October 15, 2004
Rhodia
Rhodia signs letter of intent with China National Blue Star
Corporation for a strategic alliance in Silicone Activities
http://www.rhodia.com/API/afficheimg.asp?id=1420
Rhodia's CEO, Jean-Pierre
Clamadieu and President Ren Jian Xin of China National Blue Star
Corporation
have signed today in Beijing a letter of intent to form a
strategic alliance for their respective Silicone activities.
The companies are forming the alliance to become a major supplier
of Methylchlorosilane and Core Intermediates Silicone Products in
the Asia-Pacific region. The project includes an investment in a
new facility in Tianjin (China) using Rhodia technology and a
joint commercial organization to sell products in the
Asia-Pacific region manufactured by the alliance.
Blue Star will gain access to a best in class Methylchlorosilane
technology that Rhodia has developed over the past 30 years.
Rhodia will have a share of a very competitive upstream
intermediates production unit located in Tianjin.
Following the completion of a feasibility study, the partners
intend to launch, by early 2005, the construction of a 200 KT
Methylchlorosilane facility in the municipality of Tianjin, with a
start up capacity in the first quarter of 2007 of 100 KT.
This alliance is a key opportunity for the two companies to
enhance their competitiveness and become a major player in the
fast growing Asia-Pacific silicone market. Both companies intend to accelerate their
respective downstream investments to take full advantage of the
strong upstream integration.
This is the first step towards a global alliance in silicones
between Rhodia and China National Blue Star Corporation.
Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company
recognized for its strong technology positions in applications
chemistry, specialty materials & services and fine chemicals.
Partnering with major players in the automotive, electronics,
fibers, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires and
paints & coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made
solutions combining original molecules and technologies to
respond to customers’ needs. Rhodia subscribes
to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its
commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia
generated net sales of Euro5.4 billion in 2003 and employs 23,000
people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on the Paris and New Yorkstock
exchanges.
Rhodia's history in China started in the mid-70's with the
chemical part of former Rhone-Poulenc Group. During the past 10
years, Rhodia's operations in the country have grown very
rapidly. Up to now, Rhodia (China) has invested in 8 joint
ventures and 7 WOEFs. The activities of these joint ventures
relate to 6 enterprises of Rhodia, from Automotive, Electronics
and Fibers to Pharmaceuticals and Agrochemicals, from Consumer
Care to Industrial Care and Services. Geographically these
enterprises spread over 8 provinces and municipalities in China.
In addition, Rhodia (China) owns one branch office in Beijing,
manages 3 representative offices (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou).
Moreover, together with Rhodia Hong Kong Co., Limited, Rhodia
(China) has an overall marketing and sales network throughout
China. As a world leader in Specialty Chemicals, Rhodia is
helping to contribute to the evolution of the China chemical
industry bringing the world class manufacturing approach and
advanced technologies to its China operations.
China National Bluestar (Group) Corporation is a
specialized company subordinated to China Chemical Group Company,
with a total assets of over 20 billion Yuan RMB, annual sales
revenue of 12 billion Yuan RMB, owning over 30 individual
enterprises and R&D Institutes and having controlling role in
4 listed companies: Bluestar Cleaning, Bluestar New Chemical
Materials, Southwest Chemical Machinery and Shenyang Chemical.
Bluestar Group is specialized in Chemicals and is in a navigating
position in new chemical materials, industrial cleaning P&S,
Membrane & water treatment. It has a strong power in
petrochemicals including crude oil process and petroleum products
manufacturing, toll manufacturing of petrochemicals and specialty
chemicals. Bluestar is the only well-know trademark in industry
services. Blue
star owns the largest silicone facilities and has more than 20
years history of silicone production and has its own technologies
and now is dedicated to fast developing silicone business so as
to be a world player.
2007/2/1 Rhodia
Rhodia completes sale of its Silicones business to China National
BlueStar Corporation
Rhodia today announced the finalization of the sale of its
Silicones business to China National BlueStar Corporation.
This business generated sales of Euro 417 million in 2005 and has
a total of 1,200 employees. It is mainly situated in Europe ,
with major production sites at Saint-Fons and Roussillon , in
France .
In addition, the Group sold Rhodia Organics’
SulfuricProducts
activity to Adisseo, subsidiary of China National BlueStar
Corporation. This business generated sales of Euro47 million in
2005 and has a total of 67 employees. It is based at Les Roches
de Condrieu, in France .
Rhodia CEO Jean-Pierre Clamadieu said : “This divestment constitutes the
last step of the plan we launched in 2003 to restore
profitability and to focus the Group’s portfolio on businesses in which
we hold strong leadership positions. This will contribute further
to the Group’s debt reduction.”
