comment can do so ateuropa.eu.int/yourvoice/consultations.REACH is currently top of the list ofopen consultations and clicking on‘More Information’ provides access toan interactive form as well asbackground information.

Caroline Edser

RAWMATERIALS

Linear alkylbenzene/n-paraffins

Nippon Petrochemicals adds LABcapacity

A new plant is to be built by NipponPetrochemicals at Kawasaki in Japanthat will increase capacity for linearalkylbenzene (LAB) by 90,000tonnes/y to 200,000 tonnes/y. Theplant is due for completion in Jul2004. High efficiency technology is tobe installed at a 40,000 tonnes/y LABplant at the site.

Chemical Week, 23 Apr 2003, 165 (15), 15

Iciic delays n-paraffin, LAB start-ups

Start up of Iran Chemical IndustriesInvestment Co’s (Iciic) expanded n-paraffins and LAB plants at Esfahan,Iran, has been delayed until end-Jul2003. The LAB plant will beexpanded from 50,000 to 75,000tonnes/y and the n-paraffins plantfrom 45,000 to 145,000 tonnes/y.About 70,000 tonnes/y n-paraffinswould be available for export.

Asian Chemical News, 28 Apr 2003, 9 (399), 32

Echem wins funding for LAB project

The US Trade & DevelopmentAgency (TDA) has awarded theEgyptian Petrochemical HoldingCompany (Echem) $756,000 offunding for a feasibility study for an80,000 tonne/y LAB plant. The facilitywould be built in Egypt, raising thecountry’s LAB capacity to 130,000tonne/y. By 2006, Egyptian demandfor LAB is expected to be 70,000tonne/y (currently 50,000 tonne/y).Output from the new plant would be

destined for domestic and Europeanmarkets.

European Chemical News, 28 Apr 2003, 78 (2050), 30

Gulf Petro delays Yanbu LAB start-up

The start up of Gulf Petroproducts’100,000 tonnes/y n-paraffin and80,000 tonnes/y LAB project atYanbu, Saudi Arabia, has been putback from 1Q 2005 to 2Q 2005 due toprolonged negotiations overfeedstock supply with Saudi Aramco.Gulf Petroproducts is a 50:50 jointventure of Tamilnadu Petroproductsand Saudi Offset Ltd Partnership.

Asian Chemical News, 21 Apr 2003, 398 (9), 20

Indian Government urged to reviewissue of customs duty on LAB

The PHD Chamber of Commerce andIndustry has urged the IndianGovernment to further reduce thecustoms duty on LAB from 25%(previously 30%; see ‘Focus’ Apr2003, 5) to 15%. The price of LAB inIndia has increased by about 45%since 2000 compared to 12% increasein global prices. The high import dutyon LAB has encouraged Indianmanufacturers of LAB to increaseprices. The Chamber believes the dutydifferential between raw materials andLAB is unreasonably vast.

Business Line, 12 Apr 2003, 10 (101), 4

Plans for paraffin unit

Ho Tung Chemical is to construct a130,000 tonnes/y normal-paraffinplant in Taichung, Taiwan. The plantwill be integrated with a 1.2 Mtonnes/y refinery. The plants arescheduled for completion in 2005-2006. The refinery project will cost$120 M.

Asian Chemical News, 7 Apr 2003, 9 (396), 21

Alpha-olefins

Q-Chem plans alpha-olefins plant inQatar

Joint venture partners ChevronPhillips Chemical Co and QatarPetroleum are planning a second jointproject to be located adjacent to theirexisting Qatar Chemical Co (Q-Chem) petrochemical complex. Thenew project, Q-Chem II, will see the

construction of new polyethylene andnormal alpha-olefins plants. Both willutilize the proprietary technology ofChevron Phillips Chemical and arelikely to commence operations in 2007.

Chemical Engineering World, Mar 2003, 38 (3), 22

Oleochemicals

Philippines: oleochemical industrystuck in a rut

The oleochemical sector in thePhilippines may face a crisis in thefuture as the supply of coconut oilfeedstocks declines. The country iscurrently one of the world’s largestproducers of coconut oil, butproduction is under threat fromurbanization and oleochemicalproducers face growing competitionfrom other applications. ThePhilippines produces 328,621tonnes/y of coconut oil and totalconsumption in the production ofoleochemicals, including glycerine,fatty acids and alcohols, is 32,000tonnes/y. The Philippines’ fatty acidproduction capacity is put at 130,000tonnes/y. The oleochemical sectorexpects increasing amounts ofcoconut oil to be used by the foodindustry, where demand has beensteadily growing. There have beencalls for the country to developproduction of palm oil for food uses,to free up coconut oil foroleochemicals.

Asian Chemical News, 5 May 2003, 9 (400), 20-21

Palm oil trade on the net

From Jun 2003, palm oil andderivatives can be bought and soldon the internet through the Malaysian-based portal www.oilpalmworld.com.The portal aims to link all players inthe supply chain, including rawmaterial manufacturers, refiners,traders and shipping companies,speeding up business, increasingtransparency and reducing costs.

Oils & Fats International, May 2003, 19 (3), 3

CPO prices may hit Ringgit 1600 by 2Q2003

Crude palm oil (CPO) pricesdecreased from Ringgit 1500/tonne toRinggit 1400/tonne at the start of theIraq war, but by mid April have

2 JUNE 2003

F O C U S O N S U R FA C T A N T S