Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Westlake looks to ‘self-help’ to drive earnings, but also eyes better demand
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Westlake is looking to “self-help” measures to drive earnings growth in 2026, but the US-based vertically integrated petrochemicals and building products company is also...
Europe February ECH prices stable, despite firmer propylene
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe epichlorohydrin (ECH) freely negotiated contract prices are flatlining this month, despite the slight upstream propylene cost gains, in view of a still subdued ECH market and an...
EU February epoxy stabilizes as cost/margin pain grows versus sluggish market
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe epoxy prices are mainly stabilizing this month and appear to be bottoming out, after recent erosion. This is as competition is toned down, amid rising costs and heightened...
CK Hutchison’s Panama ports deal formally terminated; Maersk, MSC to run for 18 months
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Control of ports on both sides of the Panama Canal has officially ended for Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison on Monday after an earlier ruling from Panama’s Supreme Court of Justice was...
India sulphur imports rise over 15% in 2025 on shipments from Arab-Gulf
LONDON (ICIS)--India imported over 2.2 million tonnes of sulphur in 2025, an increase of 15.1% year on year, led by higher imports from some countries in the Middle East. According to customs data,...
HYDROGEN: RED III Industry and Transport Obligations, Italy
LONDON (ICIS)-- On 20 January 2026, Italy formally transposed the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) with the publication of a legislative decree in the Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica...
US DAP, MAP imports plunge in 2025 as supplies from key origins fall
LONDON (ICIS)-- US imports of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) fell sharply in 2025 amid steep declines in volumes from major suppliers, according to customs data. US DAP...
PODCAST: Ukraine’s wartime energy infrastructure needs to reinvent its future, CEOs
LONDON (ICIS)--On 24 February 2022 Ukraine disconnected from the Russian and Belarusian electricity grids in preparation for synchronising with ENTSO-E. A few hours later, Russia invaded the country....
ICIS Q&A: Energy Traders Europe and AIGET call for a rapid adoption of gas storage decree in Italy
Additional reporting by Brendan A'Hearn European and Italian traders associations told ICIS about their request to Italian energy ministry Advance annual storage auctions and increased multi-year...
China’s adipic acid exports surge in December, hit new high in 2025
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's December 2025 adipic acid (ADA) exports rose by 31% to 46,086 tonnes compared with 35,310 in November, according to the ICIS Supply & Demand Database. December spot...
Tariff impact expected to be limited for US fertilizer sector
LONDON (ICIS)--The US fertilizer market is expected to see limited disruption from the newly imposed 150-day 10% global tariff, as many key nutrient imports fall under existing exemptions or...
German shippers face highest gas-summer injection task since 2022
Additional reporting by Ghassan Zumot German storage has fallen to a record low for late February Around 12.7bcm would need to be injected to reach assumed 70% storage target LNG imports and...
US consumer confidence ticks up, inflation concerns persist
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US consumer confidence ticked up in February after falling in January, as consumers' pessimistic expectations for the future eased somewhat, the US Conference Board reported on...
Slower withdrawals to take pressure off Danish gas stocks ahead of injection season
Danish storage is set to reach 20% full by mid‑March as withdrawals slow with warmer weather Domestic production meets most internal demand, keeping storage mainly for short‑term balancing EU...
Europe butadiene March contract increases by €55/tonne
LONDON (ICIS)--The European butadiene (BD) contract reference price for March has been set at €785/tonne, a €55/tonne increase compared with February. The contract agreement has been directly...
Brazil PET bale prices slump to half of peak amid virgin oversupply
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Post‑consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle bale prices in Brazil have lost around half the value from their December 2024 peak, as prolonged global virgin oversupply...
European Commission proposes to suspend most favored nation duties on nitrogen fertilizers imports
LONDON (ICIS)--The European Commission has proposed to suspend, for one year, the most favored nation (MFN) duties on imports of several key nitrogen fertilizers and raw materials (ammonia, urea)....
Europe February nylon 6 contract prices rise on production costs pressure
LONDON (ICIS)--European nylon 6 contract prices for February settled at increases from January, driven by soaring contract price of upstream benzene, higher values of other feedstock and energy...
Europe February nylon 6,6 contract prices settle at mix of rollovers and increases
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe nylon 6,6 contract prices for February have settled at a mix of rollovers and increases from January. Ample supply of nylon 6,6 prevails, while demand is stable at a low level...
WEEKLY CRUDE OUTLOOK: Market eyes looming US-Iran talks with risk to prices on the upside
LONDON (ICIS)--Oil prices are set to maintain gains accumulated over the last week as ongoing US-Iran tensions ratchet up the geopolitical risk premium and US tariff policy injects volatility into...