BASF strengthens position in S. America
BASF will invest in a world-scale production site for acrylic acid, butyl acrylate
and superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in
Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil. It will be the first
acrylic acid and superabsorbents plant in
South America. With an investment volume of more than €500 million, it is the
largest investment in BASF's century-long
history in South America.
In addition, BASF will start to produce
2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate, an important raw
material for the adhesives and special
coatings industries, in its existing chemical complex in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo.
This will be the first plant for this product in South America.
With the new acrylic acid complex,
BASF aims to ensure the supply for important products as: superabsorbents for
diapers, acrylic resins for coatings, textiles and adhesives and products for civil
construction.
The Camaçari location is being chosen
based on the availability of raw materials
(propylene) and utilities provided by
Braskem S.A., the major chemical company in Brazil and the strategic supplier
for BASF in this project.
The construction of the new acrylic
acid complex will start in 2011. Production is expected to begin in the fourth
quarter of 2014. The production for 2-
ethyl-hexyl acrylate in Guaratinguetá is
expected to start in 2015 on the basis of
acrylic acid produced in Camaçari.
Acrylic acid is an important precursor in
the value chain of super-absorbent polymers,
the active component of baby diapers and
other hygiene products. Acrylic esters, the
most important derivatives of acrylic acid,
are used to produce adhesive raw materials,
construction chemicals and architectural
coatings such as Suvinil, BASF's decorative
coatings brand in South America and the
leader in the premium segment in Brazil.
DSM acquires 51 percent stake
in AGI Corp. of Taiwan
Royal DSM N.V. has acquired a 51 per-
cent stake in AGI Corporation of Taiwan
(AGI) through a subscription for newly to
be issued shares combined with a public
tender offer for approximately € 41 million in total. The acquisition was announced in December 2010 and is
consistent with DSM's strategic focus on
high growth economies, sustainability, innovation and partnerships.
AGI offers a broad range of environmentally friendly UV (ultraviolet) curable
resins and other products. These products
are used in coatings and inks for wood,
flooring, plastic and graphic arts applications. AGI reported net sales in 2010 of
NTD 4,050 million (approximately € 97
million). AGI continues to be listed on the
emerging company's board of the Gre Tai
Securities Market in Taipei. DSM will consolidate AGI in its financial statements.
Huntsman Pigments division
receives the 2011 EDF Low
Carbon Award
The Pigments division of Huntsman Corporation has won the 2011 EDF Low
Carbon Award; one of 12 awards made
annually by the Chemical Industry Association (CIA), for its pioneering work to
measure and reduce energy consumption
and the carbon footprint at its titanium
dioxide (TiO2) manufacturing facility at
Greatham in the North East of England.
Speaking at the ceremony, Steve Elliott,
CEO at the CIA commented, "The EDF
Low Carbon Award is a very popular
award this year demonstrating how seriously the industry is taking climate change
and energy use. I was delighted to present
Huntsman with this award; we welcomed
the life cycle approach to carbon management as well as the results achieved in reducing the footprint of this energy
intensive process."
Over the last decade the Greatham site
has reduced its carbon intensity by 16%
and its energy consumption by almost
30%. This has been achieved through a
number of projects across the entire busi-
ness including an investment of £3million
($4.82m) to fund a project to recycle steam
from a waste heat boiler that resulted in an
annual reduction of 16000t CO2 and a
specific energy reduction of 2 GJ/t.
Steve Tate, Greatham site director said,
"Our focus on carbon reduction enables
us to identify opportunities not only
within our processes, but also upstream
with suppliers and customers. We recognize a structured approach to management and measurement offers us the
opportunity to better understand our suppliers and customers and together, further
drive down emissions. We have also built
up a network of partners who have helped
us to achieve these results."
Ashland Inc. completes ISP
acquisition
Ashland Inc. completed its acquisition of
privately owned International Specialty
Products Inc. (ISP), a global specialty chemical manufacturer of functional ingredients
and technologies. The purchase was an all-cash transaction for $3.2 billion, subject to
post-closing adjustments for changes in net
working capital and certain other items.
“This defining transaction is expected
to be immediately accretive and will sig-
nificantly expand our position in higher-
margin, higher-growth end markets,
including personal care, pharmaceutical,
food and beverage and energy,” said
James J. O’Brien, Ashland chairman and
chief executive officer. “We are excited
about combining ISP’s technologies and
capabilities with our own. This acquisi-
tion enhances our ability to satisfy the in-
creasing global demand for more
technologically advanced consumer and
industrial products, and to continue to
generate industry-leading innovation and
solutions for our customers.”
ISP will be integrated into the Ashland
Aqualon Functional Ingredients commer-
cial unit, more than doubling the size of
Ashland’s highest-margin business. Effec-
tive immediately, the combined unit will
