Industry News
Chemical Industry News
ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 6 November 2025
- The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecast on 6 November that most parts of the country have a 40–60% probability of above-normal temperature occurrence from 8 November to 7 December, while...
South Korea benzene exports for Oct fall as holiday-driven demand tapers off
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea exported 243,742 tonnes of benzene in October, according to sources familiar with the matter. In September, the country exported 280,671 tonnes of benzene, based on data...
Belgium’s Solvay Q3 net profit down on lower soda ash sales volumes
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Solvay’s underlying net profit from continuing operations fell by 15.2% year on year to €90 million in the third quarter amid lowered sales volumes compared with the same period...
China’s petchem market drops in Oct on oversupply, weak demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--In October, China's petrochemical market saw a pronounced downtrend as supply increased and demand retreated. The ICIS China Petrochemical Price Index fell 3.13% from the end of...
Asia MEG price weakness may extend to 2026 on rising capacity, dwindled demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The weakness in monoethyle glycol (MEG) spot pricing is set to extend into 2026 as expectations on rising supply and declining demand are likely to weigh on the spot market. Supply...
Global PE demand steady but shutdowns needed with more efficient supply coming on – NOVA CEO
ABU DHABI (ICIS--Global polyethylene (PE) demand is growing at about GDP levels but more supply coming on is weighing on the outlook, said the CEO of NOVA Chemicals. “We’ll probably see 3% global...
China’s oil majors expand gas and renewables push as energy transition accelerates
China’s oil majors expand natural gas and LNG output amid energy shift PetroChina and CNOOC post strong gas growth; Sinopec leads in hydrogen Renewables and low-carbon projects gain momentum across...
Plant status: China’s Zhenhua Petrochemical shuts PBR plant for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhenhua Petrochemical Location: Dongying, Shandong, China Product: Polybutadiene Rubber (PBR) Capacity (tonnes/year): 100,000 Event start: Early...
Plant status: Japan’s Mitsui Chemicals idles Chiba phenol/acetone unit
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Mitsui Chemicals Location: Chiba, Japan Products: Phenol; acetone Capacity (tonnes/year): 190,000 (phenol); 114,000 (acetone) Event start: 30...
INSIGHT: South Korea petrochemical industry restructuring urgent
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--As South Korea’s petrochemical companies continues to battle for survival amid a global oversupply and weak demand, the government has stepped up calls for the country’s...
China‘s Sep PBR imports rise amid buoyant demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s polybutadiene rubber (PBR, HS Code 40022010, 40022090) imports in September 2025 increased by 61% month on month amid buoyant domestic demand, according to the ICIS Supply...
Plant status: China’s Zibo Xintai restarts Group II base oil unit in early Nov
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zibo Xintai Petrochemical Location: Zibo, Shandong, China Product: Group II base oils Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 Event start: 21-25 October...
Australia’s Cleanaway sees domestic Group II, III RRBO demand growth
MELBOURNE (ICIS)--Australia re-refined base oils (RRBO) producer Cleanaway expects domestic demand to grow for Group II and III RRBO due to increased acceptance of the product by downstream lubricant...
Preventing dangerous short circuits in lithium batteries
Dendrites are considered the most dangerous destroyers of lithium batteries — tiny metal structures that can cause short circuits. In the worst case, they can cause batteries to burn or explode. A research team at
Electrocatalysis with dual functionality
Hybrid electrocatalysts can produce green hydrogen, for example, and valuable organic compounds simultaneously. This promises economically viable applications. However, the complex catalytic reactions involved in producing organic compounds are not yet fully understood. Modern X-ray
Cologne researchers add a new detail to the “nuclear periodic table”
For the first time, a research team from the University of Cologne has observed the electron capture decay of technetium-98, an isotope of the chemical element technetium (Tc). Electron capture decay is a process in
Mideast polyol offers slightly soften amid patchy demand
Singapore (ICIS)--Spot offers for Middle East (Mideast) polyol imports eased so far in the week ending 6 November, as sellers adjusted pricing in response to patchy demand and limited buying...
Mideast isocyanate offers slightly firm on mixed sentiment
Singapore (ICIS)--Spot offers for Middle East isocyanate imports showed some slight firming so far in the week ending 6 November, as sellers adjusted pricing in response to uneven demand and shifting...
Plant status: China’s Zhongjing Petrochemical restarts PP unit
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhongjing PC Location: Fuqing, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 350,000 Event start: 23 October Event finish: 4...
Sempra: Construction on track, but commissioning less certain at ECA LNG
Project start-up times unchanged at Sempra's ECA, Port Arthur plants Sempra executives get vague on timing on commissioning cargoes at ECA First LNG at Mexico plant expected in spring 2026 HOUSTON...