Industry News
Chemical Industry News
EU publishes Q1 2026 CBAM certificate price at €75.36/tonne
LONDON (ICIS)--The EU has announced the certificate price for the first quarter of 2026 under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), at €75.36 per tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2), the...
MARGINS: Europe PE margins rise on higher product, co-product prices, but remain below pre-war levels
LONDON (ICIS)--Margins at polyethylene (PE) plants in Europe firmed week on week as a surge in product pricing and co-product credits outweighed higher naphtha costs, ICIS margin analysis showed on...
Fluor wins work for nuclear SMR project at Dow’s Seadrift site in Texas
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US engineering firm Fluor has won a contract to support the proposed development of a nuclear small modular reactor (SMR) at Dow’s chemical production site in Seadrift, Texas. The...
‘Year done’ already for Europe MMA amid supply shortage and rising prices
LONDON (ICIS)--The “year is done” already for the Europe methyl methacrylate (MMA) market, according to some players, on the back of the supply crunch and soaring prices. Supply expected to...
Chemists think they know what happened on board the Mary Celeste
While many theories have surfaced as to what caused a loaded ship to be devoid of its crew, could this explanation close the case?
How to choose reactor materials and test for compatibility
Merck & Co team describes simple testing strategies and criteria for decision-making
Expect the unexpected: why the chemistry community should pay more attention to ‘inert’ materials
A Japanese team’s discovery that stainless steel ball mills can activate nickel catalysts adds to a growing list of examples where supposedly inert lab equipment plays an unexpected role in chemical reactions
Breakthrough offers endless recycling for acrylic plastics without the environmental cost
A breakthrough method for chemically recycling acrylic - one of the world’s most widely used plastics - has been developed by researchers at the University of Bath. In contrast to conventional mechanical recycling, this method
Biodegradable barrier coating developed for paper packaging
The reduction of fossil raw materials also poses new challenges for the packaging industry. In a research project, scientists from INNOVENT e.V. in Jena and the paper manufacturer Reflex from Düren investigated how special paper
Sustainable raw material supply: New FlashPhos process converts sewage sludge into phosphorus for industrial use
Disposing of wastewater treatment plant waste while simultaneously recovering white phosphorus: The new thermochemical FlashPhos process demonstrates how this works. It is currently the only technology in Europe capable of producing this essential raw material
Wells Fargo upgrades Olin to ‘overweight’ on chlor-alkali margin expansion
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Wells Fargo has upgraded its rating on US-based Olin from “equal weight” to “overweight” on higher expected margins in chlor-alkali due to the Middle East crisis. “We...
NYMEX: US gas futures gain on strong US LNG feedgas demand
Front-month US natural gas futures increased on 6 April as US LNG feedgas demand rose The May 2026 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $2.811/MMBtu, up less than 1% from the previous session Per...
Iran’s energy infrastructure targeted, several methanol plants shut
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Airstrikes on 6 April targeting Iran’s key energy infrastructure at the Asaluyeh complex significantly escalated concerns over the country’s petrochemical production and export...
Argentina received two submissions for private LNG import tender
Argentina confirms two companies submitted offers for its LNG import tender on 6 April Identity of companies not initially known Second round of tender selection process scheduled for 13 April, with...
US March services economy expands for 21st straight month
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US services economic activity expanded for the 21st consecutive month in March, although at a slower pace from February, according to the services purchasing managers’ (PMI) survey...
Brazil’s Braskem weighs creditor protection options; no decision yet as July deadline nears
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Braskem is considering creditor protection measures as part of a broader capital restructuring process but has not yet decided any specific measure, according to the Brazilian...
Brazil’s chemicals production extends falls in February amid wider industry’s green shoots
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazil’s chemicals production fell in February by more than 6%, year on year, well above the wider industry, where output fell by less than 1%, the country’s statistical office...
ICIS GRAPHIC: How the Iran conflict is impacting global caustic soda markets
NEW YORK--The war in the Middle East following the bombing of Iran by the US and Israel and the subsequent retaliatory responses by Iran on 28 February has brought significant volatility to energy...
Plant status: UAE’s Borouge shuts PP, PE production after missile attacks at Ruwais
DUBAI (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Borouge Location: Ruwais, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Products: Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE – high-density polyethylene (HDPE),...
Supply tightens for Asia nylon amid regional rationalization, upstream pressure
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Tightening supply in the Asia-Pacific region, compounded by firm cost pressure stemming from the Middle East conflict, is set to put further pressure on Asia nylon pricing, in spite...