Industry News
Chemical Industry News
CDI US December styrene contract prices finalized
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Contract prices for US styrene have been finalized for December 2025. The large buyer contract price was finalized at 48.50 cents/lb and the blended contract price was finalized at...
NYMEX: US gas futures drop on milder early January weather forecasts
US natural gas futures dropped to close out the week, on milder weather demand in early January and strong supply The February ’26 front-month contract settled at $3.618/MMBtu on 2 January, down...
US December ’25 glycol ether spot prices unchanged for both E-series and P-series
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US spot prices of both E-series and P-series glycol ethers were unchanged in December, keeping the same levels from November. Spot prices for butyl glycol (BG), butyl di-glycol (BDG),...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Bearish sentiment infects crude prices on first trading session of 2026
Brent and WTI register around 20% losses in 2025 Global supply glut concerns to pressure prices this year Eurozone PMI falls to nine-month lows Escalating geopolitical tensions to remain wildcard for...
OUTLOOK ’26: Margin squeeze to discourage US oleochemicals imports into Q1
NEW YORK (ICIS)--US fatty acids and fatty alcohols markets are expected to remain under pressure in Q1 and potentially H1 as squeezed margins, sufficient supplies and below-average demand weigh on...
OUTLOOK ’26: US EG oversupply to continue into the new year
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Oversupply of US ethylene glycols (EG) is expected to continue into the new year as the market continues to grapple with weak demand and lower exports of US EG, as a result of tariffs...
OUTLOOK ’26: Blending mandates and fuel demand shape Brazil’s ethanol outlook for H1 2026
HOUSTON (ICIS)-Brazil's hydrous and anhydrous ethanol prospects for the first half of 2026 are influenced by ongoing price-parity and regulatory dynamics, growing supply capacity, and fundamentally...
WEEKLY GAS OUTLOOK: EU gas demand to hold firm in week 2 on cold weather
LONDON (ICIS)--European gas consumption is expected to stay supported in week 2 despite upward revisions to temperatures, which are still expected to be below seasonal norms. This comes following a...
Krk LNG operator to offer long-term capacity at February auction
Long-term capacity at Krk to be offered in February Tariffs for the terminal and grid increase for 2026 Krk to take on more pivotal regional supply role in late 2027 LONDON(ICIS)--LNG Hrvatska,...
OUTLOOK ’26: US etac, butac, glycol ethers expect low demand to continue
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Demand for US ethyl acetate (etac), butyl acetate (butac) and glycol ethers is not expected to improve significantly in 2026, with concerns about inflation, borrowing costs,...
WEEKLY POWER OUTLOOK: Cold snap lifts European front-week power contracts
LONDON (ICIS)--French, Italian, German, Hungarian and UK front-week power contracts all displayed bullish momentum as the market reopened on the morning of Friday, 2 January 2026, amid a spell of...
Berkshire Hathaway completes $9.7 billion acquisition of OxyChem from Occidental
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Occidental has completed the sale of its OxyChem chemicals business to Berkshire Hathaway for $9.7 billion, the companies announced on Friday. OxyChem is a major producer of polyvinyl...
OUTLOOK ’26: Europe EPS market eyes signs of construction recovery, EPBD boost
LONDON (ICIS)--After weak and subdued demand in 2025, Europe’s expandable polystyrene (EPS) market players are cautiously optimistic about signs of recovery in 2026, driven by the Energy...
OUTLOOK ’26: Europe MEG consumption in long-term decline
LONDON (ICIS)--European monoethylene glycol (MEG) players are preparing to face another difficult year as consumption continues to decline, tariff upheaval creates uncertainty and competition from US...
AI agents set to democratise computational chemistry
Large language models are powering a new generation of AI agents that could transform computational chemistry from a specialist discipline into one any researcher can use, reports Julia Robinson
Scientists recognised in 2026 New Year’s Honours list
Chemists receive awards for work on nuclear waste management, forensics, sustainability and promotion of inclusion and diversity
Anode-free battery doubles electric vehicle driving range
Could an electric vehicle travel from Seoul to Busan and back on a single charge? Could drivers stop worrying about battery performance even in winter? A Korean research team has taken a major step toward
Democratising science, one step at a time
Artifical intelligence is just the latest method to open up chemistry to more people
OUTLOOK ’26: Weak IPA and MEK demand to continue, new IPA capacity in H2
LONDON (ICIS)--The European isopropanol (IPA) and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) markets are likely to remain under pressure from low demand and lengthy supply in 2026. Continued weak consumption expected...
Infraserv Logistics sets new course
Infraserv Logistics is set for a change in management at the end of the year: Managing Director Dr. Andreas Brockmeyer will retire and Dr. Klaus Alberti will take over as sole Managing Director. Dr. Andreas