20.05.2012

New Facilities Spotlight Next-generation Biofuels

After a decade of promise, advanced biofuels makers are entering a crucial make-or-break period with the first of a new generation of production facilities about to come on line. The new facilities are designed to take biofuels beyond corn-based ethanol and begin to shift the industry to "advanced" fuels made with a lower carbon footprint derived from products that will not compete with demand for food. more20.05.2012

US Agriculture Companies Set Millions for Africa

A group of U.S. seed, chemical and equipment companies will invest at least $150 million over the next few years into African agricultural projects and products, the companies said on Friday. The investments pledged by DuPont, Monsanto, Cargill and others are part of an overall $3 billion effort by companies around the world announced by President Barack Obama. more16.05.2012

DuPont Shortlists Bidders for Car Paint Unit

Chemicals maker DuPont has shortlisted four potential buyers for its car paint business after evaluating revised offers received on April 30, according to people familiar with the matter. more14.05.2012

Sustaining Innovation

Balancing Transparency and Confidentiality - One of the biggest challenges facing chemical companies in the United States is one that isn't making major headlines but is being discussed in boardrooms everywhere. The issue is the proposal by the U.S. government to require greater public access to company trade secrets. more19.04.2012

Latin American Drought Crimps Syngenta Sale

Syngenta, the world's largest agrochemicals company, posted a smaller-than-expected rise in quarterly sales, as the impact of a drought in Latin America offset the benefits from bumper seed sales and an early start to the planting season. more18.04.2012

Cheap Natgas to Help US Chemical Makers' Earnings

Cheap natural gas from North American shale developments and growth in Latin American markets likely helped U.S. chemical makers offset weak first-quarter demand from Europe, which is struggling with a sovereign debt crisis and high unemployment. Dow Chemical, Dupont and others in the sector produce many of the building blocks for clothing, construction materials, food and thousands of other items. The industry's results are often a key barometer of broader economic trends. more18.04.2012

Key Maker of Auto Resin May Be Out until Winter

As auto companies and their suppliers met in suburban Detroit to discuss options amid a shortage of a key resin that threatens global auto production, owners of the German chemical plant where an explosion led to the shortage said it will be at least three months before it can return to normal production. more14.04.2012

DuPont Seeks New Bids for Car Paint Unit

Chemical maker DuPont has asked private equity bidders to team up and make new offers for its car paint business after initial bids fell short of expectations, according to people familiar with the matter.
New bids for the business, which could be worth as much as $4 billion, are due on May 7, following management presentations to the buyout firms in recent weeks, according to two of the sources. more15.03.2012

DuPont Sees Protein Demand Lifting Soy Sales

DuPont says it expects soy supplements to fuel much of the growth in its food ingredients business and for its products to help solve the widespread problem of weed tolerance to pesticides. more24.02.2012

BASF Defies Doomsters with Forecast for Growth

Germany's BASF, the world's largest chemical maker by sales, dismissed analyst forecasts its business would shrink this year, saying sales and earnings would rise, driven by an economic rebound in the second half led by emerging markets. more