Commenting on the
operating environment : “Q4 2006 was strong compared to Q4
2005 and therefore we will be in a position to exceed our 2006
objectives. Despite a raw material and energy price environment
that remains volatile, the start of 2007 gives me full confidence
that the Group will continue on its route of profitable growth.”
China National
BlueStar (Group) Corporation is a large-scale state-owned
enterprise, which is a specialized subsidiary of Chem China Group
Corporation. Headquartered in Beijing, being a leading company in
China’s chemical industry, BlueStar
filled many technology blanks in the fields of new chemical
materials, such as organic silicon, engineering plastics and TDI
as well as special chemical products and realized its scale
production. In 2005, the total asset of BlueStar exceeded RMB 30
billion and the sales revenue reached as much as RMB 30 billion.
BlueStar holds stakes of four public listed companies including
BlueStar Cleaning Co., BlueStar New Materials Co., BlueStar
Petrochemicals Co., and Shenyang Chemicals Co.. BlueStar
possesses the biggest organo-silicone production unit in China ,
which ranks top six in the world and occupies a major market
share in China .
Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for its
strong technology positions in the Performance Materials,
Functional Chemicals and Organics and Services clusters.
Partnering with major players in the automotive, electronics,
pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires, and paints
and coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions
combining original molecules and technologies to respond to
customers’ needs. Rhodia subscribes to the
principles of Sustainable Development communicating its
commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia
generated sales of Euro 5 billion in 2005 and employs around
19,500 people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris and
the New York Stock Exchange.
Rhodia sells stake in
Nylstar
Rhodia
announces
today the signing of an agreement to sell its 50% stake in Nylstar for Euro 1, to a third party
agent acting on behalf of a consortium of Nylstar's credit banks.
SNIA, Rhodia's partner in this joint
venture , has also signed an agreement to sell its 50% stake. The
sale of the stake in Nylstar will be effective once the necessary
regulatory formalities have been completed.
This agreement forms part of the financial restructuring of
Nylstar through a debt / equity swap to give the company a
restructured balance sheet and a significantly reduced level of
debt. Nylstar will now be in a better position to ensure its
development. Rhodia will also remain a raw material supplier to
Nylstar.
British Plastics & Rubber 2007/3/6
Rhodia and Snia finally escape from Nylstar
Rhodia of France and Snia of Italy have finally pulled out of their ailing nylon fibre joint venture Nylstar. They have sold their 50 per cent stakes for a token Eur 1 to a consortium of Nylstar's creditors.
Rhodia has been trying to free itself from the fibres business for several years and has been counting on Radici of Italy to buy it out. Radici, Rhodia and Snia planned early in 2005 to ally Nylstar with RadiciFibres, with Radici taking a majority. In November the same year the three companies signed a letter of intent for RadiciGroup to buy out the two partners.
Last year Rhodia reported Nylstar as a 'disposal in progress at March 31' and said that negotiations under way with the Radici group should lead to a sale in 2006. Then nothing. The proposed sale to Radici seems to have slipped quietly away, leaving no trace, and with Rhodia and Snia still holding the troubled textiles company.
In early February Deutsche Bank, Bank of America and unidentified hedge funds were reported to have bought debt in Nylstar from several banks. Now Rhodia and Snia have sold out to Nylstar's creditors. Rhodia says 'This agreement forms part of the financial restructuring of Nylstar through a debt/equity swap to give the company a restructured balance sheet and a significantly reduced level of debt. Nylstar will now be in a better position to ensure its development. Rhodia will also remain a raw material supplier to Nylstar.'
Rhodia
To Build An Upstream Silica Facility In China
Joint Venture With Chinese
Partners Created
Rhodia announces the signature of a joint venture agreement with Qingdao Haiwan Group ( http://www.cecdb.com.cn/cecdb/data/N33819_1.html) and Qingdao Dongyue Sodium Silicate Company ( http://www.qssf.com/cpjs.htm ) to build a sodium silicate plant at Qingdao, China. The facility with a capacity of 220,000 tonnes is scheduled to come on-stream in the first quarter of 2008.
Sodium silicate is a key intermediate for precipitated silica manufacturing. The new facility will supply Rhodia's Asian silica manufacturing plants in Qingdao, China and Incheon, South Korea, specialized in high performance silica.
Rhodia's high performance silica is notably used in low rolling resistance tires which enable up to 5% fuel savings and therefore provide a solution to reduce CO2 emissions from cars.
"This new facility will give Rhodia a source of competitive raw material to support the growing needs of its silica business in Asia ", commented Eric Noyrez, President of Rhodia Silcea. "As the global leader in high performance silica, we benefit from a rapid increase in demand of the tire, nutraceutics and silicone markets".
