COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 325110

Petrochemical Manufacturing (pt)

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

22companies1893–2001founding years22still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedNippon Oil CorporationFoundedNippon Oil Corporation
1893
FoundedW.R. Grace & CompanyFoundedW.R. Grace & Company
1899
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedChevronTexaco Corporation
1906
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedCelanese Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.FoundedCelanese Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.
1944
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedPetrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.FoundedPetrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedMitsubishi Chemical Corporation
1950
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedSasol LimitedFoundedSasol Limited
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedGeorgia Gulf CorporationFoundedGeorgia Gulf CorporationFoundedLyondell Chemical Company
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1990
EnvironmentThe Clean Air Act amendments tighten emissions limits.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedRhodia SAFoundedRhodia SA
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
FoundedConocoPhillips
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
W.R. Grace & Company →
Active · founded 1899
W.R.
W.R. Grace & Company →
Active · founded 1899
W.R.
ChevronTexaco Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
1970s:Company is rocked by the OPEC oil embargo and the nationalization of a number of Caltex holdings.
ChevronTexaco Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
1970s:Company is rocked by the OPEC oil embargo and the nationalization of a number of Caltex holdings.
Celanese Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1944 · Mexico
Celanese Mexicana, S.A.
Celanese Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1944 · Mexico
Celanese Mexicana, S.A.
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1947 · Argentina
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1947 · Argentina
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1950 · Japan
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) was formed by the 1994 merger of Mitsubishi Kasei Corp.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1950 · Japan
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) was formed by the 1994 merger of Mitsubishi Kasei Corp.
Sasol Limited →
Active · founded 1979 · Republic of South Africa
Sasol Limited was formed in 1979 to hold the assets of the South African Coal, Oil and Gas Corporation (Sasol) and its…
Sasol Limited →
Active · founded 1979 · Republic of South Africa
Sasol Limited was formed in 1979 to hold the assets of the South African Coal, Oil and Gas Corporation (Sasol) and its…
Georgia Gulf Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Georgia Gulf Corporation is a major manufacturer of two highly integrated product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatic…
Georgia Gulf Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Georgia Gulf Corporation is a major manufacturer of two highly integrated product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatic…
Lyondell Chemical Company →
Active · founded 1985
Lyondell Chemical Company is one of the largest U.S.-based chemical manufacturers.
Lyondell Chemical Company →
Active · founded 1985
Lyondell Chemical Company is one of the largest U.S.-based chemical manufacturers.
Rhodia SA →
Active · founded 1998 · France
One of the world's leading specialty chemicals companies, Rhodia SA--the former chemicals and fibers & polymers units…
Rhodia SA →
Active · founded 1998 · France
One of the world's leading specialty chemicals companies, Rhodia SA--the former chemicals and fibers & polymers units…
ConocoPhillips →
Active · founded 2001
ConocoPhillips is the third largest U.S.
ConocoPhillips →
Active · founded 2001
ConocoPhillips is the third largest U.S.
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