search
attachments
weblink
advanced
Overview
Content Tools
Tasks
RELEASED ON 19/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Jilin Petrochemical is likely to shut its No.2 acrylonitrile (ACN) plant for a maintenance turnaround.
A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant is planned to be taken offstream in April 2013. It is expected to remain shut for around one month.
Located in Jilin city, the plant has a production capacity of 106,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
Jilin Petrochemical is likely to shut its No.2 acrylonitrile (ACN) plant for a maintenance turnaround.
A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant is planned to be taken offstream in April 2013. It is expected to remain shut for around one month.
Located in Jilin city, the plant has a production capacity of 106,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELEASED ON 20/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
SABIC has unexpectedly shut its 500,000 tonne/year SADAF No 2 styrene monomer (SM) unit at Jubail, Saudi Arabia, on 19 March, a market source said on Wednesday.
The specific reason for the shutdown and the exact restarting date for the unit is unavailable.
In light of the shutdown, SM prices have been pushed up and the contract cargoes for May delivery have been cancelled, the source added.
The prices are at $1,635-1,660/tonne (€1,275-1,295/tonne) CFR (cost & freight) China on 20 March, up by $10-15/tonne compared with $1,625-1,645/tonne on 19 March, according to ICIS.
The company shut its 550,000 tonne/year SADAF No 1 styrene monomer (SM) unit at the same site from early February for maintenance, which is expected to be restarted at the end of March, according to the market source.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
SABIC has unexpectedly shut its 500,000 tonne/year SADAF No 2 styrene monomer (SM) unit at Jubail, Saudi Arabia, on 19 March, a market source said on Wednesday.
The specific reason for the shutdown and the exact restarting date for the unit is unavailable.
In light of the shutdown, SM prices have been pushed up and the contract cargoes for May delivery have been cancelled, the source added.
The prices are at $1,635-1,660/tonne (€1,275-1,295/tonne) CFR (cost & freight) China on 20 March, up by $10-15/tonne compared with $1,625-1,645/tonne on 19 March, according to ICIS.
The company shut its 550,000 tonne/year SADAF No 1 styrene monomer (SM) unit at the same site from early February for maintenance, which is expected to be restarted at the end of March, according to the market source.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
RELEASED ON 19/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
SKC Corp. is likely to restart operations at its propylene oxide/styrene monomer (PO/SM) swing plant.
A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the plant will restart operations on March 28, 2013. It was shut for maintenance in early March 2013.
Located at Ulsan in South Korea, the swing plant has a production capacity of 175,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELATED STORIES
South Korea’s SKC Corp schedules PO/SM plant shutdowns in March
SKC Corp. is likely to restart operations at its propylene oxide/styrene monomer (PO/SM) swing plant.
A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the plant will restart operations on March 28, 2013. It was shut for maintenance in early March 2013.
Located at Ulsan in South Korea, the swing plant has a production capacity of 175,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELATED STORIES
South Korea’s SKC Corp schedules PO/SM plant shutdowns in March
RELEASED ON 19/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Nihon Oxirane Co. is likely to take its styrene monomer (SM) plant off-stream for maintenance turnaround.
A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant is likely to be shut in September 2013. It is expected to remain shut for around one month.
Located at Chiba in Japan, the SM plant has a production capacity of 420,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
Nihon Oxirane Co. is likely to take its styrene monomer (SM) plant off-stream for maintenance turnaround.
A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the plant is likely to be shut in September 2013. It is expected to remain shut for around one month.
Located at Chiba in Japan, the SM plant has a production capacity of 420,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELEASED ON 19/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
The tectonic plates already moving beneath the world’s pharmaceutical industry have shifted once more, with the announcement by AstraZeneca that it is ending R&D work at its famous research centre at Alderley Park in Cheshire in the north-west of England. The move is part of a redrawing of the company’s global research blueprint, which will now be centred on the creation of three ‘strategic R&D centres’ for small molecules and biologics, to be based in Cambridge in the UK, Gaithersburg in Maryland, US, and Mölndal in Sweden, to be completed by 2016.
Around 1600 workers will move from Alderley Park to a new purpose-built £330 million strategic R&D centre and global headquarters in Cambridge. R&D activity will no longer be carried out at Alderley Park, which for more than 50 years has been a hub of pharmaceutical research for AstraZeneca and its predecessor ICI.
