Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Indian rupee hits record lows amid delays in US trade deal
MUMBAI (ICIS)--The Indian rupee (Rs) tumbled to record lows in December, raising the cost of imports for the south Asian country, while exporters expect limited benefits amid prolonged delays in...
Vietnam LLDPE offers mostly rangebound but running into lower bids
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Spot import offers for some January shipments of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) in Vietnam were announced mostly rangebound, although bids and buying indications remained...
Plant status: Gulf Farabi delays Jubail LAB line restart to Jan ‘26
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Gulf Farabi PC Location: Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia Product: Linear alkylbenzene (LAB) Capacity (tonnes/year): 100,000 Event start: Mid-November...
Public inquiry into death of Dawn Sturgess from Novichok poisoning concludes
Report makes numerous findings on how nerve agent concealed in perfume bottle lead to tragedy
Chemistry department woes, Trump, Gen AI and pollution capture headlines in 2025
The stories that dominated the news this year
Higher, faster, further with solid-state batteries
In the future, solid-state batteries could store electricity more efficiently and safely than today's batteries with liquid electrolytes. Space charges that form in solid-state batteries have so far impaired their performance. * Space charges form
Thin intermediate layers strengthen multilayer materials: cool satellites and flexible electronics
Super-light, super-flexible, super-insulating: an aluminum-coated polymer film is used to protect satellites from temperature extremes. Researchers at Empa Thun are making the material even more resistant by using a wafer-thin intermediate layer. Flexible electronics and
Molecules as switches for sustainable light-driven technologies
Metal nanostructures can concentrate light so strongly that they can trigger chemical reactions. The key players in this process are plasmons - collective oscillations of free electrons in the metal that concentrate energy into extremely
What could the future of nanoscience look like?
Nanotechnologists think the next 25 years will bring advances in quantum computing, novel materials and medicine
MARGINS: European MEG naphtha-based plants see gains in contract margins
LONDON (ICIS)--Margins at naphtha-based monoethylene glycols (MEG) plants in Europe increased week on week on the back of softer feedstock costs, while operators based on liquefied petroleum gas...
SABIC utilising AI tools in 42% of manufacturing facilities – executive
LONDON (ICIS)--SABIC currently utilises AI-powered tools across 42% of its manufacturing facilities, said Abdulaziz Al-Oudan, the company’s executive vice-president for shared services, as the...
US ammonia imports down by 6% in January-September 2025 year on year
LONDON (ICIS)--US ammonia imports decreased by 6% in January-September 2025 compared with the same period a year ago, according to customs data. The main exporter was Canada, followed by Trinidad and...
Eurozone, UK private sector activity closes out 2025 on growth footing
LONDON (ICIS)--Private sector momentum in the eurozone and the UK remained in growth territory in December, despite a weaker manufacturing sector performance in the currency bloc. The eurozone...
PODCAST: Middle East chemicals look beyond 2030 for new growth
BARCELONA (ICIS)--With the prospect of global overcapacity easing from around 2030, Middle East petrochemical players are debating how to monetise their plentiful natural gas supplies. Middle East...
Europe MMA prices stable despite better-than-expected December
LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe methyl methacrylate (MMA) market prices remained stable in the week ending 12 December, as activity is starting to slow ahead of the year-end. This came despite December...
China’s Shanghai SECCO cuts ACN weekly price
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s Shanghai SECCO Petrochemical has cut its acrylonitrile (ACN) weekly price to yuan (CNY) 8,100/tonne ex-tank, down by CNY150/tonne from the previous week, a company source...
Germany’s economic outlook improves in December with positive signs for chems
LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s economic outlook improved in December with positive indicators for the chemicals, pharmaceutical and metals sectors, research group ZEW said on Tuesday. “Expectations...
Europe butac prices soften on weak seasonal demand, ample supply
LONDON (ICIS)--European butyl acetate (butac) spot prices fell in the week ending 12 December, pressured by subdued consumption due to economic and seasonal factors, while supply remained plentiful....
Insulating window material prevents heat loss while allowing more light through than glass
Easy to make polymer could be used for energy efficient buildings
Europe etac spot prices ease amid seasonally weak demand and competitive imports
LONDON (ICIS)--European ethyl acetate (etac) spot prices declined during the week ending 12 December, with softening observed at both ends of the range. The decrease was driven by sluggish year-end...