Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Asia MA market mixed as costs firm, downstream demand subdued
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s maleic anhydride (MA) markets showed mixed conditions in mid-January, as cost pressures were largely offset by cautious downstream demand. In Southeast Asia, prices were...
Hungary, Ukraine extend firm gas capacity at shared border through Q2, increase large price step
Firm capacity at VIP Bereg extended for Q2 Quarterly auction large price step increased to 50% Bereg still cheapest supply route to Ukraine LONDON (ICIS)--Hungarian and Ukrainian grid operators FGSZ...
Asia PA market firms on cost-driven feedstock; demand remains cautious
SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- Phthalic anhydride (PA) markets across Asia strengthened in mid-January, driven by rising feedstock costs, while downstream demand remained subdued. In China, higher orthoxylene...
China December acetic acid output rises on plant restart
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s overall production of acetic acid in December 2025 surged, mainly attributed to the plant restart at Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC). The output in December stood...
Slow start for Europe’s olefins, but spot prices off December’s lows
LONDON (ICIS)--It has been a typically slow start to the new year, but ethylene and propylene spot prices have shown a firmer tendency, moving away from the lows of November and December. Ethylene...
Ammonia buyers hesitate as tight supply, CBAM uncertainty cloud market
LONDON (ICIS)--Ammonia buyers are hesitating to re-enter the market due to tight availability and uncertainty about the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). European demand picking up slowly...
Plant status: China’s Sichuan Ko Yo restarts its methanol plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Ko Yo Chemical Location: Guang'an, Sichuan, China Product: Methanol Capacity (tonnes/year): 500,000 Event start: 3 Dec 2025 Event end: 15 Jan...
Europe’s Group II base oils price hits multiyear low
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s Group II base oils started the year hitting a multiyear low amid healthy inventories, strong imports and subdued demand, despite rising freight costs. Spot prices saw some...
China’s average PX plants’ run rate up on Fujia Dahua’s full-load operation
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s para-xylene (PX) plants have posted a higher average operating rate, because Fujia Dahua has maintained full capacity operation at its two lines. The producer now has a...
China’s average PTA plants’ run rate falls on unit shutdowns
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plants have posted a lower average operating rate due to turnarounds at INEOS Zhuhai’s No 3 plant and Yisheng New Material’s No 2...
Plant status: China’s Sinopec Yangzi shuts LLDPE line
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Location: Nanjing, Jiangsu, China Product: Liner low density polyethylene (LLDPE) Capacity (tonnes/year): 260,000...
China Group II base oils sentiment improving on downstream demand recovery
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Since early January, sentiment in China’s Group II base oils market has been improving significantly compared with the end of December, largely because a downstream demand...
East China acetone inventories down by 14% to 28,000 tonnes
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Acetone inventories at Jiangsu ports in east China have decreased to 28,000 tonnes in the week ended 16 January, ICIS data showed on Friday. The inventories were down by 14% from...
EU-Mercosur ethanol quotas spark mixed reactions across Europe
LONDON (ICIS)--The EU-Mercosur trade deal is the latest development that is likely to gradually shift the supply landscape within the European ethanol market. The trade deal announcement has sparked...
French storage auctions reveal gas players banking on Summer/Winter ’26 premium to un-invert
Additional reporting by Brendan A’Hearn and Ethan Tillcock Oversubscribed Saline storage sites auction clears at higher price year on year Strong premium on product despite inverted Summer/Winter...
Alexandra Navrotsky: ‘I don’t think you attract people to science by big initiatives’
The nanogeoscientist on the importance of people to good science, the recent turnaround on diversity, equity and inclusion and why she will never be a professional artist
NIH agrees to review hundreds of grants halted by Trump administration
Peer review for research proposals that were frozen will now resume
DOMO Chemicals Germany: State orders continued operation
The German sites of DOMO Chemicals can continue production at a minimum level for the time being. The state of Saxony-Anhalt has ordered the continued operation of the production facilities in Leuna for safety reasons.
Microplastics detection between claim and reality
Microplastics can now be found everywhere, but detecting the tiny plastic particles is still a challenge. At analytica, which will open its doors in Munich from March 24 to 27, 2026, scientists, equipment manufacturers and
More sustainable epoxy thanks to phosphorus
Epoxy resin is a clear, robust polymer that is widely used – especially as part of fiber-reinforced materials in aviation, the automotive industry, and more. Until now, however, it has not been possible to recycle