The move will also affect AstraZeneca’s global headquarters in Paddington, London, where around 350 people work in commercial and corporate functions. Most of these roles will move to the new headquarters in Cambridge or to other sites. Overall, 700 jobs will be lost in the UK following the restructuring.
Gaithersburg is the site of the headquarters of MedImmune, acquired by AstraZeneca in 2007; it will host much of the company’s US-based global medicines development activities for small and large molecules. AstraZeneca’s site in Mölndal will continue to be a global centre for R&D, focusing on small molecules.
The changes, says AstraZeneca’s chief executive Pascal Soriot, are designed to reduce the company’s R&D ‘footprint’ to reduce complexity and costs. ‘The strategic centres will also allow us to tap into important bioscience hotspots providing more of our people with easy access to leading-edge academic and industry networks, scientific talent and valuable partnering opportunities,’ Soriot says. The restructuring will lead to a loss of some 1600 jobs globally and will cost around $1.4 billion (£927 million).
On the ropes
For the UK, the news comes as another blow to an already reeling pharmaceutical sector following the announcement in 2011 that Pfizer’s UK site in Sandwich was to close with the loss of more than 2000 jobs. AstraZeneca itself announced in 2007 that it was to shed 11% of its workforce globally – 7600 people – with a further 7300 job cuts announced in 2012.
The loss of jobs in the north-west of England has been greeted with dismay. ‘It is another major sign telling us that the drug discovery sector is rapidly reshaping and contracting,’ said Robert Parker, chief executive of the RSC. ‘To our regret, it cuts many jobs, causing insecurity and disruption amongst those people affected. At the same time, however, it points the way to a possible future shape of the British pharmaceutical industry, which has been experiencing so much erosion in the past few years. For the sake of the industry in Britain, and the people still working in it, we have now to adapt, in order that the country retains its leadership in the field.’ The RSC will offer careers advice and guidance to any of its members that are affected by the closure of the Alderley Park centre.
David Willetts, the UK government’s minister for universities and science, welcomed the decision of AstraZeneca to invest in a new multi-million pound centre in Cambridge as ‘a real vote of confidence in the UK life sciences sector’. Willetts added: ‘Clearly the decision to reduce R&D activity at Alderley Park is disappointing. But the government will work closely with AstraZeneca and local partners to ensure this excellent facility has a prosperous future with new opportunities for the site.’
SOURCE Chemistry World
The tectonic plates already moving beneath the world’s pharmaceutical industry have shifted once more, with the announcement by AstraZeneca that it is ending R&D work at its famous research centre at Alderley Park in Cheshire in the north-west of England. The move is part of a redrawing of the company’s global research blueprint, which will now be centred on the creation of three ‘strategic R&D centres’ for small molecules and biologics, to be based in Cambridge in the UK, Gaithersburg in Maryland, US, and Mölndal in Sweden, to be completed by 2016.
Around 1600 workers will move from Alderley Park to a new purpose-built £330 million strategic R&D centre and global headquarters in Cambridge. R&D activity will no longer be carried out at Alderley Park, which for more than 50 years has been a hub of pharmaceutical research for AstraZeneca and its predecessor ICI.
The move will also affect AstraZeneca’s global headquarters in Paddington, London, where around 350 people work in commercial and corporate functions. Most of these roles will move to the new headquarters in Cambridge or to other sites. Overall, 700 jobs will be lost in the UK following the restructuring.
Gaithersburg is the site of the headquarters of MedImmune, acquired by AstraZeneca in 2007; it will host much of the company’s US-based global medicines development activities for small and large molecules. AstraZeneca’s site in Mölndal will continue to be a global centre for R&D, focusing on small molecules.
The changes, says AstraZeneca’s chief executive Pascal Soriot, are designed to reduce the company’s R&D ‘footprint’ to reduce complexity and costs. ‘The strategic centres will also allow us to tap into important bioscience hotspots providing more of our people with easy access to leading-edge academic and industry networks, scientific talent and valuable partnering opportunities,’ Soriot says. The restructuring will lead to a loss of some 1600 jobs globally and will cost around $1.4 billion (£927 million).
