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Taiwan: JSR – liquid crystals
FOCUS halogen-based flame retardant) for plastics, rubber, fibreglass, textiles, paints and paper products. Other USAC customers use antimony oxide as a colour fastener in paints, as a catalyst for the production of polyester resins, as a phosphorescent agent in fluorescent light bulbs, and as an opacifier for porcelains. USAC currently produces about 1000 tonnes/y of antimony oxide and its production will be substantially expanded when the Mexican plant is up and running. USAC estimates the US market for antimony oxide at about 32,000 tonnes/y, with consumption growing at 6.8% per annum. Prices for antimony oxide and other antimony products have risen steeply in recent years. Antimony metal prices are currently at their highest level for 20 years – nearly $3 per pound (or $6612 per tonne). China has traditionally supplied nearly 90% of the world’s antimony ore requirements, but mainly because China’s own consumption is increasing rapidly, the global supply/demand balance has shifted towards a serious shortage. Industrial Minerals, Jul 2006, (486), 73 & Press Release from: US Antimony Corp, Thompson Falls, Montana, USA. Website: http://www.usantimony.com (30 Jun 2006)
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But the majority of job losses will occur in Cornwall, where Imerys plans to cease production of coating grades of kaolin. In 2005, Imerys’ Paper Pigments division generated sales revenue of €755 M – about 25% of the group total. The company believes that Asia and Latin America will be the market regions offering the most rapid growth over the next 5-10 years. It is expanding its production of coating grades of kaolin at Barcarena (Brazil) and it forecasts 4.9% per annum growth in Asian paper pigments consumption. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 10 Jul 2006, (347), (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French) & Chemical Market Reporter, 17 Jul 2006, (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
Venezuela: Ruscaolin – kaolin Further details have been released on Ruscaolin’s $500 M project to mine kaolin in Venezuela. (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Apr 2006, 6). The licence application areas are near the town of Sifontes in southern Bolivar province. Ruscaolin plans to mine 500,000 tonnes/y of kaolin over a 20 year minelife. BNAmericas Mining News, 14 Jul 2006, (Business News Americas Ltda, Website: http://www.bnamericas.com)
Taiwan: JSR – liquid crystals JSR Micro Taiwan, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan Synthetic Rubber Corp (JSR), began production in July 2006 at its new plant at the Central Taiwan Science Industrial Park in Yunlin county. The new plant manufactures colour pigment dispersed resists for use in liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Jul 2006, 6). Japan Chemical Week, 20 Jul 2006, 47 (2376), 3
UK: Imerys – kaolin Further details have come to light regarding Imerys’ plans to cut back on its UK kaolin operations during 2006/07. (See ‘ Focus on Pigments’, Aug 2006, 5). The 800 jobs that will be lost in Cornwall and Devon will represent about 40% of the company’s current UK workforce total of 2000. The Lee Moor (Devon) operation, currently producing hydrous kaolin grades, will be closed.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Vietnam: Nippon Light Metal, Sojitz & Vinachem – ATH Nippon Light Metal Co and Sojitz Corp are considering building a 550,000 tonnes/y alumina trihydrate (ATH) plant in LamDong province in southern Vietnam. Bauxite feedstock would be supplied from nearby deposits. The plant would be the largest ATH plant in Asia. Its construction would cost about ¥ 40 bn, with finance being provided mainly by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. VietNam Chemicals (Vinachem) and its subsidiary Southern Basic Chemicals Co will also participate in the project. The partners intend to have the new ATH plant up and running by 2008. Nippon Light Metal has indicated that it may replace its existing ATH plant at Shimizu (Japan) with the new LamDong facility. Japan Chemical Week, 6 Jul 2006, 47 (2374), 12
COMPANIES Bain sells Brenntag to BC Partners Following several important acquisitions (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Aug 2006, 3-4), Brenntag is to be sold by Bain Capital to BC Partners, another private investment company. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed. Brenntag was acquired by Bain Capital from Deutsche Bahn in 2004. It is now one of the leading chemicals distribution companies in Europe, with more than 300 locations in 50 countries and sales close to €5.3 bn in full-year 2005. Commenting on the business growth of Brenntag in recent years, Mr Marc Fermont (an analyst at DistriConsult) said: “When Brenntag was owned by Deutsche Bahn – and before that by Stinnes – it was part of a big conglomerate, it was unfocused and its activities were tied up with the politics of energy or transport. Under Bain’s ownership, the company has been able to concentrate on being a chemicals distributor.” ICIS Chemical Business, 31 Jul 2006, (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com)
