Industry News
Chemical Industry News
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude prices steadier as prospect of further US-Iran talks looms
Persian Gulf shipping remains at standstill while US blockades Iranian ports Last Middle East cargoes now reaching customers promise tight physical market US crude exports up by over 1 million...
Europe ECH players navigate cost shocks for April, likely to reverberate beyond
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe epichlorohydrin (ECH) price talks are more dynamic this month, driven by the sharp jump in costs - in particular propylene, induced by the Middle East war. While costs have...
US Gulf Coast refiners, chems see highest margins since 2022 – Fed
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Refiners and petrochemical producers along the US Gulf Coast are reporting their highest margins since 2022 in the wake of the war in Iran, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday in...
N America chemical rail traffic rises 8.3%, for 10th straight increase
HOUSTON (ICIS)--North American chemical railcar traffic rose 8.3% year on year, to 50,369 loadings for the week ended 11 April, marking a 10th consecutive increase, according to freight rail...
MOVES: Borouge International appoints Patrick Jany as CFO
LONDON (ICIS)--Borouge Group International ("Borouge International") has appointed Patrick Jany as its chief financial officer (CFO), effective 1 May, it said on Wednesday. Austria-based Borouge...
Europe extrusion grade PC prices rise in April
LONDON (ICIS)--Extrusion grade polycarbonate (PC) prices have risen in April as higher feedstock, energy and logistics costs fed through to buyers. Note: The red line represents real prices seen in...
Panic buying drops on European refinery solvents truck market, supply, feedstocks drive prices
LONDON (ICIS)--Panic buying appears to have eased on the European refinery solvents markets this week, with higher average prices for solvent naphtha (C9), white spirit, and hexane boosted by...
European fuel oil strength holds as ARA stocks hit multiyear lows; HSFO-VLSFO spread volatile
LONDON (ICIS)--European fuel oil markets continued to trade on firm footing, supported by persistently tight prompt fundamentals and sharply declining inventories at the key...
Major NE Asia PVC producer issues higher May offer to India
MUMBAI (ICIS)--A major northeast Asian producer has announced its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) offer to India for May at $1,120/tonne CFR (cost and freight) India. The offer is $300/tonne higher than the...
Iran war, energy costs weigh on US builder confidence
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Risks from the Iran war, higher energy costs, and a declining consumer mood have slowed the US housing market and are hitting builder confidence, the National Association of Home...
Europe BDO downstream demand vulnerability still key concern even with lack of imports
LONDON (ICIS)--In light of the high levels of uncertainty amid the Middle East conflict, European butanediol (BDO) market players are seeing difficulties mount, with little sign of respite soon....
PODCAST: Poland bets on LNG and tariff reform to strengthen CEE gas hub status
LONDON (ICIS)--Since Russia sharply reduced gas supplies to Europe in 2022, Poland has emerged as a key regional gas crossroads, underpinned by its Swinoujscie LNG terminal, expanded interconnections...
Europe chemicals production edged up in February ahead of Middle East crisis
LONDON (ICIS)--Chemicals production in Europe trended up in February compared with the previous month, according to the latest data from Eurostat on Wednesday. Chemicals output in the EU rose by 0.5%...
Plant status: Malaysia’s PETRONAS concludes unplanned maintenance at Bintulu nitrogen unit
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: PETRONAS Chemicals Group Location: Bintulu, Malaysia Product: Granular urea and ammonia Capacity (tonnes/year): Around 660,000 of urea and 450,000...
LNG charter rates still under pressure in Pacific as Atlantic sees slight rebound
Charter rates largely steady-to-weaker, with some rebound in Atlantic after drops last week Enquiry and fixture numbers in Atlantic rose this week Pacific remains relatively muted with geopolitics...
Asian buyers on the hunt for ammonia cargoes due to lack of Middle East supply as prices rise
LONDON (ICIS)--Asia ammonia buyers will be scrambling for product due to a lack of supply from the Middle East, especially India. India imports ammonia for phosphates production, and in 2025 imported...
FORTNIGHTLY MARKET COMMENT: ZTP falls as regional hubs shed value
LONDON (ICIS)--Belgium’s ZTP May ’26 contract was assessed at €42.588/MWh on 14 April, a 22% decline from 30 March – tracking losses on the regional benchmark TTF. The falls comes amid...
FORTNIGHTLY MARKET COMMENT: Strong renewables keep PVB Day-ahead at wide discount to TTF
LONDON (ICIS)--Geopolitical sentiment and bearish weather fundamentals were the main PVB price drivers of the fortnight between 30 March and 14 April. The PVB Day-ahead followed the Dutch...
Europe base oils Group III spot climbs further as severe shortages continue
LONDON (ICIS)--European base oils Group III spot prices jumped significantly this week, with no signs of easing tightness in the region. Values for 4cSt increased €200/tonne this week, to...
CSS/CDS MONTHLY: German gas plant profitability rebounds but is likely to stay negative amid ceasefire uncertainty
By James Riley and Johnathan Hamilton-Eve LONDON (ICIS)--German clean spark spreads (CSS) have increased since mid‑March, signaling a rise in gas-fired profitability, although plants are likely to...