Industry News
Chemical Industry News
S Korea isomer MX spot export prices rise further on intensifying Middle East conflict
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea’s isomer-grade mixed xylenes (MX) registered gains on 6 April, reflecting higher upstream values against a backdrop of intensifying conflict in the Middle East....
Japan’s naphtha, chemical intermediate stocks sufficient beyond June – PM
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japan has doubled its non-Middle East naphtha imports and maintained refineries running in order to meet consumer demand beyond June, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. Japan...
Update to ICIS Topics: US-Iran conflict – impact on chemicals, energy
Visit the ICIS US-Iran conflict: impact on chemical and energy markets topic page for the latest updates and analysis. UAE's Borouge shuts Ruwais complex operations More Mideast energy/petchem...
Supply insecurity continues to push Asia PET prices above rPET
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Supply disruption in southeast Asian polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from the Middle East conflict has driven spot prices above those for recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET)...
Overnight upstream gains push Asian PX prices higher
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asian paraxylene (PX) prices were higher, tracking further gains seen in upstream crude markets. On 6 April, a deal for PX for June shipment was done at $1,272/tonne CFR (cost &...
India’s DCM Shriram commissions Phase 2 of 52,000 tonne/year ECH plant
MUMBAI (ICIS)--India’s DCM Shriram commissioned the second phase of its 52,000 tonne/year epichlorohydrin (ECH) plant at its Jhagadia complex, in the Bharuch district of the western Gujarat state...
Asia PA prices up on costs; uncertainty caps long-term outlook
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s phthalic anhydride (PA) market firmed during the week ended 2 April, supported by firmer feedstock costs and constrained supply, although sentiment remained cautious amid...
Plant status: UAE’s Borouge shuts crackers amid missile attacks at Ruwais
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Borouge Location: Ruwais, UAE Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 3.6 million (ethylene), 120,000 (propylene) across three...
Attacks on Mideast energy, petrochemical facilities intensify
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Attacks on energy and petrochemicals infrastructure in the Middle East amid the US-Israel and Iran war have intensified, forcing several major regional producers to halt operations,...
Solvent MX outpaces isomer MX amid strained supply, overall outlook bleak
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea solvent-grade mixed xylenes (MX) export prices rose significantly above prices for isomer-grade MX on 2 April, going against the typical price structure seen throughout...
S Korea isomer MX prices rebound amid upstream volatility
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) spot prices from South Korea were assessed as firmer on 2 April, tracking rebounds in an upstream market fraught with unpredictability. Market...
India suspends LAB import certification for three months
MUMBAI (ICIS)--The Indian government has suspended its quality control order (QCO) for imports of linear alkyl benzene (LAB) for three months to ensure uninterrupted availability of the chemical. The...
ICIS GRAPHIC: How Asian countries responded to energy shortage in March
Singapore (ICIS)--One month into the Middle East conflict, ICIS has reported extensively on how Asian markets responded to trade disruption and domestic fuel shortage. Here is a map wrap of how key...
UAE’s Borouge halts Ruwais complex operations – state media
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Borouge has halted operations at its Ruwais petrochemical complex in the UAE after falling debris from an attack ignited multiple fires at the site, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said...
US March butac contract, distributor and spot export prices rise due to tightening supply, significant rise in energy costs
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US butyl acetate (butac) prices have risen sharply in March following a significant rise in energy costs and ongoing supply issues. Contract prices for March butac rose between 10-12...
Asia-US container rates rise slightly, chem tanker rates higher on Middle East conflict
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US edged higher this week, while rates for liquid chemical tankers out of the US Gulf rose further amid the ongoing war...
NYMEX: Higher US LNG exports balance rising gas supply
US natural gas futures made no settlement on 3 April as markets were closed in observance of the Good Friday holiday The May Henry Hub contract on NYMEX last settled at $2.800/MMBtu on 2 April,
Intrepid Potash sells majority of New Mexico oilfield solutions operations for $70 million
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US fertilizer producer Intrepid Potash announced that it has agreed to sell most of the assets of the Intrepid South Ranch in New Mexico to Hydrosource Logistics for $70 million. The...
US March auto sales rise for second month, but continue to lag year-ago levels
HOUSTON (ICIS)--March sales of new light vehicles rose by 3.7% from February but are down significantly from the same month a year ago as elevated prices continue to weigh on the industry, one of the...
AFPM ’26: INSIGHT: Middle East crisis to trigger tectonic shift in global petrochemicals
NEW YORK (ICIS)--The Iran war and crisis in the Middle East will spur tectonic shifts in the global petrochemical industry as security of supply becomes paramount, and competitiveness dynamics are...