Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Breaking bonds and bringing disciplines together to replace one of chemistry’s most controversial molecules
Rebecca Trager meets an organic chemist catalysing the search for BPA replacements by connecting synthetic chemists, data scientists, toxicologists and polymer chemists
From whiskey waste to powerful energy storage devices
Researchers at ACS conference unveil how they repurposed a bourbon byproduct into green, high-performance supercapacitors
Traffic jams in the chemical plant
What happens between a big order coming in and going out?
Fragmented forensics in England and Wales has led to ‘postcode lottery’ with no fix in sight
Proposed forensics service would take over from individual police forces but is still likely years away
VTU Engineering Germany gets new managing director
The VTU Group announces the appointment of Dr. Mickael Planasch as the new Managing Director of VTU Engineering Deutschland GmbH. In his new role, Mickael Planasch, together with his colleague Hubert Apfelmaier, will be responsible
ALTANA increases operating sales and earnings despite difficult market environment
Despite continuing difficult market conditions, the specialty chemicals group ALTANA closed the 2025 fiscal year with an increase in operating sales. Adjusted for currency as well as acquisition and divestment effects, sales rose by 1
Not just faster, but smarter: AI that explains its discoveries
Self-driving laboratories (SDLs) powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly accelerating materials discovery, but can they also explain their results? Researchers from the Theory Department of the Fritz Haber Insitute, in collaboration with BASF, and
WACKER expands production of silicone emulsions in India
WACKER has achieved yet another milestone in the expansion of its silicone capacities in India. A new production complex for manufacturing silicone emulsions went into operation at WACKER’s Panagarh site. The facility produces GMP-certified silicones
German analysis and laboratory industry cautiously optimistic about the current year
The German industry for analytical, bioanalytical and laboratory technology (ABL) remains robust at the world's leading trade fair analytica, which will take place in Munich from March 24 to 27, 2026, even though the market
€8.5M for blue activity’s chemical-free cooling water treatment
blue activity a CleanTech water treatment company, founded in 2021, has closed a EUR 8.5 million seed funding round. The round was co-led by Wind Capital (Paris) and Venture Stars (Munich), with participation from Angel
AFPM ’26: US aromatics facing pressure from volatility and elevated energy prices
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Heading into this year’s International Petrochemical Conference (IPC), US prices of benzene, toluene and mixed xylenes (MX) have surged in March because of volatility in energy...
NYMEX: US gas futures rise alongside crude
Front-month US natural gas futures ticked higher on 24 March, recovering a portion of the previous session’s losses in line with gains in crude oil The April Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude rallies as Iran denies US talks, keeping Hormuz risk premium alive
Brent, WTI rallied after Iran rejected Trump’s claim of talks with Washington Physical market remains tight with Hormuz still effectively shut, oil flows disrupted Fresh missile strikes on Israel,...
EY-Parthenon revises US GDP growth forecast down to 2.0%, sees 40% chance of recession
NEW YORK (ICIS)--EY-Parthenon’s chief economist downgraded his 2026 US GDP growth forecast to 2.0% from a previous 2.4%, with a 40% chance of recession from the Middle East oil shock. “The Middle...
Dow revises N America PE price increase initiative for April to 30 cents/lb
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Dow is revising its proposed price hike on high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density PE (LLDPE) and low density PE (LDPE) sold in the US and Canada from a previously...
EU March epoxy stable to up; as players digest ME war fallout
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe epoxy March prices have been agreed with rollovers and rises, depending on settlement timing and agreement type, and in response to the heightened cost shocks and looming import...
Technical grade urea market to firm on lack of supply
LONDON (ICIS)--The technical grade urea (TGU) market is expected to see more tightness and increased prices due to the US-Iran conflict. In India, which is a major importer and consumer of TGU,...
AFPM ’26: Supply side constraints set tone for US caustic soda
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US caustic soda market finds itself in a unique position heading into this year’s American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) International Petrochemical Conference...
Europe E&P series glycol ethers price surge persists as spot offers remain limited
LONDON (ICIS)--Spot prices in Europe for E&P series glycol ethers have extended their gains into the latter half of March as price sentiment continues to be buoyed by declining spot availability...
European MTBE average prices continue to firm alongside stronger Eurobob values as Middle East conflict continues
LONDON (ICIS)--The European methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) average prices continued to firm in the week ending 20 March, reaching their highest level since October 2023, as stronger Eurobob...