Company Dynamic

BASF SE is set to discontinue the production of extruded polystyrene (XPS) at its Schwarzheide location in Germany, due to overcapacity and low margins, the German chemicals company announced July 24.

• BASF

Nova Chemicals Corporation (Nova Chemicals) said that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Williams Partners LP’s (Williams) 88.46 percent ownership interest in the Geismar, Louisiana olefins plant.

• Nova

Canpotex, a short for Canadian Potash Exporters confirmed that it has signed new potash supply contracts with its Chinese customers for shipments of 1.4 million metric tonnes (MT) through to the end of 2017.

• Canpotex

Saudi Arabia’s efforts to shore up global oil prices ahead of the planned listing of Saudi Aramco was met with a shrug from the markets as traders kept their eyes on US shale.

• Saudi
• Oil

BASF SE said that by the end of 2017, it will concentrate on production of XPS boards (extruded polystyrene) at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

• BASF

Covestro (India) Pvt Ltd along with Vivunes, an organisation based at Chennai focused on green energy, has successfully helped an entire community of 70 farmers in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri find an additional source of revenue.

• Covestro

Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd (SSYS) has been chosen by Airbus to produce 3D printed polymer parts for use on A350 XWB aircraft.

• Stratasys

Merck KGaA has opened its new application laboratory for the performance materials business sector in Shanghai, China.

• Merck

RPM International Inc(RPM) said that it has acquired Key Resin Company, a manufacturer of polymer flooring and coating systems.

• RPM

LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB) announced that Liaoning Bora Petrochemical Co Ltd has selected LyondellBasell’s world leading polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) technologies for three new plants.

• LyondellBasell

Bajaj Auto will revamp its seven-model portfolio over the next half year, as managing director Rajiv Bajaj charts an aggressive plan to bump up the company's share in the local motorcycle market beyond the quarter mark.

• Bajaj
• Auto

China’s brand Urban Revivo will open a store in the UK in March 2018. Spread over 22,000 sq ft unit this will be the Chinese fast fashion retailer’s first store outside the country. It currently operates 160 shops, mainly in China.

• China
• Urban
• Revivo

Michelin has chosen Havas Media as its global media agency of record after a competitive review, the French tire company announced today.

• Michelin

Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem is adjusting domestic pricing for two grades of high-density polyethylene, while rolling over prices for all other grades of PE and polypropylene, a company source said Friday.

• Braskem
• HDPE

Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd. is acquiring a 24.9% stake in leading content provider Balaji Telefilms for $64.2 million, part of Reliance’s push into the entertainment sector.

• Reliance
• Balaji
• Telefilms

MOL Group has entered into key contracts related to core technologies of the Polyol Project, which was announced in 2016 as part of the first investment cycle of the MOL 2030 long-term strategy.

• MOL
• Evonik

Double Coin Holdings’ parent has completed construction of its $285 million tire plant in Rayong and begun ramping up production of truck, bus, industrial and OTR tires.

• Double
• Coin
• Tire

With tax season on the horizon, Neucel Specialty Cellulose is a hot topic of debate on the North Island.

• Tax
• Neucel

Univar BV, a subsidiary of Univar Inc., has extended its exclusive agreement in Italy with Hallstar to include five additional countries: Spain, Portugal, Greece, France and Benelux.

• Univar
• Hallstar

Vietnam's Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC (NSRP), the owner of the country's second oil refinery, has chartered a supertanker to carry crude from Kuwait in a sign that the behind-schedule project may soon begin startup operations.

• Import
• Vietnam