has been agreed by Daiichi KogyoSeiyaku and BASF Japan. DaiichiKogyo Seiyaku will manufacture andmarket in Japan BASF’s Lutensolnon-ionic surfactant.

Japan Chemical Week, 27 Feb 2003, 44 (2210), 2

ASSOCIATEDPRODUCTS

Phosphates

Singapore firm buys Rhodia’s stake inA&W Australia

Rhodia’s 50% stake in its Albright &Wilson Australia Ltd (AWAL) jointventure has been acquired byUniversal Interchemical (UIC) for anundisclosed amount. UIC, part ofIndonesian group PT Unggul IndahCahaya Tbk, is now AWAL’s soleowner. With sales of A$23 M/y AWALproduces phosphoric acid andphosphates at Yarraville (Melbourne)and surfactants at Wetherill Park(Sydney). AWAL was set up in 1939.

Chemical Week, 26 Feb 2003, 165 (8), 6 & ChimieHebdo, 3 Mar 2003, (204), 10 (in French)

Kazakhstan phosphate producer buysThermphos

Thermphos International has beenacquired by a group of privateinvestors from Kazakhstan led by NGalmor the owner of KazphosphateLLC, a producer of phosphate rockand phosphorus derivatives. €300M/y Thermphos is a leading producerof phosphorus derivatives andemploys 900 in Germany, France, theNetherlands, Argentina and China. Itis now Europe’s sole producer ofelemental phosphorus, with capacityof 80,000 tonnes/y at Vlissingen, theNetherlands. It also has a large STPPbusiness. Thermphos has overallphosphoric acid capacity of 150 000tonnes/y. In 2002 it acquired Atofina’sphosphorus chloride, phosphorusanhydride and polyphosphoric acidsoperations. Kazphosphate ownsphosphate mines in Kazakhstan andhas four elemental phosphorusproduction furnaces with overallcapacity of 80,000-100,000 tonnes/y.

It also makes fertilizers, detergentsand STPP and employs 8000.Kazphosphate currently has sales of$50 M/y. Thermphos technology andexpertise will be used to expand theproduction and sales of Kazphosphate.

Chemical Week, 19 Feb 2003, 165 (7), 16 & ChemicalMarket Reporter, 17 Feb 2003, (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & ChimieHebdo, 24 Feb 2003, (203), 11 (in French)

China to ban use of phosphatedetergents

The use of phosphate detergents hasalready been prohibited in severalChinese cities, after studies show thatroughly 50% of phosphorus found indomestic waste water comes fromcleaning compounds such asdetergents. The country hopes tocompletely ban the substance by 2005.

HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb2003, 40 (2), 24

Enzymes

Novozymes posts lower sales indetergents

Novozymes A/S recorded a 4% fall insales to the detergents sector in 2002to DKR 2 bn. Total group sales rose7% to DKR 5.6 bn and operatingprofits rose 5% to DKR 947 M. Thefall in the sales of detergent enzymeswas due to lower exchange rates andcost-cutting by larger customers.

Chemical Market Reporter, 10 Feb 2003 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)

Per-oxygencompounds

Borates: Capacity crunch time

Turkey has borates reserves ofapproximately 150 M tonnes, whichaccounts for approximately 32% ofthe total global reserve base andpossibly 40% of the global marketshare. Major producers include RioTinto Borax and Eti Holding AS, whohave a combined global market shareof approximately 80%. Rio Tinto Boraxproduces more than 1 M tonnes/y ofrefined borates and supplies morethan 50% of the global demand. Thefirm intends to spend $2.6 M to builda new boric acid facility near its CampoQuijano site in Salta, Argentina. The

facility will be on stream in 2003.Consumption by glass producersaccounts for approximately 41% ofthe global market and the detergentsector for 16%.

Industrial Minerals, Mar 2003, (426), 41-42,45-46

APPLICATIONS

Household

P&G assesses US detergents expansion

Procter & Gamble has started tostudy the feasibility of expanding itsdetergent plant in Pineville, LA, USA,with an investment of $125 M. Itcurrently makes powder detergentsand is planning to add liquiddetergents, starting up in mid 2005.

European Chemical News, 3 Mar 2003, 78 (2042), 27

Domal and Wittol merge activities

East German household chemicalsmanufacturers Domal GmbH inStadtilm and Wittol Chemie GmbH inLutherstadt Wittenberg merged intothe new company Domal-WittolWasch- und Reinigungsmittel GmbH.The companies have a combinedworkforce of 140 and achieved aturnover of €45 M in 2002 with anexport rate of around 20%. Domalmanufactures liquid washingdetergents and achieved a 20% risein turnover to €38 M in 2002.

Chemische Rundschau, 11 Feb 2003, 56 (3), 11 (inGerman)

Great Lakes expands consumerproducts portfolio with acquisition ofLime-O-Sol

Great Lakes Chemical Corp’s BioLabInc subsidiary has acquired the Lime-O-Sol Co, including its brand ofspeciality household cleaningproducts marketed under the tradename The Works. Based on 2002results, the Lime-O-Sol acquisitionwill add in excess of $40 M/y inrevenues, and is expected to beaccretive to earnings in 2003.

Press release from: Great Lakes Chemical Corp, POBox 2200, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA, Tel: +1 765497 6218, Website: http://www.greatlakeschem.com(28 Feb 2003)

APRIL 2003 3

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