Industry News
Chemical Industry News
US March barge acetone contracts surge in split settlement
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US March barge acetone contracts surged by 10.25 cents/lb ($226/tonne) and by 12.50 cents/lb in a split settlement, according to sources. Contracts settled at 55.75 cents/lb DEL...
US tariff clarity a key factor in Corpus Christi Polymers decision – Indorama exec
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Thailand-based Indorama Ventures Ltd (IVL) would consider reviving the Corpus Christi Polymers (CCP) integrated polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/purified terephthalic acid (PTA)...
Plant status: Olin undergoes planned maintenance at its Freeport VCM unit
Houston (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Olin Location: Freeport, Texas Products: Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) Capacity (tonnes/year): 835,000 Event start: 30 March 2026 Event finish: 30...
Middle East driven chem inflation to accelerate through August – RPM
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Despite with the recent ceasefire between the US and Iran, inflation caused by the conflict should persist and accelerate through August, US-based coatings, adhesives, and sealants...
Indorama to continue global recycled PET investments at measured pace – exec
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Thailand-based Indorama Ventures Ltd (IVL) will continue to invest in recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) capacity at a measured pace, a senior executive said. “For the PET...
Brazil phosphate supply to tighten as Mosaic moves to idle Araxá, Patrocínio operations
LONDON (ICIS)--In Brazil, US-based phosphate producer Mosaic has announced plans to idle and demobilise its Araxá Mining and Chemical Complex and related mining activities at the Patrocínio Complex...
Strong upward price push for Europe epoxy resins in April on war-related costs, import supply risk
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe epoxy resins price talks are bullish for April, driven by the war-induced surge in costs, with the prospect of reduced imports from Asia in Q2 as Middle East supply chain...
N America chemical rail traffic rises for ninth week, US up 4.5%
HOUSTON (ICIS)--North American chemical railcar traffic rose 4.9% year on year, to 50,415 loadings for the week ended 4 April, marking a ninth consecutive increase, according to freight rail...
Tanker traffic through Strait of Hormuz halted amid Israel strikes on Lebanon – Fars
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Two tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz with permission from Iran on Wednesday, hours after a US-Iran ceasefire was announced, but traffic through the critical waterway came...
Shell Q1 chems earnings expected steady with Jan-March 2025
LONDON (ICIS)--Shell expects its chemicals division performance in Q1 to be roughly steady year on year in preliminary forecasts, but warned that the Gulf conflict is making projections more volatile...
Canada regulator probes Keyera’s deal for NGL business
TORONTO (ICIS)--Canada’s federal competition bureau is investigating the proposed acquisition by midstream energy company Keyera of Plains All American’s Canadian natural gas liquids (NGL)...
Indorama taking ‘disciplined approach’ to PET supply – exec
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Thailand-based Indorama Ventures, the world’s largest producer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is taking a disciplined approach when it comes to supply as feedstocks are...
Feedstock relief for European refinery solvents markets on ceasefire news; truck prices yet to react
LONDON (ICIS)--European refinery solvents market prices were mixed this week on the truck market, with average white spirit numbers lower while solvent naphtha prices (C9) and hexane were unchanged....
Saudi Ma’aden issues June-arrival sulphuric acid purchase tender
LONDON (ICIS)--Saudi Arabian fertilizer major Ma’aden has issued a purchase tender for 40,000 tonnes of spot sulphuric acid, for June delivery, closing on 9 April. Market sources say delivery is...
Plant status: Saudi’s Sadara cracker remains shut
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sadara Chemical Company Location: Al Jubail II, Saudi Arabia Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 1,500,000 (ethylene), 400,000...
Europe base oils Group III prices hit record high as shortages persist
LONDON (ICIS)--European base oils Group III spot prices hit a record high this week as tightness caused by the Middle East conflict continues to plague the market. Spot values for all grades rose...
German ministry warns about manufacturing orders amid Middle East turmoil
LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s federal economic affairs ministry expects new orders for manufacturing goods to be “dampened” in coming months “as a result of the energy price shock" from the Middle...
Market players bank on 2026-2027 British storage profitability amid volatile NBP
Final Stublach auctions for SY26 “very successful” – Storengy UK Returns higher than expected but participation still down Long-term storage opportunities remain uncertain due to volatility...
INSIGHT: Fertilizer markets breathe easier after Iran ceasefire but conflict risks far from over
LONDON (ICIS)--The limited reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has reduced immediate panic in the fertilizer sector, but the relief is undercut by ongoing uncertainty as normal shipping conditions are...
European power markets shed risk premiums amid US-Iran ceasefire talks
By Samya Nabi, Johnathan Hamilton-Eve and Anna Coulson Power prices declined on 8 April, tracking gas-market losses following the announcement of an Iran-US ceasefire Nuclear, renewables shield...