Huntsman to hold on to Tioxide & to relocate some textile colorants production to Asia Huntsman Corp completed the $253 M acquisition of Ciba’s Textile Effects business in mid-July 2006. The company also agreed to a $70 M deferral of payment by Texas Petrochemicals for the purchase of Huntsman’s butadiene and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) assets. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Apr 2006, 7). The Textile Effects business is now being integrated with the epoxy resin business (formerly Vantico, acquired from Ciba in mid-2003) and the entity will operate as Huntsman’s Materials & Effects Division, with headquarters and major production facilities at Basle (Switzerland). In fact, with more than 1350 employees, the Basle site has become Huntsman’s largest site in the world. The $70 M payment deferral was agreed after an explosion and fire at Huntsman’s light olefins plant at Port Arthur (Texas) at the end of April,
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ON
PIGMENTS
But the majority of job losses will occur in Cornwall, where Imerys plans to cease production of coating grades of kaolin. In 2005, Imerys’ Paper Pigments division generated sales revenue of €755 M – about 25% of the group total. The company believes that Asia and Latin America will be the market regions offering the most rapid growth over the next 5-10 years. It is expanding its production of coating grades of kaolin at Barcarena (Brazil) and it forecasts 4.9% per annum growth in Asian paper pigments consumption. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 10 Jul 2006, (347), (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French) & Chemical Market Reporter, 17 Jul 2006, (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
Venezuela: Ruscaolin – kaolin Further details have been released on Ruscaolin’s $500 M project to mine kaolin in Venezuela. (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Apr 2006, 6). The licence application areas are near the town of Sifontes in southern Bolivar province. Ruscaolin plans to mine 500,000 tonnes/y of kaolin over a 20 year minelife. BNAmericas Mining News, 14 Jul 2006, (Business News Americas Ltda, Website: http://www.bnamericas.com)
Taiwan: JSR – liquid crystals JSR Micro Taiwan, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan Synthetic Rubber Corp (JSR), began production in July 2006 at its new plant at the Central Taiwan Science Industrial Park in Yunlin county. The new plant manufactures colour pigment dispersed resists for use in liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Jul 2006, 6). Japan Chemical Week, 20 Jul 2006, 47 (2376), 3
UK: Imerys – kaolin Further details have come to light regarding Imerys’ plans to cut back on its UK kaolin operations during 2006/07. (See ‘ Focus on Pigments’, Aug 2006, 5). The 800 jobs that will be lost in Cornwall and Devon will represent about 40% of the company’s current UK workforce total of 2000. The Lee Moor (Devon) operation, currently producing hydrous kaolin grades, will be closed.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Vietnam: Nippon Light Metal, Sojitz & Vinachem – ATH Nippon Light Metal Co and Sojitz Corp are considering building a 550,000 tonnes/y alumina trihydrate (ATH) plant in LamDong province in southern Vietnam. Bauxite feedstock would be supplied from nearby deposits. The plant would be the largest ATH plant in Asia. Its construction would cost about ¥ 40 bn, with finance being provided mainly by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. VietNam Chemicals (Vinachem) and its subsidiary Southern Basic Chemicals Co will also participate in the project. The partners intend to have the new ATH plant up and running by 2008. Nippon Light Metal has indicated that it may replace its existing ATH plant at Shimizu (Japan) with the new LamDong facility. Japan Chemical Week, 6 Jul 2006, 47 (2374), 12
COMPANIES Bain sells Brenntag to BC Partners Following several important acquisitions (See ‘Focus on Pigments’, Aug 2006, 3-4), Brenntag is to be sold by Bain Capital to BC Partners, another private investment company. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed. Brenntag was acquired by Bain Capital from Deutsche Bahn in 2004. It is now one of the leading chemicals distribution companies in Europe, with more than 300 locations in 50 countries and sales close to €5.3 bn in full-year 2005. Commenting on the business growth of Brenntag in recent years, Mr Marc Fermont (an analyst at DistriConsult) said: “When Brenntag was owned by Deutsche Bahn – and before that by Stinnes – it was part of a big conglomerate, it was unfocused and its activities were tied up with the politics of energy or transport. Under Bain’s ownership, the company has been able to concentrate on being a chemicals distributor.” ICIS Chemical Business, 31 Jul 2006, (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com)
Huntsman to hold on to Tioxide & to relocate some textile colorants production to Asia Huntsman Corp completed the $253 M acquisition of Ciba’s Textile Effects business in mid-July 2006. The company also agreed to a $70 M deferral of payment by Texas Petrochemicals for the purchase of Huntsman’s butadiene and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) assets. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Apr 2006, 7). The Textile Effects business is now being integrated with the epoxy resin business (formerly Vantico, acquired from Ciba in mid-2003) and the entity will operate as Huntsman’s Materials & Effects Division, with headquarters and major production facilities at Basle (Switzerland). In fact, with more than 1350 employees, the Basle site has become Huntsman’s largest site in the world. The $70 M payment deferral was agreed after an explosion and fire at Huntsman’s light olefins plant at Port Arthur (Texas) at the end of April,
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