Natural and Synthetic Waxes Market to Hit $11.3B By 2015 – Report
(Thursday, September 02, 2010) With demand for waxes closely linked to economic conditions, the global economic slowdown exerted a significant impact on the supply and demand of waxes.

Air Products to Supply ASU to Sibur
(Thursday, September 02, 2010) Air Products on Thursday announced a contract to supply Voronezhsintezkauchuk, part of Russia and Eastern Europe's leading petrochemical company SIBUR, with a new on-site air separation unit (ASU).

KBR, Saudi Kayan Start Up Grassroots Cracker
(Wednesday, September 01, 2010) KBR on Tuesday announced the start-up of a 1.35 million metric tons per year (KTA) steam cracker at Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company's (Saudi Kayan) olefins plant located in Saudi Kayan's Petrochemical Complex at Al-Jubail.

Petronas to Acquire BP's Malaysian Ethylene, PE Interests
(Wednesday, September 01, 2010) BP announced Wednesday that it has agreed to sell its interests in ethylene and polyethylene production in Malaysia to Petronas.

Enviro Groups Vie to Intervene in Texas Air Permit Suit
(Tuesday, August 31, 2010) Two environmental groups have filed a motion with a federal court to join the EPA in a legal battle against the State of Texas over air permits.

Westlake to Begin Geismar Plant Construction
(Tuesday, August 31, 2010) Westlake Chemical Corp. announced Tuesday it is proceeding with the previously announced construction of a new chlor-alkali plant to be located at its vinyls manufacturing complex in Geismar, Louisiana.

Praxair, ROC Announce Mideast Industrial Gases Partnership
(Monday, August 30, 2010) Praxair, Inc. and the Al Khaled family of Kuwait have entered into definitive agreements for Praxair to acquire 49% ownership interests in the ROC Group's existing industrial gases businesses operating in Kuwait, UAE, and Qatar.

Praxair Thailand to Expand CO2 Capacity
(Friday, August 27, 2010) Praxair (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., will build a new, energy-efficient carbon dioxide plant in Map Ta Phut.

Keyuan Acquires Land for Next Phase of Expansion
(Thursday, August 26, 2010) Keyuan Petrochemicals, Inc., a leading independent manufacturer and supplier of various petrochemical products in China, announced it entered into land use right transfer agreements with the local government of Ningbo on August 18, 2010.

Air Products to Pay $1.5M in Texas RCRA Settlement
(Thursday, August 26, 2010) The EPA and the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday announced that Air Products LLC has agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million in civil penalties to resolve hazardous waste mismanagement violations at its Pasadena, Texas, chemical manufacturing facility.

Hyundai Hands Over Petchem Plant to Vietnam
(Thursday, August 26, 2010) Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) officially received the Polypropylene Production Plant, the first petrochemical factory in Vietnam, in the central province of Quang Ngai Wednesday morning.

LyondellBasell to End All Business in Iran
(Wednesday, August 25, 2010) LyondellBasell Industries NV has decided to end all business operations in Iran.

Kraton Eyes New HSBC Plant in Asia
(Wednesday, August 25, 2010) Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. announced Tuesday that it has initiated a project assessment, which includes site-selection activities, to identify options for building a new, hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) plant in Asia.

Shell Completes Debottlenecking at Guangdong Complex
(Tuesday, August 24, 2010) Shell Chemicals on Tuesday announced the successful first turnaround at the CSPCL -- "Nanhai" petrochemicals joint venture complex in Guangdong, China.

Feds Reach $26M Settlement with Chemtura
(Tuesday, August 24, 2010) The EPA, the U.S. Justice Department, and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday announced that Chemtura Corporation has agreed to resolve its liabilities at contaminated sites across the U.S.

EPA Targets Chemicals Used in Dyes, Flame Retardants, Detergents
(Wednesday, August 18, 2010) The EPA released action plans Wednesday to address the potential health risks of benzidine dyes, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and nonylphenol (NP)/nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs).

ACC: Biomonitoring Data Show Low Chemical Exposure in Canadians
(Tuesday, August 17, 2010) Health Canada on Monday released biomonitoring data collected as part of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) Cycle 1 and the findings demonstrate that the levels of manmade compounds found in Canadians are quite low, the ACC reported.

Fluor, United Rentals Form Gulf Coast JV
(Tuesday, August 17, 2010) Fluor Corp.'s AMECO unit has agreed to form a JV with United Rentals, Inc. to offer comprehensive equipment and tool solutions for ongoing plant maintenance and turnaround activities in the Gulf Coast region of the United States.

Eastman Could Sell S.C. Plant by End of Year
(Monday, August 16, 2010) After investing millions at its plant in Sandy Run, S.C., over the past few years, Eastman Chemical Co. executives say they are confident a buyer for their PET resin business will be found by the end of the year.

EPA Proposes CAA Permitting Rules for GHGs
(Friday, August 13, 2010) The EPA is proposing two rules to ensure that businesses planning to build new, large facilities or make major expansions to existing ones will be able to obtain Clean Air Act permits that address their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.