Industry News
Chemical Industry News
China’s urea exports increase further in November but pace slowing
LONDON (ICIS)--In China, urea exports continued to increase in November after the removal of export restrictions, reaching 601,810 tonnes compared with just 2,220 tonnes in November 2024, according...
South Korea sulphuric acid interactive trade map January-November 2025
LONDON (ICIS)--South Korea’s Trade Statistics Promotion Institute (KTSPI) has released sulphuric acid trade data for January-November...
Europe chemicals flows September 2025
LONDON (ICIS)--Below is EU+UK chemicals import and export data for September 2025 from the ICIS Supply and Demand Database. Select a commodity from the drop-down menu below: Interactive content...
Europe PP contract settled at rollover to down for December
LONDON (ICIS)--European December polypropylene (PP) contracts were agreed at rollovers to down. Many agreements were made at the initial offers of rollover but some players separately achieved...
INSIGHT: Asia imports to remain a challenge for European PA and plasticizers sellers despite subdued demand
LONDON (ICIS)--Competitive imports from Asia are set to remain a defining feature of the European phthalic anhydride (PA) and plasticizers markets in 2026, despite demand staying subdued. Higher...
OUTLOOK ’26: Fragile support, structural headwinds for Europe benzene market
LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe benzene market enters 2026 facing entrenched structural challenges, with weak derivative demand and limited export flexibility expected to outweigh recent, largely...
China interactive fertilizer trade flow map January-November 2025
LONDON (ICIS)--Fertilizer import and export data for January-November 2025 has been released by the China Customs Statistics. Please select a product from the dropdown menu...
Arkema proposes sale of plastic additives assets, Netherlands site divestment
LONDON (ICIS)--Arkema is proposing to sell its global methyl methacrylate butadiene styrene (MBS) along with its acrylic copolymers (ACR) operations in Europe and Asia to India-based specialties firm...
Plant Status: BASF lifts FM on ethylene glycols from Antwerp, Belgium
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: BASF Location: Antwerp, Belgium Product: Ethylene glycol (EG) Capacity (tonnes/year): 325,000 Event start: 26 November Event finish: Assumed 19-23...
OUTLOOK ’26: Europe base oils domestic availability to lengthen, export demand to rise
LONDON (ICIS)--While the European domestic base oils market is set to be well supplied and face further competition from growing global base oil volumes in 2026, the export market will continue to...
INSIGHT: Global AA and acrylate ester markets face persistent challenges of weak demand and oversupply in 2026
LONDON (ICIS)--The global acrylic acid (AA) and acrylate ester markets are entering 2026 under the shadow of ongoing challenges that defined 2025. In Europe, weak demand from key downstream sectors...
OUTLOOK ’26: Europe plasticizer sellers grapple with soft demand amid competitive imports
LONDON (ICIS)--European plasticizer markets are expected to continue 2025’s trends in 2026, with participants concerned about weak demand, economic challenges, import competition, high production...
EU passenger car registrations up 1.4% in November year to date, but remain below pre-pandemic levels
LONDON (ICIS)--New passenger car registrations in the EU rose 1.4% in November year to date, but remain well below pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest data from the European Automobile...
China’s Nov toluene exports hit yearly high on domestic supply pressure
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s toluene exports in November rose to a record high for the year amid domestic supply pressure, according to the ICIS Supply and Demand Database. The exports in November...
INSIGHT: Leaked EU Commission pre-disclosure outlines intention to raise ABS anti dumping duties against South Korea
LONDON (ICIS)--The European Commission has outlined its latest plan to sharply raise anti-dumping duties on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) imports from South Korea, according to a...
Europe isocyanates January discussions to centre on production issues
LONDON (ICIS)--Negotiations for various isocyanates have commenced in the European market for January, with a common topic of discussion being the differing production constraints affecting each...
OUTLOOK ’26: Europe MMA faces weak demand and margin pressures again in 2026
LONDON (ICIS)--The challenges that have blighted the Europe MMA market throughout 2025 are set to roll through into 2026, with the underlying picture set to be a “copy and paste” of the year just...
Europe polyols January talks to focus on market dynamics
LONDON (ICIS)--Negotiations for polyols for January in the European market are currently in progress, with discussions primarily centered on demand trends and the prevailing supply situation,...
China November lubricant imports drop further on weak end-user demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s lubricant imports dropped further by 5.26% month on month to 23,643 tonnes in November, according to the ICIS Supply & Demand Database. The continuous fall for the...
OUTLOOK ’26: Europe phenol and acetone face flat demand and margin pressure in 2026
LONDON (ICIS)--European phenol and its coproduct acetone may struggle to find balance in 2026, with supply likely to outweigh consumption of acetone once again. Phenol and acetone demand flat in...