On the ropes
For the UK, the news comes as another blow to an already reeling pharmaceutical sector following the announcement in 2011 that Pfizer’s UK site in Sandwich was to close with the loss of more than 2000 jobs. AstraZeneca itself announced in 2007 that it was to shed 11% of its workforce globally – 7600 people – with a further 7300 job cuts announced in 2012.
The loss of jobs in the north-west of England has been greeted with dismay. ‘It is another major sign telling us that the drug discovery sector is rapidly reshaping and contracting,’ said Robert Parker, chief executive of the RSC. ‘To our regret, it cuts many jobs, causing insecurity and disruption amongst those people affected. At the same time, however, it points the way to a possible future shape of the British pharmaceutical industry, which has been experiencing so much erosion in the past few years. For the sake of the industry in Britain, and the people still working in it, we have now to adapt, in order that the country retains its leadership in the field.’ The RSC will offer careers advice and guidance to any of its members that are affected by the closure of the Alderley Park centre.
David Willetts, the UK government’s minister for universities and science, welcomed the decision of AstraZeneca to invest in a new multi-million pound centre in Cambridge as ‘a real vote of confidence in the UK life sciences sector’. Willetts added: ‘Clearly the decision to reduce R&D activity at Alderley Park is disappointing. But the government will work closely with AstraZeneca and local partners to ensure this excellent facility has a prosperous future with new opportunities for the site.’
SOURCE Chemistry World
RELEASED ON 19/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Asian Acetyls Co (Asacco) has shut a vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) plant for maintenance.
A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the plant was shut on March 18, 2013 for maintenance turnaround. The plant is expected to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located in Ulsan, South Korea, the plant has a capacity of 205,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
Asian Acetyls Co (Asacco) has shut a vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) plant for maintenance.
A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the plant was shut on March 18, 2013 for maintenance turnaround. The plant is expected to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located in Ulsan, South Korea, the plant has a capacity of 205,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELEASED ON 19/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Sinopec Anqing Company is in plans to take its acrylonitrile plants off-stream for maintenance.
A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plants will be taken off-stream in April 2013. The plants are expected to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located in Anqing, China, the plants have production capacities of 130,000 mt/year and 80,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
Sinopec Anqing Company is in plans to take its acrylonitrile plants off-stream for maintenance.
A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plants will be taken off-stream in April 2013. The plants are expected to remain off-stream for around one month.
Located in Anqing, China, the plants have production capacities of 130,000 mt/year and 80,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Polymer Update
RELEASED ON 18/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
In 2008, Toyota established a research division to work on “revolutionary batteries.” The company's work on a breakthrough battery dates back all the way to 1925, when Sakichi Toyoda reportedly set out a (yet-to-be-claimed) prize of 1 million yen for the invention of a storage battery that would produce more energy than gasoline. Last week, Automotive News reported that Toyota claims it will commercialize solid state batteries "around 2020," nearly a century after the challenge was established.
Shigeki Suzuki, Toyota's managing officer for material engineering, said solid state batteries will be up to four times more powerful than today's lithium ion batteries. He also said that lithium-air batteries, that will soon follow solid state technology, will be five times as powerful.
"Next-generation battery cells need to exceed the energy density in lithium ion batteries significantly," Suzuki said. "We've been accelerating our development of those next-generation batteries technologies since 2010." As in 1925, the ultimate goal is to develop a battery technology that has comparable energy density to gasoline. Suzuki said today's lithium ion batteries only offer about one-fifth the energy density of gasoline. Solid state batteries are praised for their stability and durability.
Suzuki didn't lay out Toyota's specific milestones on the path to commercializing a breakthrough battery. Meanwhile, the company continues to focus primarily on conventional hybrids, and to a lesser degree, the plug-in version of the Prius. Its pure electric cars are produced in very limited numbers. The Toyota RAV4 EV is sold only in California.
SOURCE http://www.plugincars.com
In 2008, Toyota established a research division to work on “revolutionary batteries.” The company's work on a breakthrough battery dates back all the way to 1925, when Sakichi Toyoda reportedly set out a (yet-to-be-claimed) prize of 1 million yen for the invention of a storage battery that would produce more energy than gasoline. Last week, Automotive News reported that Toyota claims it will commercialize solid state batteries "around 2020," nearly a century after the challenge was established.
