Industry News
Chemical Industry News
China’s Oct MTBE exports rise from Sep on arbitrages to Europe
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) exports reached 493,212 tonnes in October, up by 8% month on month and rising to the highest level so far this year, data from the ICIS...
Malaysia’s Polymer Link debuts on national bourse
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Malaysia-based plastic powder manufacturer Polymer Link debuted flat on the Access, Certainty and Efficiency (ACE) market on national stock exchange Bursa Malaysia at ringgit (M$)...
Asia polyester prices roll over amid stable feedstocks; gloomy outlook till year end
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia polyester prices saw no change during the week amid relatively stable feedstock costs, while the market outlook is expected to remain bearish till the end of the year....
Plant status: J-PLUS eyes turnaround for Yokkaichi plasticizers plant in H2 Feb
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: J-PLUS Location: Yokkaichi, Japan Product: Plasticizers Capacity (tonnes/year): 80,000 Event start: H2 February 2026 Event finish: H2 April 2026...
Plant status: Japan’s Toa Oil eyes March turnaround for Kawasaki FCC
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Toa Oil Location: Kawasaki, Japan Product: Propylene (C3) Capacity (tonnes/year): 140,000 Event start: March 2026 Event finish: July 2026...
ICIS EXPLAINS: Complexity of new Italian Fer Z mechanism could delay implementation
The Italian energy ministry published a draft decree for a new renewable incentive mechanism on 3 November Legal and energy experts suggested that the innovative nature and complexity of the Fer Z...
Plant status: Japan’s ENEOS eyes H2 Jan turnaround for Marifu FCC
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: ENEOS Corp Location: Marifu, Japan Product: Propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 45,000 Event start: H2 January 2026 Event finish: Mid-April 2026...
Aster, Air Liquide sign agreement to produce low-carbon hydrogen in Singapore
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Air Liquide Singapore and Aster Chemicals and Energy (Aster) on 24 November said that they have signed an agreement to jointly develop a facility on Jurong Island for producing...
Plant status: China’s Chengdu Yulong targets Dec melamine turnaround
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Chengdu Yulong Chemical Location: Chengdu, Sichuan, China Product: Melamine Capacity (tonnes/year): 50,000 Event start: Early December Event...
Plant status: China’s Jiuyuan to shut melamine lines in H2 Dec
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Xinji Jiuyuan Chemical Location: Hebei, China Product: Melamine Capacity (tonnes/year): 120,000 (3 lines) Event start: 20 December 2025 Event...
Plant status: ENEOS eyes mid-Sep turnaround for Mizushima FCC
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: ENEOS Corp Location: Mizushima, Japan Product: Propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 93,000 Event start: Mid-September 2026 Event finish:...
Plant status: ENEOS eyes H1 May turnaround for Kashima FCC
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: ENEOS Corp Location: Kashima, Japan Product: Propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 92,000 Event start: H1 May 2026 Event finish: Mid-August 2026...
Scientists unveil mechanism behind greener ammonia production
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have revealed how a catalyst in a promising chemical reaction for industry helps make ammonia, a major ingredient in fertilizer. Copper oxide is a key catalyst in the electrochemical nitrate
Dresden recycling pioneer HolyPoly wins KfW Award Reasons for Saxony
The KfW development bank has recognized the plastics recycling specialist HolyPoly as the state winner in Saxony in the KfW "Founders 2025" award. The jury particularly praised the innovative approach of making recycling processes economically
A breakthrough 3D-printable polymer
A new type of 3D-printable material that gets along with the body’s immune system, pioneered by a University of Virginia research team, could lead to safer medical technology for organ transplants and drug delivery systems.
We’ll always have Paris… won’t we?
A decade on from Cop21, the Paris agreement has delivered change, but keeping it on track is getting harder
PODCAST: Europe oxo-alcohols, derivatives sluggish amid year-end inventory management
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets remain structurally weak, as participants keep inventories lean or actively destock, further reducing spot market activity. Market...
Europe MPG spot price reduces
LONDON (ICIS)--Prices in the European monopropylene glycol (MPG) spot market have reduced in the week ending 21 November. The premium for MPG USP (pharmaceutical-grade) over MPGI (industrial-grade)...
European caustic soda spot prices fall as NWE, Mediterranean lengthen
LONDON (ICIS)--European caustic soda spot prices were stable to soft in the week ending 21 November, as availability lengthened on seasonal trends. NWE FOB (free on board) spot prices fell $20/dmt on...
Europe methanol spot prices soften for second consecutive week, limited deals concluded
LONDON (ICIS)--European methanol spot prices continue their downtrend for a second consecutive week. Spot physical trading seen in the Week 47 on an FOB Rdam basis: Day Deal (€/tonne) Loading...