A new report by the US International Trade Commission (USITC) examines two segment of the US industrial biotech market, liquid biofuels and bio-based chemicals, based on a survey of 559 establishments with production or R&D activities related to liquid fuel or chemicals. Respondents’ US sales of US-produced liquid biofuels increased 140% from 2004 to 2007 […]

The chemical sector may be particularly vulnerable to conditions created by the credit crisis, according to some observers. Private equity companies have purchased many chemical companies in the past five years, resulting in a highly leveraged industry. UK-based Ineos Group’s ratings outlook was recently downgraded by S&P. Rising costs for petrochemicals, oil and commodities have […]

The 31st meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) was held from June 30 to July 4 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Codex, an organization formed by the World Health Organization and the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Commission, sets food standards designed to be used as references for countries in creating their own guidelines. Thirty […]

Despite record prices and demand for the mining industry, the industry’s profit margins may have peaked. A new report from PriceWatershouseCoopers (PwC) found that 2007 revenues for the world’s 40 largest mining companies rose by a third last year to $312 billion due to the strength of diversified companies and mining firms in emerging nations. […]

A recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) outlines approaches to two scenarios for cutting global carbon dioxide levels by 2050. In the ACT scenario, which was introduced in 2006 and has now been revised, the levels of carbon dioxide would be reduced to 2005 levels by 2050 through a change in current energy […]