May 2003

Although a small country, Belgium ranks high in the chemical sector. Belgium accounts for 2.7% of the population within the EU; yet, it produces 8.2% of EU chemicals, employs 6.1% of th..

In 2002, the French chemical industry was burdened by the worldwide economic slowdown. Production volume increased 1.1% - as compared to the 2.4% expansion in 2001 (Fig. 1). Chemicals..

Henrik Meincke, Chief Economist, Association of the German Chemical Industry (VCI), Frankfurt, Germany     ..

The United Kingdom (UK) is Europe's fourth largest chemical economy, after Germany, France and Italy; it accounts for 11% of the EU's € 519-billion (US$477-billion) overall ch..

Mohamed H. Al-Mady, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ..

      Comments? Write: editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Russia is a major player within the energy market. T..

      Comments? Write: editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.com China is the most populous country, with a rapidly g..

The Indonesian hydrocarbon and petrochemical industries are significant players in the Southeast Asian region. With approximately 220 million people, the fourth most populous nation i..

The petrochemical industry plays a vital role in the Japanese economy. Similar to other national economies, 2002 proved to be a challenging year. Japan's 2002 ethylene production was 7...

During the first half of 2002, the Korean economy quickly recovered from the recession, especially in the consumer and construction sectors. However, this recovery stagnated in the latt..

Argentinean petrochemical consumption has increased to almost 6 million metric tons (MMmt) in 2001 as shown in Table 1. However, a sharp decrease in the 2002 GDP (over  - 10%) shou..

The Brazilian chemical industry is a key segment of the national economy and holds 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Approximately 4,500 companies provide jobs for 300,000 workers..

In Venezuela, the sole producer of crude oil and basic derivatives is state-owned company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., also known as PDVSA. In 2002, PDVSA's total production capacity o..

      Comments? Write: editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Mexico is ranked ninth in crude oil proven reserves ..

In the weeks leading up to early March, signs of an economic recovery have been mixed. The outlook for 2003 and 2004 largely depends upon geopolitical events and the effects of higher..

Shifts in ethylene derivative production and fabrication are rearranging the global exporter and importer positions

For this industry, the forecast is optimistic. Yet, consumer confidence and global economic growth must be reestablished

Changes in regional demands foster reshaping of LPG exports

Turn your facility assets from soft into hardened targets

Recent advances make this a viable technology for access to and from remote locations

Here's how to calculate the system's tangible benefits

Here are the skills and training needed to help workers diagnose problems

These equations handle fittings, instruments, block valves and different pipe sizes

Yes, more acronyms. But let's explain why you may hear more about these two important topics in the future. Two types of companies. We believe that process plants worldwide can be divid..

Alkalinity is naturally present in raw water and is an important control parameter in boilers with softened water make-up and cooling water systems. Understanding alkalinity requires underst..

Dick Hill, Contributing editor and Margaret Walker, the Dow Chemical Co.       ..

The present geopolitical situation has had both good and bad sides for the refining industry. On the one hand, in the lead-up to the hostilities in Iraq, the "war premium" that was adde..

New floating-roof tank seal technology Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. has introduced a patented VS-300L Low-Profile Secondary Seal for use on internal or external floating-roof tank..

Design company acquisition Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Süd-Chemie AG, Munich, Germany, are jointly acquiring Scientific Design Co. Inc., Little Ferry..

Portable gas chromatograph PetroPRO, high-speed portable gas chromatograph, is claimed to accurately and rapidly screen common VOCs onsite. It weighs less than 15 lb (6.8 kg) and measures 13..

North America ATOFINA Petrochemicals, Inc., Houston, Texas, an ATOFINA subsidiary, is going to expand and revamp its joint venture Cos-Mar styrene monomer facility located at Carville, ..

Identify property with customized tags and plates Brady Worldwide, Inc., Signmark offers DuraGuard property identification tags, QuickGuard asset identification tags and Brady- Guard pr..

  Energy security principles revisited ..

Over the next 5 to 10 years, many changes will affect the refining industry in the US and its ability to produce petroleum products and supply market demand. An EIA outlook presented by..

Plant design software and services will enjoy "robust growth" of 7% to more than $479 million in 2003, according to a forecast by Daratech. Despite the global recession and times of eco..

A new report from market analysts at Roskill Information Services says that increasing concern over environmental pollution has resulted in growing demand for activated carbon to remove..

Flexible plastic packaging is a very large, multibillion-dollar business within the $100 billion-plus total US packaging market. A large percentage of the total volume of thermoplastic ..

For years, concerns have been expressed about the ongoing shortage in the US of skilled workers. Exploring the question of who is responsible for developing the future workforce in the ..

The HPI knows that its products continue to add great value to the world. So notes Jeffrey M. Lipton, president and CEO of NOVA Chemicals, in his keynote address at CMAI's recent Annual..

A recent report from The American Chemistry Council (ACC) details the overall impact to the US economy if natural gas prices remain high during the next few years. ACC's economic analys..

Trade - the uniting force of prosperityTrade is not new; it is the most effective method to raise domestic prosperity. Yet, export items are complex. They can encompass: Raw natural r..

  Table 1. Regional PROFIBUS user organizations   Australia Mr. Michael Gough Phone: ++61 3 9761 5599..