On December 15, 2004, Clariant opened its new Technical Service Center in the Caohejing High Tech Park in Shanghai, adding another milestone to its presence in China.

Paint has officially started to flow off the production line at Akzo Nobel's new decorative coatings plant, just seven months after construction work began.

Coventry Coatings Corp. announced the purchase of a 24,000-square-foot building in the Town of Newburgh, a major crossroads in New York State's Orange County.

Dancers performed a traditional Chinese Lion Dance as part of the opening ceremony at the Qilu Eastman Specialty Chemicals, Ltd., plant located in China's Shandong Province.

Ultraviolet Systems has introduced a low-cost, low-energy, environmentally friendly and efficient 3-D curing system using UV energy and the patented Larolux® process from BASF.

JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s private equity arm, JPMorgan Partners, said it would buy PQ Corp., a privately held chemicals company.

On December 18, 2004, Cleveland's Plain Dealer reported that an Ohio appeals court ruled in favor of Glidden Co. in an insurance coverage dispute.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals announced the acquisition of the remaining 50 percent stake in the Daihan Swiss Chemical Corp. in Korea for a consideration of 28.5 billion Korean won (CHF 30.5 million).

Lyondell Chemical Company completed its acquisition of Millennium Chemicals Inc. effective November 30, 2004.

Celanese Corp. announced agreement to acquire Vinamul Polymers, the emulsion polymers business of ICI plc's National Starch and Chemical Co., for $208 million, pending regulatory approvals.