Industry News
Chemical Industry News
East China xylene port inventories down on no cargo arrivals
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Xylene inventories at east China ports decreased to 41,800 tonnes in the reporting period ended 11 December due to no arrivals, according to ICIS data. The inventories were down by...
East China toluene port inventories higher on more arrivals
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Toluene inventories at east China ports increased to 50,700 tonnes in the reporting period ended 11 December on more arrivals, according to ICIS data. The inventory was up by around...
ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 11 December 2025
- The wide ICIS TTF discount to the East Asia Index (EAX) increases the chance of US LNG swinging to Asia, despite Europe currently receiving record-breaking US volumes, as continued supply growth...
Plant status: China’s Shanxi Lu’an to restart Group III base oils unit in late Dec
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shanxi Lu’an Group Location: Changzhi, Shanxi, China Product: Group III coal-based base oils Capacity (tonnes/year): 350,005 Event start: 27...
China Nov vehicles sales rise 3.4% to 3.43 million units amid policy stimulus
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s vehicle sales reached 3.43 million units in November, up by 3.4% year on year and 3.2% month on month, data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM)...
Plant status: India’s TPL plans LAB maintenance and expansion in Mid-Dec
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Tamilnadu Petroproducts Limited (TPL) Location: Chennai, India Product: Linear alkylbenzene (LAB) Capacity (tonnes/year): 145,000 (to add...
Plant status: China’s Sinopec Shanghai restarts PP Line 3
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinopec Shanghai PC Location: Jinshanwei, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 Event start: 21 November Event...
Plant status: Taiwan’s FPCC eyes base oils maintenance in Q4 2026
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Formosa Petrochemical Corp (FPCC) Location: Mailiao, Taiwan Product: Group II base oils Capacity (tonnes/year): 600,000 Event start: Q4 2026...
ICIS EXPLAINS: Russia’s quest to reach gas markets from Kazakhstan to Turkey – part 4
After losing most of its European gas market share, Russia pivoted east, in search of new consumers. China was an obvious target but as its big-ticket expansion projects are yet to advance, it’s...
Plant status: Singapore’s Aster to cease MEG production by Q1 2027-sources
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Aster Chemicals and Energy Location: Jurong, Singapore Product: Monoethylene glycol (MEG) Capacity (tonnes/year): 900,000 Event start: Q1 2027...
Ultra-thin two-dimensional materials observed for the first time in a state between solid and liquid
When ice melts into water, this happens quickly, the transition from solid to liquid is immediate. However, very thin materials do not adhere to these rules. This is where an unusual state between solid and
The chemical-pharmaceutical industry is on a difficult path
Germany's industry has had an exhausting year. The situation for chemical and pharmaceutical companies has also worsened. "The industry is sending out an SOS. 2025 was another very difficult year for our sector and the
ERC Consolidator Grant for Dr. Felix Gunkel and “Scrambled Oxs”
Dr. Felix Gunkel from the Electronic Materials Division at the Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-7) at Forschungszentrum Jülich has been awarded a Consolidator Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). Over the next five years, his
Learning computational chemistry in a new role
A change of team brings new opportunities to build knowledge
Unexpected stability theorised in positron-bound beryllium dimers
Simulations challenge conventional ideas about positronic interactions
Bacteria tweaked to produce high yields of colour-changing pigment behind octopus camouflage
Dangled carrot of formic acid fuel drives engineered bacteria to make cephalopod dye at yields a thousand times higher than conventional means
New microscope can image an invisible 2D material
Researchers from the Physical Chemistry and Theory departments at the Fritz Haber Institute have found a new way to image layers of boron nitride that are only a single atom thick. This material is usually
A new type of copper from the nuclear reactor
Cu-64 is a copper isotope that is required for medical applications. However, it is very difficult to produce. A new, alternative method has now been found at TU Wien. The copper isotope Cu-64 plays an
Microplastics filter inspired by fish
Wastewater from washing machines is considered a major source of microplastics – tiny plastic particles that are suspected of harming human and animal health. Researchers at the University of Bonn now have developed a filter
Photo of coiling net-caster spider silk wins Royal Society competition
Stunning electron micrograph of silk structure among 10 scientific photos to win prizes