Chemical Industry Weekly News Round-Up, Mar. 30

 

At the IHS World Petrochemical Conference, held this week in Houston, Gary Adams, chief advisor for IHS Chemical, told attendees that global basic chemicals demand should reach 1 billion m.t. by 2020. Meanwhile, as the shale gas boom in North America remakes ethylene markets around the world, producers worry about managing the boom’s risks and getting products to market.

 

H.C. Starck reported a 90% increase in Ebitda for full-year 2011, as the company’s private equity owners are reportedly considering an IPO.

 

LyondellBasell’s credit rating was raised to investment-grade by Standard & Poor’s after the company refinanced $3 billion in debt at lower interest rates.

 

PetroChina’s chemicals and refining business swung to a loss for full-year 2011, though sales were up nearly 28%.

 

 

A Senator makes the case that China’s rare earths export restrictions must end, in The Hill.

 

The U.S. economic recovery could be stronger than it looks, if one measurement is accurate, in Business Week.

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