Hungary to rely on exports for chemicals recovery

BorsodChem, TVK, MOL and others are in for a tough 2010 as a new report suggests there will be no recovery before 2011. Hungary's chemical industry has suffered from plummeting domestic demand as well as falling demand from export countries, particularly Germany.

See the full story here http://www.icis.com/blogs/east-european-chemicals/2010/04/hungary-to-rely-on-exports-for-chemicals-recovery.html

Nord Stream pipeline will benefit chemical producers

Construction of the E8.8bn Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russia into Germany officially began last week. This should be good news for European chemical manufacturers who rely on natural gas as a feedstock, or for those planning to introduce more flexible feedstocks to their manufacturing capability. For the full entry click here http://www.icis.com/blogs/east-european-chemicals/2010/04/nord-stream-pipeline-will-benefit-chemical-producers.html

DuPont cooperates in Hungary

Hungarian paint company Poli-Farbe and US-headquartered chemicals giant DuPont will put a jointly developed family of paint products on the market in the framework of a licensing contract, according to the Budapest Business Journal.

Click here for the full story http://www.icis.com/blogs/east-european-chemicals/2010/04/dupont-cooperates-in-hungary.html

Poland chemical privatization firm ZChP still waiting for bailout

Poland's largest nitrogen phosphorus potassium (NPK) fertilizer producer, Zaklady Chemiczne Police, is still waiting for a zloty (Zl) 150m ($51.4m, €38.7m) state bail out to be approved by the European Commission. Follow this link for the full story

Brenntag highlights antitrust in IPO prospectus

In its recently published IPO prospectus, German chemical group Brenntag raises the prospect of "substantial fines" and the forced divestment of assets at below market prices if it is found to be in violation of antitrust rules.
Click here to read the full article http://www.icis.com/blogs/east-european-chemicals/2010/03/brenntag-highlights-antitrust-fines-in-ipo-prospectus.html

Hellenic Petroleum petrochemical assets could be for sale

Burdened by at least $406bn in national debt, Greece is now considering the sale of many assets, including its 35.5% stake in Hellenic Petroleum which produces chemicals including MTBE, caustic soda, chlorine and PVC at its main Thessaloniki plant.
Follow this link for the full story http://www.icis.com/blogs/east-european-chemicals/2010/03/hellenic-petroleum-petrochemical-assets-could-be-for-sale.html

Univar pushes into Romania and Russia

Univar plans to expand into Romania and Russia in the coming years as part of a growth strategy in central and eastern Europe (CEE), the global chemical distributor told my colleague, Elaine Burridge, today.
Follow this link to see the full story: http://www.icis.com/blogs/east-european-chemicals/2010/03/univar-pushes-into-romania-and-russia.html