide in catalytic fields Progress in research by the Research Institute of Yangzi Petrochemical Co using titanium dioxide is reported. Areas covered are catalytic oxidation, photocatalysis, solid acid, denitrification of flue gas, and catalytic hydrogenation. Further work to be undertaken on the use of titanium dioxide in catalysis is outlined. Original Source: Xiandai Huagong, 20 May 2011, 31 (5), 21-24,26 (Website: http://www.xdhg.com.cn) (in Chinese) © China National Chemical Information Center 2011
Univar to distribute Unicat Catalyst Technologies’ products Univar, a global chemical distributor, is to distribute additional catalysts from Unicat Catalyst Technologies in Europe and N America. Press release from: Univar Europe. Website http://www.univareurope.com. Tel: +32 (0)2 525 05 63. Fax: +323 (0)2 520 17 51 (7 Sep 2011)
NEW PLANTS BASF increasing capacity for copper and copper-chrome catalysts
Germany-based Süd-Chemie’s OleMax 207 selective hydrogenation catalyst, a candidate for best product innovation at the 2011 ICIS Innovation Awards, offers benefits estimated at $1.4 M/y (€1.0 M/y) for a standard, mid-sized ethylene unit. The use of OleMax 207 increases cycle lengths and improves ethylene selectivity by an average of 35%.
BASF has announced a new round of capital investment projects to increase its production capacity and further enhance its global manufacturing operations for copper and copperchrome catalysts. These investments are aimed at improving catalyst manufacturing efficiency to meet increased global demand. They follow an earlier round of process improvement and capacity enhancement projects for the copperchrome product line that were completed earlier in 2011. BASF produces a wide variety of base-metal catalysts, which are primarily used in petrochemical and oleochemical processing. Typical catalyst applications include guard beds; hydrogenation processes, such as solvent and gasoline dearomatization; dehydrogenation processes; monomer production; and manufacturing of speciality and detergent alcohols.
Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 1 Aug 2011 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2011
Press release from: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. Tel: +49 (0) 621 600. Website: http://www.basf.com (19 Aug 2011)
Süd-Chemie’s Interim Report 1H 2011, 27 Jul 2011, 9 (Süd-Chemie AG, Lenbachplatz 6, 80333 Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 5110 0. Fax: +49 89 5110 375. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com)
ICIS Innovation Awards 2011 entrants shortlisted: best product innovation: Süd-Chemie
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