Shigeki Suzuki, Toyota's managing officer for material engineering, said solid state batteries will be up to four times more powerful than today's lithium ion batteries. He also said that lithium-air batteries, that will soon follow solid state technology, will be five times as powerful.
"Next-generation battery cells need to exceed the energy density in lithium ion batteries significantly," Suzuki said. "We've been accelerating our development of those next-generation batteries technologies since 2010." As in 1925, the ultimate goal is to develop a battery technology that has comparable energy density to gasoline. Suzuki said today's lithium ion batteries only offer about one-fifth the energy density of gasoline. Solid state batteries are praised for their stability and durability.
Suzuki didn't lay out Toyota's specific milestones on the path to commercializing a breakthrough battery. Meanwhile, the company continues to focus primarily on conventional hybrids, and to a lesser degree, the plug-in version of the Prius. Its pure electric cars are produced in very limited numbers. The Toyota RAV4 EV is sold only in California.
SOURCE http://www.plugincars.com
RELEASED ON 18/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Monday introduced its new electric vehicle e2o, in a bid to expand into the hybrid vehicle segment that the government is trying to boost though investments and tax breaks.
The four-seater hatchback powered by a lithium ion battery is priced at 596,000 rupees ($11,002) at showrooms in Delhi. It replaces Mahindra's previous electric vehicle model, a two-seater called REVAi
Electric or hybrid vehicles aren't popular in India due to lack of infrastructure and inadequate investment. But the government is trying to change that.
Over the next five to six years, India plans to spend up to 138.50 billion rupees to boost the market for electric cars and plans to have about five million to six million of such vehicles--which includes two-wheelers, three-wheelers and small trucks apart from passenger cars--on the road.
The government in its latest budget said lithium ion batteries, used by car manufacturers for electric vehicles, will be exempt from customs duty. The government also extended by two years the tax exemption on some spare parts of electric vehicles.
Currently Toyota Motor Corp. sells the Prius hybrid sedan in India. A few years back Honda Motor Co. launched a hybrid version of its Civic sedan, but stopped manufacturing it soon after.
Mahindra is introducing the car at a time when high fuel prices is one of the key reasons for denting demand for cars in India, sales of which are expected to decline this year for the fist time in more than a decade.
The e2o is automated, can be charged on a household 15A power socket and can be driven more than 100 kilometers in one charge, the company said.
SOURCE Dow Jones Global Equities News
Monday introduced its new electric vehicle e2o, in a bid to expand into the hybrid vehicle segment that the government is trying to boost though investments and tax breaks.
The four-seater hatchback powered by a lithium ion battery is priced at 596,000 rupees ($11,002) at showrooms in Delhi. It replaces Mahindra's previous electric vehicle model, a two-seater called REVAi
Electric or hybrid vehicles aren't popular in India due to lack of infrastructure and inadequate investment. But the government is trying to change that.
Over the next five to six years, India plans to spend up to 138.50 billion rupees to boost the market for electric cars and plans to have about five million to six million of such vehicles--which includes two-wheelers, three-wheelers and small trucks apart from passenger cars--on the road.
The government in its latest budget said lithium ion batteries, used by car manufacturers for electric vehicles, will be exempt from customs duty. The government also extended by two years the tax exemption on some spare parts of electric vehicles.
Currently Toyota Motor Corp. sells the Prius hybrid sedan in India. A few years back Honda Motor Co. launched a hybrid version of its Civic sedan, but stopped manufacturing it soon after.
Mahindra is introducing the car at a time when high fuel prices is one of the key reasons for denting demand for cars in India, sales of which are expected to decline this year for the fist time in more than a decade.
The e2o is automated, can be charged on a household 15A power socket and can be driven more than 100 kilometers in one charge, the company said.
SOURCE Dow Jones Global Equities News
RELEASED ON 19/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Novozymes A/S, the world’s largest industrial enzymes maker, will increase research and development spending on products aimed at boosting sales to the agriculture and biofuel industries, the company’s next chief said.
Novozymes now has 10 percent of the $1 billion global bioagriculture market, selling microorganisms that improve crop yields or act like pesticides, according to Peder Holk Nielsen, who on April 1 takes the job of chief executive officer from retiring Steen Riisgaard.
