Brazilian real and, to a lesser extent, the appreciation of the pound sterling and certain Asian currencies against the euro. On a constant consolidation scope and exchange rate basis, Novecare net sales improved by 20.4% in 1H 2010. The enterprise benefited from a turnaround in activity in all world regions. Recovery was quick and widespread in the industrial applications, agrochemicals and coatings markets, whereas it was gradual in the oil mining sector. Novecare volumes therefore increased 24.2% between the two reference periods, with particularly significant growth in 2Q 2010volumes were up 18% in 1Q 2010, and up 31% in 2Q 2010, when sales grew 30% in value terms to €287 M. Rising volumes generated a positive impact of €42 M on the segment's operating profit. Effective pricing power enabled Novecare to record a favourable net impact (sale price/raw material costs) of €8 M for 1H 2010. The slight rise in fixed costs generated a negative €1 M impact that was fully offset by lower restructuring expenses, as last year reported important charges for the implementation of temporary and structural competitive measures. The net of these elements resulted in a positive €6 M variance between the two reference periods. The other items explaining the increase in Novecare's operating profit include a positive consolidation scope impact of €3 M, a positive impact of €2 M relating to other operating income and expenses, a positive transactional exchange rate impact of €1 M and a positive impact of €1 M arising from the decline in depreciation, amortization and impairment. In Jun 2010, Rhodia announced its plans to acquire Feixiang Chemicals [ibid, Aug 2010], a company specializing in amines and surfactants located in Zhangjiagang near Shanghai (China). This acquisition, which should be finalized in 2H 2010, represents a unique opportunity for Rhodia to integrate speciality amine technologies into Novecare's business portfolio. The combination of the group's formulation expertise and end-market applications with Feixiang Chemicals' amine technologies should reinforce Rhodia's worldwide leadership position in speciality surfactants for the home and personal care, agrochemicals, oilfield and industrial markets, the company says.