Industry News
Chemical Industry News
US CPI inflation slows to 2.4% in January
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), rose at a 2.4% year on year pace in January, slowing from 2.7% in December, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)...
Plant status: Japan’s Asahi Kasei Mitsubishi Chem targets cracker restart
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Asahi Kasei Mitsubishi Chemical Location: Mizushima, Japan Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 567,000 (ethylene), 300,000...
Plant status: Innova shuts Triunfo PS plant for planned maintenance
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Innova Location: Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Product: Polystyrene (PS) Capacity (tonnes/year): 75,000 Event start: 9 February Event...
Plant status: Malaysia’s PRefChem cuts cracker runs after complex incident
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Pengerang Refining and Petrochemical (PRefChem) Location: Pengerang, Malaysia Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 1,200,000...
Slimming down competition over weight-loss drugs
Legal battle between Novo Nordisk and US compounding pharmacy Hims & Hers has fizzled after regulator intervention
Mixed-material microrobots created from 3D-printed templates
Precision and flexibility combined in alternative nano fabrication approach
When we ate whales for breakfast
A reminder that technological developments aren’t sufficient to solve environmental problems
Reimagining a forgotten battery design from Thomas Edison
A little-known fact: In the year 1900, electric cars outnumbered gas-powered ones on the American road. The lead-acid auto battery of the time, courtesy of Thomas Edison, was expensive and had a range of only
Element cobalt exhibits surprising properties
The element cobalt is considered a typical ferromagnet with no further secrets. However, an international team led by HZB researcher Dr. Jaime Sánchez-Barriga has now uncovered complex topological features in its electronic structure. Spin-resolved measurements
Dimethyl Ether Could Be the Game Changer for the Hydrogen Economy
To ensure energy security and achieve its climate protection goals, Germany will import large quantities of hydrogen in the future. Dimethyl ether (DME) is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, efficient, and economically attrac-tive gas that shows
Europe AA, acrylate ester prices stable despite mounting feedstock pressure
LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe acrylic acid (AA) and acrylate ester markets have seen spot prices remain stable this week. This comes amid a mixed demand picture, with some players stating demand is weak...
US existing home sales fall 8.4% amid poor January weather
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US existing-home sales fell 8.4% month on month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million in January, following four consecutive monthly increases, according to data from...
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY WEEK 2026: UK National Wealth Fund targets £4-5 billion annual clean energy deployment
LONDON (ICIS)--The UK’s National Wealth Fund plans to deploy £4-5 billion per year into clean energy, grid infrastructure and industrial decarbonization, chief executive Oliver Holbourn said...
Europe SBR spot prices firm slightly on feedstock cost pressure
LONDON (ICIS)--European styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) spot prices were assessed slightly firmer in the week to 11 February due to rising feedstock pressure so far this month. The European styrene...
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY WEEK 2026: Community energy faces finance hurdle despite momentum
LONDON(ICIS)--Community-owned renewable energy projects could play a larger role in lowering costs and easing pressure on the UK power system, but access to finance remains a structural barrier,...
Germany’s BnetzA still weighing closures of gas storage sites
Germany’s regulator BNetzA is running live approval proceedings for the decommissioning of two gas storage sites linked to Uniper and Bayernugs Closures are not yet confirmed, and decommissionings...
European commissioners push for EU-wide company rules
LONDON (ICIS)--European commissioners convened in Belgium on Wednesday at an informal summit to discuss possible mechanisms to drive EU integration, including scope for a “28th regime” to...
PODCAST: Challenging start to 2026 for Europe acetone and phenol value chain
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s phenol, acetone and derivatives markets have begun 2026 under pressure, with weak demand and rising costs shaping the markets. ICIS acetone and phenol senior editor Jane...
Poland to recapitalise Azoty, says new managers to stabilise company
LONDON (ICIS)--Poland's Ministry of State Assets (MAP) said on Thursday that it plans to recapitalise Grupa Azoty and it expects a new management board at the financially embattled fertilizer...
Brazil’s Petrobras clears path for IG4’s Braskem stake transfer after waiving buyout rights
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Petrobras has approved waiving its preemptive and tag-along rights over Braskem shares held by Novonor, the Brazilian state-owned energy major said on Thursday, clearing a key...