“The way to get more is to understand how microorganisms interact with plants and signal to each other,” Holk Nielsen said yesterday in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Bagsvaerd, Denmark. “The company that understands that first stands to really develop and innovate new products that will do better. And that’s all about research and development.”
Novozymes spent 1.53 billion kroner ($270 million) on R&D last year, or 14 percent of its revenue. It holds 47 percent of the global market for industrial enzymes, with DuPont Co. its closest competitor at 21 percent, according to Holk Nielsen. Wilmington, Delaware-based DuPont spent $2.1 billion on R&D in 2012, or 5.9 percent of its revenue, according to its full-year report.
Novozymes in November bought Natural Industries Inc., a U.S. company selling microorganisms that fight diseases in fruits and vegetables. While not ruling out buying more competitors, the 56 year-old executive said the company will bet on research advancements.
Wood Chips
“There’s been so much M&A in this field recently and prices are pretty steep, so it’s more likely that we’ll give it a blast in trying to understand these things and organically develop the proper opportunities,” he said.
Research advancements are also needed to reduce the cost of making cellulosic ethanol, a fuel derived from waste, wood chips and inedible crops and which is more expensive than conventional ethanol made from corn.
“When you look at cellulosic fuel and biomass conversion, that world can go really big,” Holk Nielsen said. “It can really transform the industrial enzyme business.”
The first plant to produce cellulosic ethanol on a commercial scale at a price competitive with corn ethanol and gasoline will be Beta Renewables SpA’s factory in Crescentino, Italy, this year, he said. Novozymes owns 10 percent of Beta Renewables.
‘More Generations’
“There’s at least a couple more generations of enzymes that we know will improve it further,” Holk Nielsen said. “We have the best enzymes technology and we can build production capacity as quickly as the industry can build plants.”
Novozymes expects to supply advanced enzymes to 20 to 25 cellulosic ethanol plants in the period 2015-2017, he said.
As for conventional corn ethanol, the company sees no growth in the U.S. market this year, followed by “a bit of growth” in the next two years, Holk Nielsen said. Novozymes has 60 percent of the market for ethanol enzymes, he said.
“The majority of the growth in our business is going to come by offering better enzymes solutions that can get more ethanol per bushel of corn,” he said.
SOURCE bloomberg.com
Novozymes A/S, the world’s largest industrial enzymes maker, will increase research and development spending on products aimed at boosting sales to the agriculture and biofuel industries, the company’s next chief said.
Novozymes now has 10 percent of the $1 billion global bioagriculture market, selling microorganisms that improve crop yields or act like pesticides, according to Peder Holk Nielsen, who on April 1 takes the job of chief executive officer from retiring Steen Riisgaard.
“The way to get more is to understand how microorganisms interact with plants and signal to each other,” Holk Nielsen said yesterday in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Bagsvaerd, Denmark. “The company that understands that first stands to really develop and innovate new products that will do better. And that’s all about research and development.”
Novozymes spent 1.53 billion kroner ($270 million) on R&D last year, or 14 percent of its revenue. It holds 47 percent of the global market for industrial enzymes, with DuPont Co. its closest competitor at 21 percent, according to Holk Nielsen. Wilmington, Delaware-based DuPont spent $2.1 billion on R&D in 2012, or 5.9 percent of its revenue, according to its full-year report.
Novozymes in November bought Natural Industries Inc., a U.S. company selling microorganisms that fight diseases in fruits and vegetables. While not ruling out buying more competitors, the 56 year-old executive said the company will bet on research advancements.
Wood Chips
“There’s been so much M&A in this field recently and prices are pretty steep, so it’s more likely that we’ll give it a blast in trying to understand these things and organically develop the proper opportunities,” he said.
Research advancements are also needed to reduce the cost of making cellulosic ethanol, a fuel derived from waste, wood chips and inedible crops and which is more expensive than conventional ethanol made from corn.
“When you look at cellulosic fuel and biomass conversion, that world can go really big,” Holk Nielsen said. “It can really transform the industrial enzyme business.”
The first plant to produce cellulosic ethanol on a commercial scale at a price competitive with corn ethanol and gasoline will be Beta Renewables SpA’s factory in Crescentino, Italy, this year, he said. Novozymes owns 10 percent of Beta Renewables.
