Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Europe styrene January contract gains again
LONDON (ICIS)--The European styrene January barge contract price was assessed at €1,230/tonne on Monday, a €21/tonne increase from December and the contract's second consecutive monthly gain...
INSIGHT: No quick turnaround for Venezuela oil
LONDON (ICIS)--There is little scope for an immediate recovery for Venezuela’s crude industry despite the prospect of substantial investment from US oil majors, due to the extensive work needed to...
European ethylene oxide January price falls from December
LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe ethylene oxide (EO) January contract price was assessed down by €21/tonne following the settlement of the upstream ethylene contract. The European ethylene contract...
Methanex Europe Q1 methanol posted price issued at €535/tonne
LONDON (ICIS)--Canadian producer Methanex has issued its European posted methanol contract price for Q1 at €535/tonne, a rollover from Q4. The Methanex European Posted Contract Price (MEPCP) is...
Europe CX January contract gains with feedstock, despite lower Q1 delta
LONDON (ICIS)--The European cyclohexane (CX) January contract price has settled at €870/tonne, up by €28/tonne from December, following an increase in upstream benzene costs, and despite a...
Plant status: China’s Shandong Jinghai runs cracker normally after restart
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shandong Jinghai Petrochemical Location: Shandong, China Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 450,000 for ethylene; 230,000 for...
Syensqo completes sale of oilfield chemicals business to France’s SNF
LONDON (ICIS)--Syensqo has completed the sale of its oil and gas business to SNF Group for an enterprise value of €135 million, it said on Monday. The business, which produces oilfield stimulation...
Plant status: China’s Sinopec Hainan to shut BD plant for turnround
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinopec Hainan PC Location: Hainan, China Product: Butadiene (BD) Capacity (tonnes/year): 110,000 Event start: Late Jan 2026 Event finish:...
The future of total synthesis
From structure confirmation to methodology improvements, making complex natural products has driven innovation in organic synthesis for decades. Nina Notman looks at its current state, with threats from funding to academic pressures
Europe January PO contract price decreases on propylene settlement
LONDON (ICIS)--The European propylene oxide (PO) contract price for January has decreased following the upstream propylene (C3) settlement. The agreement came after the January contract reference...
Isomer MX South Korea export prices down on overall upstream losses
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) spot prices started the week on a softer note on 5 January, indicating declines from the last published prices by ICIS on 24 December. The assessed...
India extends ADDs on PET imports from China for three months
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India has extended the antidumping duties (ADDs) imposed on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin imports from China for three months. The ADDs are set to expire on 26 March 2026,...
ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 5 January 2026
- ICIS weekly buy/sell ratio signals more sells than buys for TTF front month, indicating bearish market; failure to hold above €26.27/MWh could disrupt very short-term rebound, trigger move lower...
Pakistan imposes preliminary ADD on PTA imports
SINGAPOR (ICIS)--Pakistan has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties (ADDs) levied on purified terephthalic acid (PTA) imports from China ranging from 2.63-9.50%, according to a document dated 4...
Plant status: S Korea’s Hanwha Total plans H2 Jan BD maintenance at Deasan
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Hanwha Total Energies Petrochemical Location: Daesan, South Korea Product: Butadiene (BD) Capacity (tonnes/year): 150,000 Event start: H2...
Plant status: Kuwait Styrene shuts SM line for scheduled maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Kuwait Styrene Location: Shuaiba, Kuwait Product: Styrene monomer (SM) Capacity (tonnes/year): 525,000 Event start: 1 January 2026 Event finish:...
Plant status: Taiwan’s FPC MMA unit in month-long planned maintenance from late Dec 2025
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Formosa Plastics Corp (FPC) Location: Mailiao, Taiwan Product: Methyl methacrylate (MMA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 98,000 Event start: Late...
Plant status: China’s ZPC shuts LDPE unit for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC) Location: Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China Product: Low density polyethylene (LDPE) Capacity (tonnes/year):...
Asia Dec factory output returns to growth; outlook brighter in 2026
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s manufacturing activity in December returned to growth after several months of contraction as new orders increased, boding well for a better 2026 although some headwinds...
Plant status: China’s Jinneng Science and Technology shuts PP Line 3
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Jinneng Science and Technology Location: Qingdao, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 450,000 Event start: Late December...