Industry News
Chemical Industry News
German October manufacturing orders rise 1.5%, led by defense; chemicals flat
LONDON (ICIS)--New orders in Germany’s manufacturing sector rose by 1.5% month on month in October, following an upward-revised 2.0% September increase (initial estimate: +1.1%), according to...
UK power prices unlikely to be impacted on decisions made from UK ETS Authority
UK ETS Authority responds to the future markets policy consultation, with decisions of increasing the ARP, keeping the CCM and rejecting the SAM UKA prices are unlikely to be impacted, reducing any...
Plant status: YNCC runs No 1 and 2 crackers lower for December
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: YNCC Location: Yeosu, South Korea Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 1.815 million (ethylene), 1.066 million (propylene)...
Europe PET spot demand subdued amid contract uncertainty, rationalization and import probes
LONDON (ICIS)--The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) spot market in Europe remains muted at year-end, with activity limited to essential purchases. Global trade is flat, and investigations into PET...
Europe PA contract price steady into December
LONDON (ICIS)--The European phthalic anhydride (PA) contract price for December has rolled over, tracking the feedstock orthoxylene (OX) December contract price. Though there were higher mixed...
ICIS launches Europe styrene Blended Formula Index
LONDON (ICIS)--This week, ICIS begins the monthly assessment of the new Europe styrene Blended Formula Index. The December Blended Formula Index was assessed at €864/tonne. The Index comprises...
Plant status: South Korea’s LG Chem restarts cracker following turnaround
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: LG Chem Location: Daesan, South Korea Products: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 1.27 million ethylene, 700,000 propylene Event...
Raj Shah: ‘A good laugh in the lab is often as important as a good reagent’
The award-winning chartered chemical engineer celebrates mentoring, curiosity and lubrication
EU Q3 GDP estimate revised up as government spending increases
LONDON (ICIS)--EU GDP rose 0.4% quarter on quarter for the July-September period, despite import growth outstripping export demand, as government spending increased, statistics body Eurostat said on...
Europe Group II base oils extend bearish trend
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s Group II base oils remained under pressure this week as ample supply continued to weigh on the spot market, while arbitrage opportunities remained rife. Asian imports became...
Europe DINP and DPHP prices soften on weak fundamentals
LONDON (ICIS)--European plasticizer spot prices were assessed lower for diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and dipropyl heptyl phthalate (DPHP), while dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) prices are stable. Spot...
CBAM looms over Europe ammonia market as Tampa price holds steady for December
LONDON (ICIS)--The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) continues to be the main worry in the European ammonia market, while the Tampa contract price settled at a rollover for December. Tampa...
PODCAST: Trump’s trade war is driving new business models for chemicals
BARCELONA (ICIS)--Since the US Liberation Day, chemical prices and margins have plummeted, while tariffs are also accelerating the end of existing globalised business models. Tariffs are altering...
China BD forward export talks pick up; supply-demand mismatch lingers
SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- China’s butadiene (BD) prices edged up in early December after fluctuating at low levels in late November. Exports drew support from increased import demand from Japan and South...
Statements alone don’t make labs inclusive for disabled chemists
Leaders need to provide proactive support to disabled employees making adjustment requests
Europe OX contract price rolls over in December
LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe orthoxylene (OX) contract price for December has settled at a rollover, following three consecutive months of declines. Settlements between three buyers and one seller were...
Urea demand dries up for December-January 2026
LONDON (ICIS)--The outlook is weak for urea as buying interest remains sparse across regions due to oversupply and delayed demand, while Indian requirements are already satisfied. Buying slows toward...
Swiss researchers glad to have rejoined EU science schemes but ponder damage of exclusion
The country officially rejoined Horizon Europe and a range of other programmes in November but what did it cost its science base?
Asia C12 lauric acid sees demand as feedstock PKO rises in Indonesia
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia fatty acids market is seeing increased demand for C12 lauric acid, as prices bottom out, prompting Chinese buyers to stock up ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays, which falls...
ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 5 December 2025
- Planned maintenance has rendered 28.4mcm/day offline on 5 December - Gassco - Chevron has taken a final investment decision on the A$3 billion Gorgon Stage 3 backfill off Western Australia,...