‘More Generations’
“There’s at least a couple more generations of enzymes that we know will improve it further,” Holk Nielsen said. “We have the best enzymes technology and we can build production capacity as quickly as the industry can build plants.”
Novozymes expects to supply advanced enzymes to 20 to 25 cellulosic ethanol plants in the period 2015-2017, he said.
As for conventional corn ethanol, the company sees no growth in the U.S. market this year, followed by “a bit of growth” in the next two years, Holk Nielsen said. Novozymes has 60 percent of the market for ethanol enzymes, he said.
“The majority of the growth in our business is going to come by offering better enzymes solutions that can get more ethanol per bushel of corn,” he said.
SOURCE bloomberg.com
RELEASED ON 18/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Syngenta has announced progress in development of a new herbicide tolerant trait for soybeans. The MGI herbicide tolerance is under co-development with Bayer CropScience for soybeans and will provide tolerance by soybeans to three active ingredients.
“The MGI refers to the herbicides it provides tolerance against,” said Rex Wichert, head, soybean portfolio, Syngenta. The soybean plants will be resistant to mesotrione, glufosinate and isoxaflutole active ingredients. All three of these actives have been used in corn herbicide programs, mesotrione in Callisto; isoxaflutole in Balance Flexx; and glufosinate in Liberty herbicide for production of LibertyLink corn and soybeans.
The MGI trait is schedule to be commercially available in soybeans during the latter half of this decade.
Syngenta noted working with Bayer CropScience will produce soybeans tolerant to two manufacturers’ products and the potential for being applied pre-emergence to post-emergence while also providing residual weed control.
“The importance of this is the powerful residual provided to growers for use in soybeans. It will be a step change compared to products that growers can use today,” said Wichert.
Residual control when applied throughout the pre-emerge to post-emerge timing will give growers’ the best chance possible to maximize yield potential and advance soybean yield averages, contends Syngenta.
The company is vowing to do everything possible to steward the new MGI trait by keeping farmers from destroying the vulnerability of weeds to this new trait. Syngenta and Bayer CropScience must maintain the long-term viability of herbicides used in conjunction with the MGI trait, while also continuing to have proven effectiveness of these herbicides for use in corn production, too.
SOURCE Agprofessional.com
Syngenta has announced progress in development of a new herbicide tolerant trait for soybeans. The MGI herbicide tolerance is under co-development with Bayer CropScience for soybeans and will provide tolerance by soybeans to three active ingredients.
“The MGI refers to the herbicides it provides tolerance against,” said Rex Wichert, head, soybean portfolio, Syngenta. The soybean plants will be resistant to mesotrione, glufosinate and isoxaflutole active ingredients. All three of these actives have been used in corn herbicide programs, mesotrione in Callisto; isoxaflutole in Balance Flexx; and glufosinate in Liberty herbicide for production of LibertyLink corn and soybeans.
The MGI trait is schedule to be commercially available in soybeans during the latter half of this decade.
Syngenta noted working with Bayer CropScience will produce soybeans tolerant to two manufacturers’ products and the potential for being applied pre-emergence to post-emergence while also providing residual weed control.
“The importance of this is the powerful residual provided to growers for use in soybeans. It will be a step change compared to products that growers can use today,” said Wichert.
Residual control when applied throughout the pre-emerge to post-emerge timing will give growers’ the best chance possible to maximize yield potential and advance soybean yield averages, contends Syngenta.
The company is vowing to do everything possible to steward the new MGI trait by keeping farmers from destroying the vulnerability of weeds to this new trait. Syngenta and Bayer CropScience must maintain the long-term viability of herbicides used in conjunction with the MGI trait, while also continuing to have proven effectiveness of these herbicides for use in corn production, too.
SOURCE Agprofessional.com
RELEASED ON 18/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
The event is taking place in the Netherlands (the world’s second largest agricultural exporter) between the 29th and 30th of October at the Amsterdam RAI. Four vertical-specific, modular conferences will take place over two-days examining the regulatory and industry implications across ‘water and irrigation’, ‘crop science’, ‘supply chain’, and ‘R&D’.
