14/09/2009

Top 10 Chemical Companies in 2008 and in 1998

ICIS has recently published its fascinating analysis of the top 100 chemical companies in 2008 (ranked by sales). The names in the list will not be a surprise to many; BASF, ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, LyondellBasell, Du Pont and Shell figure prominently in the list.
What is more interesting is to look back to the top 10 in 1998 and look at the differences. BASF, Dow and Du Pont were all present but other names have disappeared completely; ICI, Hoechst and Rhone Poulenc were very big 1998.
New additions to the top 10 are the likes of SABIC, Sinopec, LyondellBasell and Ineos, with SABIC and Sinopec growing very quickly in recent years. LyondellBasell and Ineos are, of course, new companies formed in recent years and which have grown through successions of acquisitions.
The brave amongst us might like to try and predict what 2018 might look like. New names like Borouge and ChemaWEyaat may well appear, with some European and North American companies coming under some pressure?

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