Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Asia spot TiO2 market off to slow start in May, trend may continue
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The titanium dioxide (TiO2) spot market could experience some slowdown in May after a strong showing in the first quarter of the year. H1 May could see wide offer range Market...
Chemovator invests in Detroit-based startup Heartland rethinking plastics using natural fiber reinforcements
Chemovator, the business incubator and early-stage investor of BASF, has successfully finalized an investment in Heartland Industries. The Detroit-based startup is a frontrunner in the production of natural fiber plastic additives, and the latest addition
China’s March titanium dioxide exports surge to 196,106 tonnes
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s titanium dioxide (TIO2) exports rose by 46.7% month on month to 196,106 tonnes in March, according to the ICIS Supply and Demand Database. Several market players...
Asian BD discussions under pressure as buying slows down
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asian spot butadiene (BD) import discussions are slipping due to slowing demand, fueled by holiday closures this week and persistent external macroeconomic headwinds. Supply remains...
Asian buyers staying out of TiO2 spot market as prices fall
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Titanium dioxide (TiO2) spot indicative prices in Asia were lower on average so far on Friday. Sell indications were about $2,400/tonne FOB (free on board) China, $50/tonne lower...
NYMEX: US natural gas futures jump 5% on LNG demand
- US natural gas futures on the NYMEX jumped on 2 May on demand from LNG plants and cutbacks by producers - The front-month June ‘24 delivery contract rose 5.3% to $2.035/MMBtu, the highest closes...
Methane emissions from landfill could be turned into sustainable jet fuel in plasma chemistry leap
In a world first, University of Sydney researchers have developed a chemical process using plasma that could create sustainable jet fuel from methane gas emitted from landfills, potentially creating a low-carbon aviation industry. Methane is
Marriage of synthetic biology and 3D printing produces programmable living materials
Scientists are harnessing cells to make new types of materials that can grow, repair themselves and even respond to their environment. These solid “engineered living materials” are made by embedding cells in an inanimate matrix
Bulgargaz’s LNG tender to boost June gas supply
Bulgargaz launched short-term LNG tender for 1TWh This is set to boost Bulgarian gas supply for June Winning bids to be open on 14 May WARSAW (ICIS)--Bulgarian state supplier Bulgargaz launched a...
US Huntsman Q1 volumes improve, but lower prices hit profitability
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Huntsman’s first-quarter (Q1) earnings fell by 40%, year on year, on the back of lower selling prices and despite higher sales volumes in some divisions, the US chemicals producer...
TiO2 supply for paints and coatings not expected to tighten despite looming Varennes closure
INDIANAPOLIS (ICIS)--Although Kronos is planning to shut down titanium dioxide (TiO2) produced via the sulfate process in Varennes, Quebec, Canada later this year, market participants at the American...
US February base oil supply falls
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--US base oils and lube supply fell in February as a slump in imports outweighed a recovery in domestic production. The lower supply curbed the prospect of a build-up of surplus...
BASF lifts force majeure on US EO at Geismar, Louisiana site
HOUSTON (ICIS) – BASF has lifted a force majeure on US ethylene oxide (EO) at its Geismar, Louisiana site, according to market participants. In April, the site suffered an upset due to severe...
US Q1 EO production drops 21% year on year on unplanned outages
HOUSTON (ICIS) – US Q1 ethylene oxide (EO) production fell 21% year on year, according to data from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). In Q1, the EO market experienced a...
US Q1 MEG production drops 13% year on year on outages
HOUSTON (ICIS) – US Q1 monoethylene glycol (MEG) production dropped 13% year on year, according to data from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). In Q1, there were both...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil prices volatile amid mixed fundamentals
US could begin restocking SPR OPEC+ production cut extensions likely US imports and exports decline in March, US jobless claims steady LONDON (ICIS)--Oil prices were volatile on Thursday as mixed...
US Q1 paraxylene inventories fall 32% year on year
HOUSTON (ICIS) – US Q1 paraxylene (PX) inventories fell 32% year on year, according to data from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). Historically, the first quarter of the...
Plant status: Leak contained at Shell US Deer Park, Texas cracker
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shell Chemical Location: Deer Park, Texas, US Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 475,000 ethylene, 190,000 propylene Event...
US TiO2 producer Tronox expects ongoing demand improvement, following six down quarters
INDIANAPOLIS (ICIS)--In its Q1 '24 earnings call, US titanium dioxide (TiO2) producer Tronox said it expects demand to continue to improve in Q2 and Q3 '24, as there are positive trends indicating an...
US TiO2 producer Kronos to shut down production via sulfate process in Varennes, Canada
INDIANAPOLIS (ICIS)--Kronos Worldwide, a titanium dioxide (TiO2) producer headquartered in Dallas, Texas, US is planning to permanently shut down sulfate-based production at its location in Varennes,...