The annual agricultural industry event run by UBM Live, will focus exclusively on helping the industry to innovate - through its ‘planting the seeds of innovation’ campaign. The new approach reflects macro-economic factors and follows the commissioning of extensive research and the results of recommendations taken from the leaders of the world’s largest crop producers and influential bodies – including Bayer Crop Sciences, DuPont Crop Protection, Unilever, Lindsay Irrigation and the Food and Environment Research Agency.
The independently commissioned research indicated that leading companies in the crop production market are refocusing business objectives towards innovation in crop science, water management and the supply chain so that globally the industry can address the challenges of sustainable food supply both now and in the future.
Currently, some 35 countries require external assistance with feeding their populations, and over the next 10 years food is forecast to become 30% more expensive, with the worldwide demand requiring production to rise 50% by 2030 – yet despite this, 30% of food produced globally is wasted and in order for the industry to make more food available on the population’s plates, an evolution in techniques is required.
Collectively, population growth, coupled with concerns around climate change and a shrinking land mass available for arable production means that most of the required increases in food production will have to come through innovative ways to increase crop yield and intensification.
In response, this year’s two-day event (including exhibition and forum) is gathering thousands of executives from over 75 countries to come together and discuss how companies can look to utilise new approaches to achieve the industry’s most pressing goals, including: ‘decreasing the yield gap’, ‘increasing supply’, ‘developing sustainable crops’, ‘reducing water and waste issues’, and implementing a ‘responsible supply chain’.
Terri D'Elia, Exhibition Director at CropWorld Global, added: “Providing safe, sustainable and adequate amounts of food globally is one of the greatest challenges to international food producers, scientists and governments today. After speaking with the global agricultural industry we are using CropWorld 2013 to launch our ‘planting the seeds of innovation’ campaign.
Essentially, we are now acting as a central hub around which industry, government and related companies can meet, share knowledge and contacts in order to propagate the spread of beneficial innovations. Already the global industry has voiced its support for our ambitious objectives with exhibitors from agrochemical manufacturers and distributors, seed and crop producers, biotech companies, research and manufacturing organisations, and universities looking to collaborate with top-level decision makers and professionals.”
If you would like further information please contact CropWorld Global 2013: Terri D'Elia Exhibition Director, email enquiries@cropworld.com, or visit www.cropworld-global.com
SOURCE Allaboutfeed
The event is taking place in the Netherlands (the world’s second largest agricultural exporter) between the 29th and 30th of October at the Amsterdam RAI. Four vertical-specific, modular conferences will take place over two-days examining the regulatory and industry implications across ‘water and irrigation’, ‘crop science’, ‘supply chain’, and ‘R&D’.
The annual agricultural industry event run by UBM Live, will focus exclusively on helping the industry to innovate - through its ‘planting the seeds of innovation’ campaign. The new approach reflects macro-economic factors and follows the commissioning of extensive research and the results of recommendations taken from the leaders of the world’s largest crop producers and influential bodies – including Bayer Crop Sciences, DuPont Crop Protection, Unilever, Lindsay Irrigation and the Food and Environment Research Agency.
The independently commissioned research indicated that leading companies in the crop production market are refocusing business objectives towards innovation in crop science, water management and the supply chain so that globally the industry can address the challenges of sustainable food supply both now and in the future.
Currently, some 35 countries require external assistance with feeding their populations, and over the next 10 years food is forecast to become 30% more expensive, with the worldwide demand requiring production to rise 50% by 2030 – yet despite this, 30% of food produced globally is wasted and in order for the industry to make more food available on the population’s plates, an evolution in techniques is required.
Collectively, population growth, coupled with concerns around climate change and a shrinking land mass available for arable production means that most of the required increases in food production will have to come through innovative ways to increase crop yield and intensification.
In response, this year’s two-day event (including exhibition and forum) is gathering thousands of executives from over 75 countries to come together and discuss how companies can look to utilise new approaches to achieve the industry’s most pressing goals, including: ‘decreasing the yield gap’, ‘increasing supply’, ‘developing sustainable crops’, ‘reducing water and waste issues’, and implementing a ‘responsible supply chain’.
Terri D'Elia, Exhibition Director at CropWorld Global, added: “Providing safe, sustainable and adequate amounts of food globally is one of the greatest challenges to international food producers, scientists and governments today. After speaking with the global agricultural industry we are using CropWorld 2013 to launch our ‘planting the seeds of innovation’ campaign.
