Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Europe rHDPE NWE bale prices fall, UK bale prices rise on PRNs
LONDON (ICIS)--NWE mixed-coloured recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) bale spot prices fell on the low end of the range in November, as UK mixed-coloured and natural bale prices rose. The fall...
Asia PA market mixed as China softens and SE Asia fluctuates
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Phthalic anhydride (PA) markets across Asia were mixed in the week ending 28 November, with overall sentiment remaining weak. In China, orthoxylene (OX) values held steady while...
Chemical Profile: US MA
Uses Maleic anhydride (MA) is primarily used in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins (UPR), which are used in applications such as recreational boats, bathroom fixtures, automobiles,...
Revived claims that antibiotics don’t kill bacteria with reactive oxygen prove controversial
Researchers say that multiple lines of evidence for hypothesis have now been undermined
Chemical profile: Europe PE
Uses Polyethylene (PE) is the most used of all commodity thermoplastics. There are three primary grades – high density PE (HDPE), linear low density PE (LLDPE) and low density PE (LDPE). In...
Asian MA market firms as China strengthens, year-end demand softens
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Maleic anhydride (MA) markets across Asia firmed in the week ending 28 November, supported by stronger domestic sentiment in China and a slight uptick in export discussions into...
Thailand PP demand affected by floods, some suppliers accept discounts to sell
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--With demand impacted by adverse weather conditions and slow finished goods sales, some Thailand polypropylene (PP) suppliers have started to accept discounts again as they push for...
INSIGHT: Core global petchems hubs diversify markets despite trade fears
LONDON (ICIS)--The concept of regionalisation has been a talking point in the chemicals sector in the face of greater global geopolitical uncertainty, but the trend so far for key hubs in 2025 has to...
Vietnam PP transactions limited, converters sidelined after earlier restocking
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Spot activity involving polypropylene (PP) in Vietnam was weak, with converters moving to the sidelines after restocking earlier. Some non-dutiable flat yarn cargoes of South Korean...
Europe PC production still covers most consumption
LONDON (ICIS)--ICIS consumption and trade data suggest that imports of polycarbonate (PC) into Europe account for a minority of the total PC used on the continent, and that the total amount of PC...
Import interest in Indonesia PP market rises as domestic prices firm further
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--With domestic polypropylene (PP) prices maintaining an uptrend, import interest in Indonesia grew, although a buy-sell gap remains especially for dutiable cargoes. Some non-dutiable...
Global potash market digests news of surprise Russia/China import contract
LONDON (ICIS)--An annual import contract settlement agreed between Russian MOP major Uralkali and China’s buying consortium took the global muriate of potash (MOP) fertilizer market by surprise...
South Korea petrochemical restructuring could cut production by up to W6.7 trillion – BoK
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea’s petrochemical restructuring will put downward pressure on economic growth in the short term, but will also allow companies to become more competitive via research...
Asia epoxy resins producers remain under cost pressure from feedstock ECH
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's epoxy resins market will likely find support from relatively firm prices for feedstock epichlorohydrin (ECH). Epoxy resins producers under cost pressure despite slight...
Europe oxo-alcohols prices stable to soft amid subdued demand
LONDON (ICIS)--European oxo-alcohol spot prices fell for n-butanol (NBA) and isobutanol (IBA), while 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) held steady. Softer prices reflect subdued buying interest ahead of year-end...
Plant status: China’s Sinopec Maoming shuts No 2 PP plant for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinopec Maoming Petrochemical Location: Guangdong, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 300,000 (No 2) Event start: 24...
Five key ICIS LNG stories, 21-28 November
LONDON (ICIS)--Here are five key ICIS LNG stories for the week 21-28 November, as delivered by AskICIS. ICIS publishes its 2026 European energy outlook, covering carbon prices and gas and LNG market...
Plant status: China’s Fund Energy Ningbo to shut PP unit
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Fund Energy Ningbo Location: Ningbo, Zhejiang, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 440,000 Event start: 8 December 2025...
Plant status: S Korea’s YNCC to delay restart of SM line from maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Yeochun NCC (YNCC) Location: Yeosu, South Korea Product: Styrene monomer (SM) Capacity (tonnes/year): 365,000 Event start: 17 October Event...
China EPDM imports to stay weighed down by supply length
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Spot prices for China-bound ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM) imports may continue to hover at multi-year low points, if supply increases, in the form of sustained Middle East...