Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Plant status: China’s Fujian Refining and Petrochemical to shut PP Line 1
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Fujian Refining and Petrochemical Location: Fujian, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 120,000 (No 1) Event start: Around...
Asia MDI faces upward pressure following price hike announcements
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia methyl diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) prices are expected to face upward pressure after Wanhua Chemical Group and BASF announced price hikes of $200/tonne, effective 1 December...
The wide-ranging influence of the Bohr effect
While not a Nobel prize-winning discovery in itself, this challenge to the reductionist view of physiology has links to several other winners
Plant status: China’s Sinochem Quanzhou to shut No 2 PP unit
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinochem Quanzhou Location: Fujian, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 350,000 (No 2) Event start: 29-30 November 2025...
Mideast base oils outlook clouded by heavy grade surplus, light grades hold firm
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Middle East base oils market will continue to grapple with a pronounced supply glut of heavy-grade material, in contrast with relatively limited light-grade base oils across...
Chemistry meets biology: controlling artificial cell membranes through catalysis
Using catalytic chemistry, researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo have achieved dynamic control of artificial membranes, enabling life-like membrane behavior. By employing an artificial metalloenzyme that performs a ring-closing metathesis reaction, the team induced the
Beverage industry relies on enzymatic PET recycling from CARBIOS
CARBIOS has announced the signing of two further multi-year commercial agreements for the supply of recycled PET (r-PET) with leading companies in the beverage industry. The signing of these two commercial agreements gives CARBIOS access
Balance sheet after 5 years of the single-use plastic bag ban
Five years ago, on November 26, the German parliament passed a ban on thin single-use plastic bags. In doing so, Germany implemented an EU directive aimed at reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags
Proposal takes aim at risk posed by ‘chemical cocktails’
Mixture allocation factor would weigh toxicity of chemicals as a whole
The chemist using curry to understand indoor air pollution
Ashish Kumar’s research reveals how cooking shapes the air we breathe indoors
‘Plumbyne’ compound featuring multiple carbon–lead bonds synthesised
Relatively weak π bonding in the structure opens up possibility for various chemical reactions
European jet fuel complex softens amid thin demand, heightened risks
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s jet fuel complex ended the week to 27 November on a softer footing, as flat prices and differentials retreated after an extended period of supply-driven strength. While...
EU gas stocks drop further, with UK’s inventory cut by 13.5%
LONDON (ICIS)--EU gas stocks have fallen almost 4% to 77% fullness in the last week, as of the latest data available on Thursday, amid lower temperatures. The UK saw the biggest weekly drop, with...
Plant status: Roehm schedules Germany MMA plant maintenance in 2026
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Roehm Locations: Wesseling, Germany and Worms, Germany Product: Methyl methacrylate (MMA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 95,000 (Wesseling), 225,000...
Europe mid-cut fatty alcohol spot prices fall on lower feedstock costs
LONDON (ICIS)--European mid-cut fatty alcohol spot prices declined this week, tracking a sharp drop in upstream palm kernel oil (PKO) values. PKO costs fell by triple digits in November, accelerating...
Europe IPA cosmetic and pharmaceutical grades softer on weak demand
LONDON (ICIS)--European spot pricing for premium cosmetic and pharmaceutical grades of isopropanol (IPA) softened slightly in the week to 25 November, while technical grade pricing was stable....
Wacker Chemie to cut 1,500 jobs globally in €300 million/year cost-saving project
LONDON (ICIS)--Wacker Chemie is to cut more than 1,500 jobs worldwide as part of a €300 million per year cost-saving target, it said on Thursday. Most of the job cuts will be at the group's
CHART OF THE WEEK: US, Middle East sees high LNG utilization in 2025
Strong US LNG utilisation boosts European gas security Qatar runs full out, ahead of expansion Ongoing low rates from some African, South American producers LONDON (ICIS)--US and Middle East LNG...
China’s propylene sector hemmed between high costs and weak demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s propylene prices have been bottoming out since mid-November because of tighter supply. Capacity losses caused by plant shutdowns and relatively firm feedstock propane...
European Parliament supports EUDR postponement and simplification measures
LONDON (ICIS)--The European Parliament and Council are now aligned on the postponement and simplification of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Under the revised timeline, large operators and...