Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Europe PS December contract prices rise, driven by styrene
LONDON (ICIS)--December contract prices have increased €20/tonne in the European polystyrene (PS) market, mainly driven by the €21/tonne increase for upstream styrene for December. This is...
Europe EPS December contract prices slightly rise, for the first time since March 2025
LONDON (ICIS)--December contract prices have increased €15/tonne in the European expandable polystyrene (EPS) market, the first increase since March 2025. The EPS price increase was mainly driven...
Europe ABS December contract prices roll over
LONDON (ICIS)--December contract prices in the Europe acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market have rolled over, driven by composite feedstock costs including the €21/tonne contract price...
Ascend Performance Materials emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with Silver Point as majority owner
NEW YORK (ICIS)--US-based nylon and engineered materials producer Ascend Performance Materials, has completed its financial restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company’s Plan...
US PP contract prices settle flat in December
HOUSTON (ICIS)--December polypropylene (PP) prices settled flat at 47.5 cents/lb. The final settled price is reflected in the US PP report dated 19 December 2025. PP is used for packaging, film,...
UPM starts sugar production at German biomass-to-glycols refinery
HOUSTON (ICIS)--UPM has started producing industrial sugars from biomass at its complex in Leuna, Germany, a key step towards the full startup of the biorefinery, which will convert the sugars into...
Opposition mounts as UP-NS rail merger application submitted to US regulator
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Class 1 US railroads Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) submitted their merger application to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Friday, and multiple trade groups...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Brent edges above $60/barrel on geopolitical tensions in otherwise saturated market
Trump says “I don’t rule it out” when asked about potential war with Venezuela EU agrees substantial loan to support Ukraine Putin’s end-of-year speech did little to suggest peace with...
European acetone truck spot steady but firmer targets emerge
LONDON (ICIS)--European acetone free delivered (FD) spot prices were steady this week, although more business was being quoted towards the top of the range compared with previous weeks. Spot markets...
Indian Peroxide to build caustic soda plant
LONDON (ICIS)--Indian Peroxide Limited (IPL) plans to develop a 400 tonnes/day caustic soda plant at its Dahej site in Gujarat state, it said in a statement. Expected startup: October 2026 Potential...
US existing home sales rise for third month, but inventory growth stalls
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Sales of existing homes in the US rose by 0.5% month on month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million in November, for a third consecutive increase, the National...
Europe BPA spot prices largely stable, amid year-end wind-down
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe bisphenol A (BPA) spot prices are showing relative stability this week in a thinly traded market ahead of the Christmas holidays. Liquidity is very low, with only one full truck...
Asia-Europe and Europe-Asia chemical tanker spot rates rise
LONDON (ICIS)--Chemical tanker spot freight rates on Asia-to-Europe and the reverse Europe-to-Asia routes strengthened in the week ending 19 December compared with the previous week, based on market...
US consumer sentiment ticks up, unemployment fears persist
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US consumer sentiment improved slightly in December, despite persistent fears of unemployment, the University of Michigan said in its final December consumer sentiment report on...
Plant status: Kem One’s Fos and Lavera chlor-alkali production fully restored
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Kem One Locations: Fos and Lavera, France Products: Caustic soda, chlorine Capacity (tonnes/year): Fos: caustic soda 364,000 (dmt), chlorine...
Polish gas imports soar as power sector continues to drive strong demand
Well above-average Polish gas demand driven by power sector Withdrawals from storage weak, market balancing on imports Import demand driving significant regional price spreads, day-ahead bookings...
Transatlantic west chemical tanker spot rates edge down
LONDON (ICIS)--Chemical tanker spot freight rates on transatlantic (TA) westbound routes softened in the week ending 19 December compared with the previous week, based on market feedback. The move in...
ICIS POWER INSIGHT WEEK 51 NEWS IN BRIEF
This news summary was generated via Ask ICIS LONDON (ICIS)--Please find below a short summary of the key power stories ICIS published in week 51. UK power January ’26 at discount to Dutch, German...
WEEKLY POWER OUTLOOK: Cold snap could support power spot prices across CWE region in week 52
LONDON (ICIS)--Forecasts of a cold snap in central western Europe through week 52 should support power spot prices in the region. CWE OUTLOOK MetDesk forecasts below to well-below average...
ICIS GAS INSIGHT WEEK 51 NEWS IN BRIEF
This news summary was generated via Ask ICIS LONDON (ICIS)--Please find below a short summary of the key gas stories ICIS published in week 51. GRAPHIC DETAIL: LNG arrivals could cap risk for...