Industry News
Chemical Industry News
The JWST reveals the molecular origins of planetary systems
The world’s most expensive infrared spectrometer – the James Webb Space Telescope – is unearthing extraordinary exoplanet chemistry. James Mitchell Crow looks to the skies
BLOG: US automakers running out of road due to lack of EV and robotaxi options
LONDON (ICIS)--Click here to see the latest blog post on Chemicals & The Economy by Paul Hodges, which focuses on the problems facing legacy US automakers due to their lack of EV and robotaxi...
ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 15 December 2025
- ICIS weekly buy/sell ratio signals more sells than buys for TTF front month, indicating a weak market - Planned maintenance will not impact capacity on 15 December - GASSCO - Above-average...
Asia MA firms on higher costs; India demand improves
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Maleic anhydride (MA) prices in southeast Asia strengthened in the week ending 12 December, supported by higher freight rates and firmer feedstock costs. China-origin...
China acetic acid run rate inches up on operational ramp-up
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China acetic acid plants’ average run rate slightly rebounded as Jiangsu Sopo raised run rate to 70% and Guangxi Huayi resumed full production. While Henan Shunda cut operating...
Plant status: Iran’s Kaveh Methanol Company shuts plant on gas issue
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Kaveh Methanol Company Location: Dayer, Iran Product: Methanol Capacity (tonnes/year): 2,300,000 Event start: Mid-December 2025 Event finish:...
GRAPHIC DETAIL: LNG arrivals could cap risk for depleting Spanish storage sites
Spain's underground storage sites 76% full, LNG stocks 69% full on 11 December (ICIS data) Spain must rely on steady LNG arrivals to avoid storage depletion in Q1 2026 Contracted LNG capacity, higher...
MEGlobal’s Jan MEG ACP down by $30/tonne
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--MEGlobal has nominated its January 2026 monoethylene glycol (MEG) Asian Contract Price (ACP) at $580/tonne, a company source said. The January nomination is $30/tonne lower...
UK power January ’26 at discount to Dutch, German contracts, but imports from France likely
UK power January ’26 contracts at discount to Dutch, German counterparts, but at premium to French prices Weather, transmission outages key UK power price drivers through front month, UK likely to...
Plant status: China’s Shandong Chengtai to shut MTBE plant for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shandong Chengtai Chemical Location: Weifang, Shandong, China Product: Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) Capacity (tonnes/year): 135,000 Event...
China BPA average plant run rate largely stable at 70.2%
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The average run rate of China’s bisphenol A (BPA) plants was at around 70.2% in the week ended 12 December 2025, largely stable with the last reporting period, ICIS data showed....
China’s average run rate of PO plants falls to 69.8% on operational cuts
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s propylene oxide (PO) plants posted an average run rate at 69.8% in the week ended 12 December 2025, down by 1.1 percentage points from the last reporting period, ICIS data...
Biodegradable polymers: Andreas Künkel receives the Meyer-Galow Prize for Industrial Chemistry 2025
Professor Dr. Andreas Künkel, BASF SE, Vice President, Head of Biodegradation & Microplastics Research is awarded the Meyer-Galow Prize for Industrial Chemistry 2025. He receives the prize for the further development of structural and functional
Chemical recycling: a must-have for the future of the site
A new Conversio study shows: Germany could recycle significantly more plastics. Chemical processes offer additional opportunities as a supplement to mechanical recycling - especially for waste that can hardly be recycled to a high standard
SABIC expands PPE oligomers capacity for AI and 5G data-center PCBs
SABIC has announced another incremental expansion phase for the production of its specialty oligomers based on polyphenylene ether (PPE) technology. The commitment builds on previous capacity increases in Asia and meets with the rapidly growing
USTMA lowers 2025 tire forecast in December
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) in December lowered its forecast for 2025 tire sales but still expects total sales slightly above last year’s record. In July, the...
Asia-US container rates mostly lower as soft demand outweighs efforts to tighten capacity
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US were mostly lower this week as efforts by carriers to tighten capacity to support rates have not been enough to offset...
TCL begins pre-commissioning and pre-startup of new US MA plant
HOUSTON (ICIS)--A subsidiary of Thirumalai Chemicals Limited (TCL) has begun pre-commissioning and pre-startup of its new facility in West Virginia, according to a company press release. TCL...
US FMC to end production at unspecified plants
HOUSTON (ICIS)--FMC is ending production and manufacturing at some of its sites as part of a comprehensive plan intended to cut costs, the US-based agrochemical producer said on Friday. In all, FMC...
NYMEX: US gas futures ease with widespread bearish temperatures
Front-month US natural gas futures eased on 12 December on warmer weather outlook The January 2026 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $4.113/MMBtu, down nearly 2.8% from the previous session Per...