Industry News
Chemical Industry News
US-Israel attacks kill Iran’s Khamenei; markets brace for impact
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on 28 February following military strikes by the US and Israel, state-owned Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on...
WRAP: US-Israel attacks on Iran impacts Persian Gulf shipping, energy price forecasts
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--An effective curb of the energy shipment chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz is expected to see a surge in oil and gas/LNG prices at the start of the new trading week on 2
Potential Strait of Hormuz closure could push Europe’s TTF gas benchmark above €90.00/MWh – ICIS analysts
LONDON (ICIS)--A joint US-Israel attack on Iran struck military and government targets across the country on Saturday morning Tehran time. An attack was expected as US military forces had built up in...
Petchems, ferts and energy impact from US-Israel Iran attack not yet known
LONDON (ICIS)--A joint US-Israel attack on Iran has struck military and government targets across the country but any impact on chemicals, fertilizers and energy facilities is not yet known. Iran is...
China acetic acid run rate rises on normal operation
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China acetic acid plants’ average run rate rose as most of the plants were operating at high run rates except operational cutback at Sinopec Great Wall. The average run rate stood...
China BPA average plant run rate rises to 76.6% on operational ramp-ups
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The average run rate of China’s bisphenol A (BPA) plants was at around 76.6% in the week ended 27 February 2026, up by 2.2 percentage points from the last reporting period, ICIS...
China’s average run rate of PO plants rises to 71.7% on operational ramp-up
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s propylene oxide (PO) plants posted an average run rate at 71.7% in the week ended 27 February 2026, up by 3.2 percentage points from the last reporting period, ICIS data...
Asia-US container rates slightly lower as capacity tightening slows rate of decrease
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US edged slightly lower this week as tighter capacity from blanked sailings slowed the rate of decrease. Rates from...
Momentum building for US acetone heading into March
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US acetone is facing upside risk heading into March on the back of higher feedstock and import costs. Spot polymer-grade propylene (PGP) costs rose this month due to seller activity,...
US February 2026 glycol ether spot prices rise month on month for both E-series and P-series products
HOUSTON (ICIS)--After experiencing stagnant pricing for much of the past year, month-on-month US glycol ether spot prices rose 4 cents/lb ($88/tonne) for both E-series and P-series glycol ethers in...
NYMEX: US gas futures edge up despite warm weather and strong gas production
Front-month US natural gas futures increased on 27 February as the market weighs strong US LNG feedgas demand against warmer weather trends The April 2026 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at...
US March 2026 benzene contract settles up month on month with improved demand
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US March 2026 benzene contract has settled at $3.13/gal ($941/tonne) FOB (free on board) US Gulf. This is a sizable increase of 9.4% from the February contract price. It also...
Changes in the NE Asia PO import market, driven by tight supply and China’s new policy
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's new VAT policy is prompting accelerated polyether polyols exports and cautious propylene oxide (PO) imports, while South Korea's PO demand is rising due to...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude prices reach over seven-month highs on escalating US-Iran tensions
US-Iran nuclear talks extended, fueling supply disruption concerns Expectations OPEC+ will boost April production by 137,000 barrels/day US oil rig count falls two to 407 - Baker Hughes LONDON...
Fitch downgrades Huntsman credit rating one notch to BB+ on weak profitability
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Fitch Ratings has downgraded the key credit ratings of Huntsman Corp and Huntsman International LLC one notch from BBB- to BB+ with a negative outlook. With the downgrade, Huntsman...
Moody’s downgrades LyondellBasell credit rating one notch to Baa3 on weak earnings, high leverage
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Moody’s Ratings has downgraded LyondellBasell’s credit rating on its senior unsecured debt from Baa2 to Baa3 (S&P equivalent BBB-) with a stable outlook. The downgrade puts...
Moody’s downgrades Dow credit rating one notch to Baa3 on capex spending amid weak earnings
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Moody's Ratings has downgraded Dow’s credit rating on its senior unsecured debt one notch from Baa2 to Baa3 (S&P equivalent BBB-) with a negative outlook on concerns about...
US March BD contract prices continue rising amid tight supply
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US March butadiene (BD) ICIS contract reference price rose by nearly 4 cents/lb from the prior month as supply remains tight. The ICIS price is a direct average of the four...
Canada GDP growth slows to 1.7% in 2025, due to lower exports to the US
TORONTO (ICIS)--Canada’s real GDP increased 1.7% in 2025 - down from 2.0% in 2024 and marking the slowest growth since a 5.0% decline in 2020 amid the pandemics, federal agency Statistics...
Europe PET gains traction as import constraints tighten market
LONDON (ICIS)--Domestic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) demand strengthened as logistical constraints and reduced imports shifted greater attention toward local supply. Import limitations and...