Silcea is Rhodia's fine inorganic chemistry enterprise and the global leader in rare earth-based materials and high performance silica. Rhodia Silcea supplies major players focused on sustainable mobility with a complete range of materials for exhaust emissions control. On the electronics market, Silcea is the specialist for phosphors used in low-energy lamps, LCD and plasma flat screens. Inventor of highly dispersible silica, which in particular reduces fuel consumption, Rhodia Silcea is a key partner for the tire industry, as well as the elastomer, feed and food industries.
Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for its strong technology positions in Performance Materials, Functional Chemicals and the Organics and Services clusters. Partnering with major players in the automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires, and paints and coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining original molecules and technologies to respond to customers' needs. Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia generated sales of 4.8 billion in 2006 and employs around 16,000 people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris and the New York Stock Exchange.
Rhodia to construct new high performance silica plant in China
Rhodia today announced its intention to construct a new plant for the production of high performance silica in China.
The new facility will be located in the city of Qingdao where Rhodia already operates a silica plant. This world scale plant will focus on producing high performance silica notably used in low rolling resistance tires. These generate more than 5% fuel savings thus reducing emissions of CO2 from vehicles.
Using a modular design to build the plant will enable it to be easily expanded to support this rapidly growing market. A number of Rhodia’s existing major customers are supporting the project. Rhodia already operates seven precipitated silica plants around the world in France, Italy, Venezuela, Brazil, Korea, China and the USA.
“This investment will allow Rhodia to respond to rapidly growing demand in the Asian region,” said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Rhodia, adding “this move fits perfectly within our strategy to develop businesses in which we have a strong and sustainable leadership position and prioritize investment in China.”
President of Rhodia’s Silcea enterprise, Eric Noyrez, commented that “With this new facility, Silcea will reinforce its worldwide leadership in the production of high performance silica while demonstrating its commitment to respond to increasing customer demand for products which are more environmentally sustainable.”
Silcea is Rhodia's fine inorganic chemistry enterprise and the global leader in rare earth-based materials and high performance silica. Rhodia Silcea supplies major players focused on sustainable mobility with a complete range of materials for exhaust emissions control. On the electronics market, Silcea is the specialist for phosphors used in low-energy lamps, LCD and plasma flat screens. Inventor of high dispersibility silica, which in particular reduces fuel consumption, Rhodia Silcea is a key partner for the tire industry, as well as the elastomer, feed and food industries.
Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. Leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers' performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around seven Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, tire, electronics, perfume, health and beauty and home care markets. The Group employs around 16,000 people worldwide and generated sales of ?4.8 billion in 2006. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.
Present in China for more than 30 years, Rhodia's operations in the country have grown very rapidly over the last ten years and today employ 2,300 people. Rhodia’s activities in China generate around 400 million euros.
Rhodia Polyamide South Korea Polymerization Unit Construction on Schedule
Rhodia announced today that the construction of its new 48kt Polyamide 6.6 salt and polymerization plant in Onsan, South Korea is on schedule and that plant start-up is set for early December 2007.
Rhodia invested almost 40
million euro in the design and construction of the company’s first polymerization unit in
Asia. This investment is consistent with Rhodia’s strategy as the world’s second largest polyamide
producer and leading player in the Asian polyamide 6.6 market. “Rhodia Polyamide focuses on PA 6.6
and ensures its development strategy through three pillars:”
comments Laurent
Schmitt, CEO Rhodia Polyamide “the first one rests on a high
worldwide competitiveness of intermediates & polymers along
with a strong development of the industrial footprint in fast
growing areas; second, the strengthening of engineering plastics
as a growth engine; and finally, we target Asia and Brazil as our
priority zones for expansion beyond our European base.”
Rhodia has already
two engineering
plastics compounding facilities in China and South Korea and recently opened a new
technical application development centre in Shanghai.
“Demand in Asia for Rhodia Polyamide’s 6.6 range comprising Technyl® and Stabamid™ polymers has enjoyed a very high annual growth rate of more than 40 percent in the last years,” says Dominique Rage, President Rhodia Polyamide Intermediates and Polymers. “The continuing investment strategy in Onsan will better serve our Asian customers providing them with value-added benefits and dedicated customer service.”
Rhodia Polyamide is an upstream integrated company providing intermediates for polyamide and other applications, polyamide polymers, as well as a complete downstream range of added value products including engineering plastics polyamide 6.6 and 6 based, industrial polyamide yarns, technical and consumer polyamide fibres and textile yarns. With fourteen state-of-the art production facilities along with R&D and technical centres, Rhodia Polyamide serves customers on every continent, with the capability to develop products and technologies locally.
