Industry News
Chemical Industry News
BASF completes the sale of its Brazilian decorative paints business to Sherwin-Williams
The sale of BASF’s Brazilian decorative paints business to Sherwin-Williams was completed on October 1, 2025, following the approval of the transaction by the relevant Brazilian competition authority at the end of August 2025. On
Data for a better vanadium flow
Vanadium is a critical raw material. The metal can be used to build so-called redox flow batteries, which store electricity more permanently than lithium-ion batteries. This makes them an important building block for the energy
BLOG: Why China Will Push to Complete Self-sufficiency in All Petchems
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Click here to see the latest blog post on Asian Chemical Connections by John Richardson. One of the most compelling books I’ve read on China is Breakneck: China’s Quest to...
Thai central bank holds interest rate, lowers 2025 GDP forecast marginally
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Thailand’s central bank has maintained its key interest rate at 1.50% at its October meeting following cuts in previous meetings, and that the “transmission of previous policy...
Plant status: China’s Yulong Petrochemical shuts MEG unit unexpectedly
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Yulong Petrochemical Location: Longkou, Shandong, China Product: Monoethylene glycol (MEG) Capacity (tonnes/year): 1 million Event start: Early...
Plant status: China’s Yanlian Petrochemical restarts PP Line 2
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Yanlian Petrochemical Company Location: Yan’an, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 Event start: 16 September...
Plant status: China’s Huizhou Lituo restarts PP units
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Huizhou Lituo New Materials Location: Huizhou, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 300,000 Event start: 5 September Event...
Golden Week stalls Asia capro downward momentum amid upstream losses
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Discussions for Asia caprolactam (capro) were stalled amid the Golden Week holiday in China, providing some stability for spot prices following significant week-on-week losses in...
Crossroads ’25: Asian ammonia demand to pick up on continued Ma’aden shutdown
BANGKOK (ICIS)--Ammonia demand in Asia is looking firm as availability has tightened following the shutdown at Ma’aden, sources said on the sidelines of the International Fertilizer Association...
Asia benzene offers start strong as China’s Golden Week ends
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Benzene sellers are bullish so far following the end of China’s eight-day long National Day and Mid Autumn Festival holiday, with some higher offers on the first morning of...
China SAN market seeks net exporter status with expanding capacities
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) sellers in China have been actively seeking opportunities to offload their burgeoning stockpiles due to the increase in capacity in recent years. Import...
The world’s chemical pollution: Current state of research
The rapid production and distribution of chemicals in the environment means that regulatory risk assessment can no longer keep pace with their ever-increasing number. This is the conclusion reached by two authors from ETH Zurich
NYMEX: US gas futures decrease ahead of weekly gas storage report
Front-month US natural gas futures lowered on 8 October, as traders weighed expectations for another solid US storage build The November Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $3.333/MMBtu, down...
Global PET markets pressured by weak demand, rising competition
LONDON (ICIS)--Global polyethylene terephthalate (PET) markets continue to face mounting pressure as demand remains subdued across key regions. Buyers are holding back amid economic uncertainty and...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil prices recover as US gasoline, distillate inventories decline
US EIA data shows crude, gasoline, distillate inventories all below five-year averages Rising global crude inventories expected to pressure prices in coming months ICIS expects oil benchmarks to...
SHIPPING: USTR port fees likely to affect 35% of ships; rate hikes unlikely – BIMCO
HOUSTON (ICIS)--New port fees from the US Trade Representative (USTR) that will take effect on 14 October are likely to affect 35% of ships in the combined bulk, crude tanker, product tanker, and...
Peroxidos do Brasil to construct hydrogen peroxide facility for Arauco’s pulp project
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Peroxidos do Brasil will construct a satellite hydrogen peroxide plant in Inocencia, Brazil, to supply Chilean producer Arauco's Sucuriu’s $4.6 billion pulp mill development, the...
US Mosaic completes sale of Brazilian phosphate mining unit to Fosfatados Centro
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Mosaic Company has completed the sale of its idled Patos de Minas phosphate mining unit in Brazil to Fosfatados Centro for $111m, the US fertilizers producer said this week. Under...
Colombia’s Ecopetrol plans Caribbean coast LNG terminal
Ecopetrol plans FSRU at Covenas targeting start-up in 2027 Project approved by regulators will use existing port infrastructure CEO cites competitive advantages for project HOUSTON (ICIS)--Colombia's...
US will likely keep HFC phasedown schedule for blowing agents
ST LOUIS (ICIS)--The US will likely leave out blowing agents when it considers extending the deadline for phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other powerful greenhouse gases used in...