Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Asia PA demand weakens as naphthalene-based prices strengthen slightly
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's phthalic anhydride (PA) markets were mixed during the week, as weak downstream demand continued to weigh on buying interest across the region. In China, softer orthoxylene...
Update to ICIS Topics – European biomethane: data, news and analysis
Visit the ICIS European biomethane: data, news and analysis topic page for latest updates and analysis. Week 25 key developments include: German market trades ahead of gas price drop Five-year...
How learning languages helps me become a better scientist
Lessons from a multicultural scientific journey
DECHEMA Research Institute opens new site in Bad Homburg
The DECHEMA Research Institute (DFI) officially opened its new premises in Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe. Modern laboratory and office facilities have been built at Benzstraße 1–3, offering optimal conditions for cutting-edge research in the
AI model fills in the gaps in crystal structures by placing missing hydrogen atoms
Model may help fix existing structures in the database or better simulate new materials
Malaysia May chemical exports rise 2.6%, overall shipments surge 45%
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Malaysia's exports of chemicals and chemical products rose by 2.6% year on year to ringgit (M$) 5.49 billion ($1.32 billion) in May, supporting an overall surge in shipments abroad,...
One-step photochemical method switches nitrogen and carbon to convert pyrazoles into imidazoles
Transformation tolerates a broad range of functional groups while preserving the peripheral substitution of the heterocycle
Japan’s May core inflation holds steady as subsidies help offset higher energy costs
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japan’s core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes volatile fresh food costs, rose by 1.4% year on year in May, holding steady from April as fuel subsidies helped to mitigate...
Italy’s GSE publishes third biomethane concession acts under NRRP funds scheme
This story is part of the ICIS biomethane report, which we are currently testing with our customers. You can access the latest version of the test report here. LONDON (ICIS)--Italy’s GSE has...
German biogas association calls for changes to planning rules and higher capacity limits for plants
This story is part of the ICIS biomethane report, which we are currently testing with our customers. You can access the latest version of the test report here. LONDON (ICIS)--On 15 June, Germany’s...
Plant status: Idemitsu extends Malaysia SM plant maintenance to late June
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Idemitsu SM Malaysia Location: Pasir Gudang, Malaysia Product: Styrene monomer (SM) Capacity (tonnes/year): 240,000 Event start: 1 May 2026...
Ukraine scales up biomethane output with new capacity and EU exports – IEA
This story is part of the ICIS biomethane report, which we are currently testing with our customers. You can access the latest version of the test report here. LONDON (ICIS)--The International Energy...
Irish regulator updates biomethane connections policy to support grid injection
This story is part of the ICIS biomethane report, which we are currently testing with our customers. You can access the latest version of the test report here. LONDON (ICIS)--Ireland’s Commission...
Asia BD squeezed by heavy losses in China, weak demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Massive losses in China’s domestic butadiene (BD) market are crippling discussions for imports at a time when downstream demand support is already shaky across Asia. On 18 June,...
Plant status: S Korea’s OCI conducts PA plant maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: OCI Location: Pohang, South Korea Product: Phthalic anhydride (PA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 80,000 (combined capacity of two lines) Event start:...
Plant status: S Korea’s LG Chem to overhaul Yeosu phenol/acetone plant late Oct
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: LG Chem Location: Yeosu, South Korea Product: Phenol; acetone Capacity (tonnes/year): No 1 line - 300,000 (phenol); 180,000 (acetone) Event...
Oil stays below $80/barrel as US-Iran deal takes effect
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Oil prices were extending losses in early Friday, with Brent crude staying below $80/barrel for the fourth day, as vessel traffic starts trickling through the Strait of Hormuz...
Rare-earth-free zinc oxide achieves a first in stress-to-light conversion
Mechanoluminescent materials convert mechanical energy such as stress, strain, and vibration directly into light, making them attractive as self-powered sensors that require no batteries or wiring. From biomedical sensors to self-powered infrastructure monitoring sensors, mechanoluminescent
Ru-based catalyst drives electrified lignin upgrading into high-value fuels
Lignin is one of the most abundant renewable aromatic resources on Earth. As a major component of plant biomass, it contains rich benzene-ring structures that could be transformed into high-value chemicals and fuel molecules. However,
Designable van der Waals crystal realizes artificial neuronal cell mimicking with light
A research team led by Professor Taesung Kim of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU, President Ji-beom Yoo) developed an optoelectronic synaptic device that mimics the functions of human neurons and synapses