Outlook for Chemical Companies: Frank J. Mitsch, BB&T Capital Markets

Specialty Chemicals: An Overview: Dmitry Silversteyn, Longbow Research

CEO Interviews (average 2,500 words): Top management from 3 sector firms examine the outlook for their firm and sector. Firms interviewed include: TOR Minerals International, Inc., Rentech, Inc., Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc.

Topics covered: Price increases - Offset high oil and gas prices - Solid demand in the export market - Domestic demand - Agricultural chemical companies - The global chemical industry - Offshore sales and profits - The domestic coatings and home building industry - M&A activity - Shift from private equity toward strategic firms - The behavior of petrochemical raw material prices - Ethylene and propylene production - The supply/demand balance

Companies covered: Dow Chemical (DOW); Monsanto (MON); PPG Industries (PPG); FMC (FMC); Georgia Gulf (GGC); Rohm and Haas (ROH); Olin (OLN); Celanese (CE); Sigma-Aldrich (SIAL); Ecolab (ECL); Cabot Microelectronics (CCMP); Valspar (VAL); H.B. Fuller (FUL); FMC (FMC); Hercules (HPC); Chemtura (CEM).