Albemarle Headquarters Richmond, VA, USA

Albemarle s combined net sales rose from US 941 M in 2000 to US 1110 M in 2003, despite very difficult trading conditions. Net income fell in the same period from US 102 M to US 72 M, and long-term debt rose from US 97 M to US 228 M These figures are partly explained by the fact that several acquisitions have been made. They included Akzo Nobel s refinery catalysts, the Korean distributor Taerim, Arkema s fine chemicals bromine business, Rhodia s phosphorus based flame retardants business for polyurethanes, the fuel and lubricant antioxidants business of Ethyl, the fine chemicals business of ChemEirst, and Martinswerk. 

Dividend per share was 57 cents in 2003, the highest for some years. In the second quarter of 2004, earnings from plastics additives increased by 33% to 24.9 M. 

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