Essentially, we are now acting as a central hub around which industry, government and related companies can meet, share knowledge and contacts in order to propagate the spread of beneficial innovations. Already the global industry has voiced its support for our ambitious objectives with exhibitors from agrochemical manufacturers and distributors, seed and crop producers, biotech companies, research and manufacturing organisations, and universities looking to collaborate with top-level decision makers and professionals.”
If you would like further information please contact CropWorld Global 2013: Terri D'Elia Exhibition Director, email enquiries@cropworld.com, or visit www.cropworld-global.com
SOURCE Allaboutfeed
RELEASED ON 18/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Ukraine plans to export four million tonnes of grain to China in 2013 as part of a US$3 billion loan agreement between the Export-Import Bank of China and the State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine (SFGCU), said Robert Brovdi, deputy chairman of the State Food and Grain of Ukraine on March 6th 2013.
The contract between Ukraine and China, which was signed in July 2012, stipulated the supply of Ukrainian grain during a 15 year period. The volume of annual grain export to the Asian country will be determined by the supply plan, bringing the absolute delivery volume up to six million tonnes per calendar year, Brovdi said. The counterpart on the Asian side is China National Machinery Industry Complete Engineering Corporation (CMCEC).
Out of the four million tonnes which are to be exported to China, two million tonnes will be purchased directly from the Ukrainian market while the remaining two million will be procured through forward contracts, according to Brovdi. This will also include the purchase of the 2012 harvest.
Ukrainian parliament provided state guarantees for the US$3 billion loan taken out by SFGCU from the Export-Import Bank of China, specifying that the funds are to be used for projects in the field of agriculture.
SOURCE Allaboutfeed
RELEASED ON 19/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Hyundai Mobis, South Korea's top auto parts maker, said Tuesday that it has begun operations of a plant to make key parts for eco-friendly cars - hybrid, electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
The 26,000 square-meter plant in Chungju, about 150 kilometers south of Seoul, has capability to produce 160,000 core parts per year, according to the company. The 71 billion won ($63.82 million) plant was built by expanding its Uiwang Plant.
Major parts to be rolled out at the new plant include electric motors, lithium battery modules, fuel cells for hydrogen-powered cars and integrated modules for fuel cells. These parts will be used for hybrid brands such as the Avante, Forte, Sonata K5 and CNG Bus, and for electric vehicle Ray and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle Tucson ix.
SOURCE Maeil Business Newspaper
Hyundai Mobis, South Korea's top auto parts maker, said Tuesday that it has begun operations of a plant to make key parts for eco-friendly cars - hybrid, electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
The 26,000 square-meter plant in Chungju, about 150 kilometers south of Seoul, has capability to produce 160,000 core parts per year, according to the company. The 71 billion won ($63.82 million) plant was built by expanding its Uiwang Plant.
Major parts to be rolled out at the new plant include electric motors, lithium battery modules, fuel cells for hydrogen-powered cars and integrated modules for fuel cells. These parts will be used for hybrid brands such as the Avante, Forte, Sonata K5 and CNG Bus, and for electric vehicle Ray and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle Tucson ix.
SOURCE Maeil Business Newspaper
RELEASED ON 14/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Ascend Performance Materials will close half of its Chocolate Bayou acrylonitrile (ACN) plant near Alvin, Texas, for maintenance beginning in late March, market sources said on Thursday.
The plant will be closed for "more than four weeks," market sources said.
This is a planned turnaround at the plant that produces about 500,000 tonnes/year of ACN.
About 250,000 tonnes/year of capacity will be affected, market sources said.
Headquartered in Houston, Ascend produces ACN as well as nylon 6,6 and several other petrochemicals.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only
Ascend Performance Materials will close half of its Chocolate Bayou acrylonitrile (ACN) plant near Alvin, Texas, for maintenance beginning in late March, market sources said on Thursday.
The plant will be closed for "more than four weeks," market sources said.
This is a planned turnaround at the plant that produces about 500,000 tonnes/year of ACN.
About 250,000 tonnes/year of capacity will be affected, market sources said.
Headquartered in Houston, Ascend produces ACN as well as nylon 6,6 and several other petrochemicals.
SOURCE ICIS News - For internal use only