Rhodia and Lyondell enter into exclusive negotiations with Perstorp for the sale of their isocyanates business
Rhodia and Lyondell Chime
TDI SCA today announced that they have entered into exclusive
negotiations for the sale of their Isocyanates businesses to the
Perstorp Group.
This divestment project includes Rhodia's
aliphatic (脂肪族) Isocyanates
activity (HDI, IPDI and derivatives) producing a range of intermediates
for industrial paints and coatings; and Lyondell's
aromatic isocyanates business (TDI) with the production of
intermediates for polyurethane foams, operated under
contract by Rhodia (in Pont-de-Claix) . * IPDI：IsoPhorone Di Isocyanate
These activities are essentially based in Pont-de-Claix (France)
and in Freeport (USA) and together employ around 680 people.
The finalization of this divestment project should take place
over the next few months, once consultations with the employees’
representatives
have been completed and the necessary authorizations required by
law have been obtained.
Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed
to sustainable development. Leader in its businesses, the Group
aims to improve its customers’ performance through the pursuit of
operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Now
structured around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major
players in the automotive, tire, electronics, perfume, health
& beauty and home care markets. The Group employs around
15,500 people worldwide and generated sales of Euro 5.1 billion
in 2007. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.
Lyondell Chime TDI SCA is an affiliate of LyondellBasell
Industries, one of the world's largest polymers, petrochemicals
and fuels companies. LyondellBasell the global leader in
polyolefins technology, production and marketing; a pioneer in
propylene oxide and derivatives; a significant producer of
advanced fuel products; and the owner of one of North America's
largest full-conversion refineries. Headquartered in The
Netherlands, LyondellBasell is privately owned by Access
Industries.
Perstorp Group is a front-ranking player in the
specialty chemicals industry. The Group is present, in
particular, in the markets for Paints & Coatings, Plastics,
Agro-food and Lubricants. Perstorp has approximately 2,000
employees on a dozen production sites in Europe, Asia, North and
South America and runs 3 Research & Development centers in
Sweden, Finland and India. The Group generated net sales of Euro
928m in 2007.
Perstorp Group
Waterborne Coatings
Radiation Curing
Intumescent Coatings
Polyurethanes polyol chemistry
Food & Feed
Acid based silage additives
Propionates, derived from organic acids, are used as feed preservatives
Formaldehyde Technology
October 8, 2008 Rhodia
Rhodia announces a plan to improve the competitiveness of its
polyamide businesses in Europe
Rhodia has today presented a plan to improve the competitiveness
of its Polyamide businesses in Europe to its European Works
Council. The aim of the plan is to help these businesses adapt to
changes in the polyamide market, which is expanding rapidly in
Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia but is experiencing
slower growth in Western Europe.
The plan presented to the European Works Council proposes to
address this challenge by optimizing Rhodia Polyamide's
production and research and development resources in Europe. It
will involve:
- The closure, by mid-2009, of Rhodia Polyamide's Ceriano
facility in Italy, which could affect 212 people.
- Increasing production capacity at the Lyon Belle-Etoile
facility in France and the Gorzow facility in Poland.
- Transferring all Rhodia Polyamide's European Research,
Development and Applications teams to a single site in Lyon, to
enhance their efficiency.
Employee representatives will be consulted about the plan in the
coming weeks and Rhodia will do everything possible to help
employees whose jobs could be eliminated to find alternative
employment.
The plan is part of a broader program to cut Rhodia Polyamide's
costs by about Euro40 million per year by 2010 and will help to
strengthen our leadership of the various segments of the
polyamide market.
Rhodia Polyamideis Rhodia's fully integrated enterprise focusing
on Polyamide 6.6. Its strategy rests on three pillars:
development of a highly competitive worldwide position in
intermediates & polymers along with fast expansion of its
manufacturing footprint in strong growing regions; the
development of engineering plastics as a growth engine and a
focus on Asia and Brazil as priority regions for growth beyond
its European base. InSouth America, Rhodia Polyamide also holds
strong positions in phenol and the adiponitrile route, industrial
yarns and fibers. For further details about Rhodia Polyamide
visit the website at www.rhodia-polyamide.com.
Rhodiais an international chemical company resolutely committed
to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the
Group aims to improve its customers’ performance through the pursuit of
operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured
around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major players in
the automotive, tire, electronics, perfume, health & beauty
and home care markets. The Group employs around 15,000 people
worldwide and generated sales of ?4.8 billion in 2007. Rhodia is
listed on Euronext Paris.