included raising iron oxide pigmentcapacity here from 11,000 tonnes/y to15,000 tonnes/y. (See ‘Focus onPigments’, Dec 2001, 4).

At the time of the privatisation ofPrecheza in 1996, the company’sTiO2 capacity was 25,000 tonnes/y.This was raised to 28,000 tonnes/y inearly 1998. As part of a $35.8 Mexpansion programme, which alsoinvolved stepping up its sulfuric acidand iron oxide pigments capacity,Precheza increased its TiO2 capacityto 35,000 tonnes/y in 4Q 1999.Recently, Precheza declared that itsTiO2 capacity had been stepped up to40,000 tonnes/y. The long-term targetof 50,000 tonnes/y should be reachedin 2005. Up to 4000 tonnes/y of thatcapacity will be devoted to non-pigment grades.

European Chemical News, 9 Jun 2003, 78 (2056Czech Republic country profile), vi-viii

Germany: Bayer – optical brighteners

Bayer has increased its capacity formaking Blankophor opticalbrighteners at Leverkusen. Noabsolute capacity figures have beenrevealed, but the increase is reportedas 10%. About 95% of Bayer’s outputof optical brighteners is sold to paintand paper manufacturers. Thecompany has recently extended itsproduct range to include five newtetrasulfonic optical brighteners.

European Chemical News, 9 Jun 2003, 78 (2056), 12

Germany: Degussa – nanoparticulateoxides of Zn, Ce & In/Sn

Degussa Advanced Nanomaterials isa new business unit within theDegussa group. It has 20 employees.During the second half of this year, itwill begin producing several productsin nanoparticulate form at its Hanau-Wolfgang complex, just east ofFrankfurt. Initially, the product rangewill consist of nanoparticulate zincoxide, cerium oxide and mixedindium/tin oxides, for applications inoptics, electronics, paints and coatings.

European Rubber Journal, May 2003, 185 (5), 19

India: Aditya Birla – carbon black

Indian Rayon & Industries (IRI, part ofthe Aditya Birla group) is planning tospend Rup 600 M to double capacity

at one of its carbon black plants from40,000 tonnes/y to 80,000 tonnes/y.Initially, the local Indian newspapersreported that the plant involved wouldbe the Renukoot plant in Uttar Pradeshprovince. (See ‘Focus on Pigments’,Jun 2003, 5). However, ‘ECN’ statesthat the Rup 600 M investment anddoubling of plant capacity will actuallybe implemented at Gummidipoondi inTamil Nadu province. As a separatematter, Rup 130 M will be invested inthe modernisation of facilities at theRenukoot plant.

European Chemical News, 12 May 2003, 78 (2052), 22

Mexico: Great Lakes – antimonytrioxide pigments & flame retardants

In February 2003, Great LakesChemical Corp (GLCC) brought on-stream a fifth production line at itsReynosa antimony trioxide plant.increasing capacity here by 20%.Following the closure of thecompany’s plants at Newcastle(England) and Laredo (Texas),GLCC’s antimony trioxide productionwas centralised at Reynosa, whichnow has ISO-9001 certification.Pigments and flame retardantsproduced here are marketed underthe brandnames TMS, Timonox,Trutint and Microfine.

GLCC is the leading supplier ofantimony trioxide in the world, thoughit has a number of strong Chinesecompetitors. ‘CMR’ reports globaldemand for flame retardants in 2001at 1 M tonnes/y, valued at $2 bn.About 85% of the consumption offlame retardants was accounted for byapplications in plastics. Antimonytrioxide is estimated to have a 16%share of the flame retardant marketfor plastics. This would correspond toabout 136,000 tonnes/y of antimonytrioxide being consumed by theplastics industry. Overall growth inworld antimony trioxide demand isforecast at 3%/y.

Chemical Market Reporter, 26 May 2003 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemicaland Engineering News, 26 May 2003, 81 (21), 11

Nigeria: Azara – barytes

The Nigerian Government wants tostep up production at the Azarabarytes mine in the Nasarawa region.Reserves here are estimated at730,000 tonnes, but production is

currently of the order of only 5000tonnes/y. Nigeria currently importssubstantial quantities of barytes,mainly for use as drilling muds in theoil industry. To encourage developmentof the Azara mine, the Governmentmay consider banning barytes imports.

Industrial Minerals, May 2003, (428), 62

Russia: Amtel – carbon black

Amtel, one of the country’s largesttyre producers, has consolidated itscontrol of Tehuglerod (of Volgograd),one of the country’s largest carbonblack producers. Amtel already owned63% of the shares in Tehuglerod andin March 2003 it acquired a further30% block of shares from UralskayaSyrevaya Kompaniya (USK). TheVologograd plant can produce up to204,000 tonnes/y, but production hasbeen well below capacity in recentmonths. Amtel is keen to raise theoperating rate and to reduce unitcosts at the Volgograd carbon blackplant. Meanwhile, USK has retainedthe contract to supply anthracene tothe plant.

Kommersant, 2 Apr 2003, (56), 16 (in Russian)

Russia: Huber & International Paper –precipitated calcium carbonate

Huber Engineered Materials andInternational Paper will jointlyconstruct a new precipitated calciumcarbonate (PCC) plant at theSvetogorsk paper mill now operatedby International Paper. The PCC plantshould be up and running in 2Q 2004.Its capacity has not been revealed,but the paper mill is known to beproducing 250,000 tonnes/y of finepapers. Huber already operates PCCplants in Canada, Finland, France,Portugal, Sweden and the US.

Chemical Market Reporter, 9 Jun 2003 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)

Spain: Cabot – carbon black

Cabot Corp (of Billerica, MA) hasdecided to close its 60,000 tonnes/ycarbon black plant at Zierbena, nearBilbao, in northern Spain. The closurewill probably be implemented duringAutumn 2003. It will result in the lossof about 90 jobs here. The closure willalso mean a 3% reduction in the

JULY 2003 5

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