Industry News
Chemical Industry News
UPDATE: Japan petrochemical ops unaffected by 7.5-magnitude quake
MANILA (ICIS)--Petrochemical operations in Japan were not affected by the 7.5-magnitude earthquake that rocked the northern region of the country late on 8 December, industry players said on Tuesday....
Plant status: China’s Levima Gerun starts up EVA plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Levima Gerun Location: Tengzhou, Shandong province Product: Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 Event start: 8 December...
Plant status: China’s Sinopec Guangzhou restarts LLDPE units from maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical Location: Guangdong, China Product: LLDPE Capacity (tonnes/year): 110,000 (No 1), 110,000 (No 2) Event start: 13...
Plant status: S Korea’s LG to restart PC units in mid-December
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: LG Chem Location: Yeosu, South Korea Product: Polycarbonate (PC) Capacity (tonnes/year): 170,000 (combined capacity of both lines) Event start:...
GRAPHIC DETAIL: US Plaquemines LNG cargoes support uplift in British LNG sendout
British LNG sendout gains in Winter ’25, led by South Hook South Hook sendout supported by Plaquemines cargoes Qatari offtake from Plaquemines and Golden Pass expansion may drive ongoing elevated...
ICIS EXPLAINS: Russia’s quest to reach gas markets from Kazakhstan to Turkey – part 2
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...
China’s November phenol, acetone combined output falls 5.92% month on month
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s combined output of phenol and acetone were down by 5.92% month on month to 710,000 tonnes in November 2025, according to ICIS data. A total of 440,800 tonnes of phenol and...
Seeing inside smart gels
Advances in materials science have led to the development of “smart materials,” whose properties do not remain static but change in response to external stimuli. One such material is poly( N -isopropylacrylamide), or PNIPAM, a
Atomic switches bring molecular electronics closer to reality
Silver-based atomic switches that create stable electrical connections between individual molecules and electrodes have been developed by researchers from Japan, addressing a key challenge in wiring molecular electronics. The switch operates by forming and breaking
Weaving secondary battery electrodes with fibers and tying them like ropes for both durability and performance
A joint research team led by Dr. Gyujin Song of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (President: Yi, Chang-Keun, hereafter “KIER”), Dr. Kwon-Hyung Lee of the University of Cambridge, and Professor Tae-Hee Kim of the
UK agrees higher drug prices to secure zero-tariff deal with US
NHS could pay up to 25% more for innovative drugs, but exports will be tariff free for three years
Probability model guides synthesis of interwoven catenane structure
Organic cage-like compounds selectively form intricate structure during one-pot synthesis
German caustic soda ECU contract margins fall as ECU drops
LONDON (ICIS)--Average German membrane electrochemical unit (ECU) contract margins fell in the week ending 5 December. The ECU value fell, with the calculated value of chlorine lower. Average energy...
GAS ALERT: ICE planning to launch 22-hour TTF trading, sources tell ICIS
By Brendan A' Hearn LONDON (ICIS)--The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is planning to launch 22-hour TTF trading early next year, multiple sources told ICIS. The change is likely to go live around...
INSIGHT: Global chemical markets brace for structural upheaval as trade tensions intensify
BARCELONA (ICIS)--The global chemical industry is entering a period of profound uncertainty as higher tariffs and escalating trade tensions threaten to dismantle decades of globalization. Since US...
European PVC export prices stable to soft on weak demand
LONDON (ICIS)--European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) spot prices were stable to soft in the week ended 5 December, with markets under pressure from weak demand and low-priced volumes from Asia. FOB (free...
MARGINS: Europe cracker contract margins down amid higher feedstock costs
LONDON (ICIS)--Cracker contract margins in Europe fell week on week on the back of firmer feedstock costs, ICIS Margin Analysis showed on Monday. Softer co-product credits also contributed to put...
Turkey boosts urea imports in October ahead of expected European buying spike
LONDON (ICIS)--In Turkey, urea imports in October jumped up to 112,780 tonnes compared to 31,266 tonnes in October 2024, according to customs data, as importers stepped up purchases on expectations...
Europe caustic soda spot prices fall on weak demand, healthy availability
LONDON (ICIS)--European caustic soda spot prices were stable-to-soft in the week ending 5 December, according to market sources. FOB (free on board) NWE spot prices fell $20/dmt on the high end, to...
Europe PX spot prices up on stronger Asian market; OX values down amid long global supply
LONDON (ICIS)--European paraxylene (PX) spot prices were assessed higher in the week to 5 December, while orthoxylene (OX) prompt values declined, according to market feedback gathered by ICIS. PX...