Industry News
Chemical Industry News
New recharge-to-recycle reactor turns battery waste into new lithium feedstock
As global electric vehicle adoption accelerates, end-of-life battery packs are quickly becoming a major waste stream. Lithium is costly to mine and refine, and most current recycling methods are energy- and chemical-intensive, often producing lithium
China industrial output grows 4.9% in Oct, slowest in over a year
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s industrial output increased by 4.9% year on year in October, the slowest since August 2024, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Friday....
East, south Asia LAB markets mired in year-end lull
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The linear alkylbenzene (LAB) markets in east and south Asia are seeing a tapering of demand, as the year-end lull has arrived. Slower demand to persist into new year Players’...
China October acetic acid output falls on intensive maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s overall production of acetic acid in October continued to drop as three plants in east China were shut for maintenance. However, these turnarounds were digested by market...
East China acetone inventories up by 34% to 31,500 tonnes
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Acetone inventories at Jiangsu ports in east China have increased to 31,500 tonnes in the week ended 14 November, ICIS data showed on Friday. The inventories were up by 34% from...
China’s Sinochem Quanzhou refinery unit catches fire, 7 people injured
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--A fire broke out at a refinery unit of Sinochem Quanzhou Petrochemical in southern China on 13 November, injuring seven people. The blaze occurred at around 16:30 local time (08:30...
Isomer MX S Korea export prices edge down on upstream, downstream drops
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) spot prices edge down on 13 November day on day, reflecting overnight upstream losses and slight declines in downstream paraxylene (PX). According to...
China major producers’ polyolefin inventories continue falling on buyers’ restocking
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The combined polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) inventories of Chinese state-owned petrochemical giants Sinopec and PetroChina continued falling on restocking activities,...
INSIGHT: Slowing demand pressures Asia chemical markets in November
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s chemical markets are still under pressure in November due to weak fundamentals, with ample supply while demand softens toward the year-end. Ongoing expansions of new...
Q3 2025: Merck Shows Solid Organic Growth Across All Sectors
Merck delivered solid organic growth in the third quarter of 2025. This performance demonstrates resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty and strong currency headwinds. Growth was mainly driven by Process Solutions in the Life Science business sector,
Traditional yoghurt recipe reveals ants’ fermentation power
Rebecca Trager meets a cross-disciplinary team investigating an ancient way to make yoghurt, which involved a trip to a tiny Bulgarian village
UK government unveils roadmap to speed the development of animal testing alternatives
Scientists warn that non-animal methods are unlikely to ever replace animal testing, particularly in discovery science
Plant status: China’s ZPC shuts EVA unit for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC) Location: Zhoushan, China Product: Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 300,000 Event...
Europe November polyols price assessments stable to higher
LONDON (ICIS)--Slabstock conventional flexible polyether polyols contract prices in Europe for November were assessed this week at rollovers and increases. Prices for November were assessed in line...
UK economic growth continues to slow in Q3 as GDP rises by just 0.1%
LONDON (ICIS)--UK economic growth continued to slow in the third quarter with GDP increasing by just 0.1%, the country’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Thursday. Growth in Q3 was...
Plant status: China’s Oriental Energy (Zhangjiagang) restarts PDH plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Oriental Energy Zhangjiagang Location: Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, China Product: Propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 600,000 Event start: Around 8...
Asia ethanolamines market outlook bleak amid thin margins, poor demand
KUALA LUMPUR (ICIS)--The Asia ethanolamines market is likely to stay suppressed in 2026, according to a representative from Malaysia’s PETRONAS Chemicals Marketing (Labuan). Demand for...
ESA ’25: Sulphur cost burden leaves EU chemical and fertilizer industries ‘incredibly depressed’
CATANIA, Italy (ICIS)--Steady increases in burner feedstock sulphur costs have left downstream industries "incredibly depressed", said players at the European Sulphuric Acid Association (ESA)...
Plant status: OXEA plans butac maintenance at Marl, Germany
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: OXEA Location: Marl, Germany Product: Butyl acetate (butac) Capacity (tonnes/year): 100,000 Event start: H2 November Event finish: H2 November...
LNG Weekly Market Report: Asia retains narrow price premium over Europe’s TTF
OUTLOOK Prompt TTF contracts have been under pressure as a mild weather in northwestern Europe has stemmed winter demand onset Muted demand in early November has seen inventories remain relatively...