BASF and CSM to develop biobased succinic acid; and more

BASF announces its intention to cease activities in Feluy, Belgium October 22, 2009 — BASF Antwerpen N.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; http://www.basf.com) has announced its intention to close its 115,000-ton/yr maleic anhydride (MA) production facility by the end of 2009 and to withdraw all BASF activities from its site in Feluy, Belgium. Unsatisfactory profitability due to overcapacity and resulting low margins together with the effects of the current economic crisis were cited as reasons. Solvay and Huatai to build H2O2 plant October 8, 2009 — Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; http://www.solvay.com) has struck an agreement with Huatai Group of China to establish a hydrogen-peroxide joint venture (JV). The JV company, Shandong Huatai Interox Chemical Co., will build a hydrogen peroxide plant at Huatai’s new site in Dongying, Shandong Province, China, with a capacity of 50,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr). The plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. Two North American masterbatch sites to be closed by Clariant October 2, 29009 — Responding to over-capacity in a market still affected by the economic downturn, Clariant (Muttenz, Switzerland; http://www.clariant.com)…