DuPont 4Q report

DuPont of Wilmington, Del., reported earnings of $441 million for the fourth quarter 2009, compared with a loss of $629 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. The company surpassed its 2009 goal of $1 billion in cost reductions. Titanium dioxide, electronic materials, performance polymers and seed products enjoyed sales of 20 percent or greater. DuPont's 150-worker facility in Axis, Ala., makes insecticide and its 120-worker First Chemical facility in Pascagoula, Miss., makes specialty chemicals. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 01/26/10) Note: DuPont's facility in Delisle, Miss., makes titanium dioxide.

GD gets $33M contract

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been awarded an order of $33 million to produce reactive armor tile sets for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Work will be performed at the General Dynamics' facility in McHenry, Miss., in Stone County. Deliveries are expected to begin in June and be completed in November. The reactive armor system is composed of tiles that fasten to the exterior of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, allowing it to better withstand direct hits from a variety of anti-armor munitions. The order is an extension of a contract awarded in 2006. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Ordnance and Protection Division, will share the production workload in Haifa, Israel. (Source: Sun Herald, 01/21/10)

Refining business to shrink

Chevron Corp. plans to shrink its refining business. The company told its employees it plans to streamline refinery, marketing and retail operations to make the company's business more efficient. Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery is expected to be affected, though a company spokesman couldn't say to what extent or when. The Pascagoula refinery is the company's largest, with 1,600 employees and the capacity to refine 330,000 barrels of oil a day. Employment at the plant has increased by several hundred over the last decade. (Source: Sun Herald, 01/19/10)