The chemicals are used by AkzoNobel's customers in applications in, among others, the automotive, rubber, packaging and polymers industry and construction and consumer product sectors. "Global demand patterns for organic peroxides are trending away from mature markets in Europe and becoming increasingly concentrated in Asia and North America," said Werner Fuhrmann, AkzoNobel Executive Committee member responsible for the Specialty Chemicals business. At the publication of its half-yearly results on July 18, AkzoNobel announced a step-up in restructuring activities to increase savings in 2014 and beyond, over and above the existing EUR 500 million Performance Improvement Program which will be completed by the end of 2013, a year early. Today's announcement is part of this drive and is aimed at increasing efficiencies and productivity, thereby improving performance in its global manufacturing footprint, and takes account of trends in its end-user market segments.