Helped by lower raw material costs, Stepan Company, Northfield, IL, said second quarter net income surged 65% to a record $27.9 million. Surfactant operating income rose 12% to $27.2 million due to internal efficiency programs, lower raw material costs and an 11% volume increase. However, surfactant sales fell less than 1% to $298.6 million during the period. Polymer sales rose 1% to $134.4 million and specialty product sales increased 13% to $21.5 million.For the three months, Stepan's qua...