Petrochemicals
BASF to build new India polyurethane site by 2014
BASF will invest €150 million to set up a new chemical production site at Dahej, located on the west coast of India in Gujarat. The start of production is planned for 2014. The project will be financed by BASF India Ltd. through internal accruals and loans.
Fluor named North America engineering partner for BASF chemical projects
BASF has chosen Fluor as its engineering partner for chemicals capital projects across North America. The deal includes include conceptual and front-end engineering and design (FEED), detailed engineering, procurement, project management and construction management services.
INEOS taps KBR to build Texas ethylene furnace
The furnace design will add 465 million lb/year of furnace production capacity to the Chocolate Bayou olefins site in Alvin.
Chevron sees downstream margins up in refining, down in marketing
US energy major Chevron says its downstream earnings in the first quarter are expected to be higher, reflecting improved refining and chemicals margins, lower operating expenses, and gains on asset sales. International refinery crude-input volumes were up slightly compared to the fourth quarter.
Williams picks CB&I for engineering on Louisiana petrochemical expansion
CB&I was awarded a $300 million contract by Williams for a petrochemicals expansion project in Geismar, Louisiana. Plant capacity is expected to be increased from 1.35 to 1.95 billion lb/year. Ethylene, mainly produced via steam cracking, is the world’s largest volume hydrocarbon.
Phillips 66 to focus on chemical, pipeline units, less on fuels - CEO
The ConocoPhillips downstream spinoff will focus on growing its chemical and midstream segments at the expense of refining due to the weak outlook for fuel demand.
Huntsman to expand Texas ethylene oxide plant
The expansion will leverage Huntsman's integrated EO derivatives production to produce surfactants, ethanolamines, specialty chemicals and ethylene glycol (EG).
EuroChem finalizes purchase of BASF fertilizer unit
BASF completed the sale of its fertilizer business in Antwerp, Belgium, to EuroChem. The deal includes plants for CAN/AN fertilizers (calcium ammonium nitrate/ammonium nitrate), NPK fertilizers (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium) and nitrophosphoric acid as well as three related nitric acid plants.
Rockwood opens surface treatment plant in India, targets automotive industry
Chemetall Surface Treatment, the global metal surface treatment business of Rockwood, has invested in a new state-of-the-art production plant in Chennai, India, in response to rising demand for local products. The design and construction of the plant set new benchmarks in safety and quality, the company said.
RPM buys Australian automotive, specialty coatings company HiChem
RPM International has acquired HiChem Paint Technologies, a leading Australian manufacturer of automotive aftermarket coatings, as well as specialty coatings for industrial applications and home maintenance. HiChem has annual sales of approximately $23 million.

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