Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Plant status: China’s Sinopec Hainan to shut No 2 PP unit for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinopec Hainan Petrochemical Location: Yangpu, Hainan, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 (No 2) Event start: 22...
Tree-D printing for Christmas
Watch how this Christmas ornament was 3D printed using supercooled water
Structure as a strategy
Progress in materials chemistry has often come from changing what things are made of, yet today we understand that how those components are arranged is just as important
Thianthrenium reagent captures elusive protein interactions in living cells
Reagent creates short, stable protein crosslinks, enabling researchers to identify previously unknown protein–protein interactions
ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 19 December 2025
- The European Union will provide Ukraine with a €90 billion ($105.6 billion) loan to cover military and economic needs over the next two years, according to a statement. EU Council President...
Clariant sells Venezuela business as part of restructuring
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Swiss specialty chemical producer Clariant on Friday announced it has sold its business in Venezuela to Venezuelan chemical company CMV Quimica as part of “ongoing footprint...
Plant status: China’s Huizhou Yussen eyes H1 Feb MEK plant turnaround
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Huizhou Yussen Chemical Location: Huizhou, Guangdong, China Product: Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) Capacity (tonnes/year): 100,000 Event start: H1...
Japan raises interest rates to highest level in 30 years
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Bank of Japan (BOJ) on 19 December raised its benchmark policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.75%. This has pushed borrowing costs to a 30-year high and shifted market attention...
Plant status: China’s CSPC restarts No 2 MEG unit
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Company (CSPC) Location: Guangdong, China Product: Monoethylene glycol (MEG) Capacity (tonnes/year): 480,000 (No...
Asia propylene unlikely to flow to Europe despite cracker closures
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--With Europe looking to significantly reduce its cracker capacity by the close of the decade while Asia’s propylene (C3) oversupply remains an issue, it seems natural for excess C3...
Plant status: China’s Shiyou Chem restarts phenol/acetone plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shiyou Chemical Yangzhou Location: Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China Product: Phenol and acetone Capacity (tonnes/year): 220,000 and 130,000 respectively...
Cold, low-wind January start may support German THE prompt prices into 2026
Cold, low-wind conditions for first-half January may lift heating demand and CCGT burn, likely firming THE prompt ICIS Gas Foresight suggests THE January’26 may be slightly undervalued amid low...
Plant status: Celanese Singapore acetic acid unit to remain shut into February
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Celanese Location: Pulau Sakra, Singapore Product: Acetic acid Capacity (tonnes/year): 600,000 Event start: 8 December 2025 Event finish: Early...
Plant status: Celanese Singapore to shut VAM unit from end-Dec
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Celanese Location: Pulau Sakra, Singapore Product: Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) Capacity (tonnes/year): 210,000 Event start: End-December Event...
The perfect plastic?
Researchers led by Takuzo Aida at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan have one-upped themselves in their quest to solve our microplastic problem. In a recent study published in the Journal
Prospects for the development of eco-friendly dielectric insulation materials from a full life cycle sustainability perspective
Modern electrical equipment relies heavily on polymer insulation materials, which are crucial for ensuring the safe operation of power grids. However, producing and disposing of these materials at the end of their life cycle has
PFAS detection in 15 minutes: BAM develops sensor system for rapid on-site analysis
PFAS are forever chemicals that hardly degrade in the environment. They enter soil and water, accumulate in plants, animals, and humans, and can be harmful to health. The problem: Until now, detecting them has been
Aviation Fuel Production from Tomato Residues: TU Graz Coordinates Visionary EU project
Residual biomass from tomato production is turned into climate-friendly aviation fuel. The aim of the EU ToFuel project is to develop a waste-free and CO₂-neutral biorefinery concept that produces sustainable and economically competitive aviation fuel.
Reprieve for Grangemouth ethylene
UK government agrees £150 million deal to support the country’s last ethylene production plant
Erasmus+ programme to reopen to UK student in 2027
UK will contribute £570 million in the first year as students can take part in the scheme for the first time since Brexit