Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Behind the scenes of ammonia synthesis
Researchers at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute of Chemical Energy Conversion and Clariant have unveiled new insights into the complex catalyst systems used in
Overcoming the barriers of hydrogen storage with a low-temperature hydrogen battery
A hydrogen battery that operates at just 90 °C has been developed by researchers from Japan, overcoming the high-temperature and low-capacity limits of earlier methods. The device works by moving hydride ions through a solid
INSIGHT: Asia ABS market grapple with macro developments, strategise for future
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market has recently been impacted by global macroeconomic shifts, prompting players to revise their forward plans to navigate upcoming...
Indonesia passes $231bn budget for 2026
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Indonesia’s parliament on 23 September passed President Prabowo Subianto’s budget for 2026, setting the fiscal deficit at 2.68% of GDP. Indonesia sets GDP growth at 5.4% for...
China’s Aug methanol imports up 59.6% from July on Iranian supply recovery
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's methanol imports increased by around 59.6% month on month to 1.76 million tonnes in August, according to the ICIS Supply & Demand Database. Iran’s methanol production...
Asia oleochemical demand to soften on second EUDR delay
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s demand for oleochemicals may soften in the near term following the news of the probable delay of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for yet another year to 2026 or...
China stays a net exporter for OX in Aug, volume drops on month
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's export of orthoxylene (OX) in August fell by 18.3% month on month to 19,236 tonnes, according to ICIS Supply & Demand data base. In August, China's OX exports to India...
Japan Sept flash manufacturing PMI slips to 48.4 on poorer overseas demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japan’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 48.4 in September from 49.7 in August on the back of poorer overseas demand, flash estimates from a private sector...
Asia MMA sentiment cautiously strengthens amid battered market
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia methyl methacrylate (MMA) sentiment is poised to see cautious improvement, supported by recent price gains in China’s domestic yuan-denominated MMA market. Sentiment could...
Plant status: China’s Shandong Lihuayi plans to shut PO plant for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shandong Lihuayi Group Location: Shandong province, China Product: Propylene oxide (PO) Capacity (tonnes/year): 300,000 Event start: 9 October...
China Aug MEG imports little changed vs Jul
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s monoethylene glycol (MEG) imports in August were largely stable from July, amid fewer outflows from Saudi Arabia but more from Iran and Malaysia. The imports in August...
China August melamine exports down 3.68% vs July on weaker demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's melamine exports experienced a 3.68% month-on-month decline in August 2025, reaching 52,633 tonnes. ICIS data show that prices were bottoming out in July and this likely...
China Aug BG, BDG imports up 13.5% vs July on increased producer availability
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's imports of butyl glycol (BG) and butyl diglycol (BDG) in August 2025 increased by 13.5% month on month to approximately 17,377 tonnes. This marks the third consecutive month...
Trump at UN repeats push to cut Russian energy exports and adds ‘immediately’
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 23 September called for a halt to Russian energy purchases 'immediately' by Europe to join proposed stronger US...
NYMEX: US gas futures edge up following slight recovery of LNG feedgas nominations
US natural gas futures edged higher on 23 September, as LNG feedgas nominations rose slightly The October 2025 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $2.853/MMBtu, up 1.7% from the previous session...
US epoxy resins volatile as it grapples with tariff fallout
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US epoxy resins is in flux as the market continues to deal with the fallout of imports no longer being exempt from reciprocal tariffs. No clear pricing trends have emerged so far as...
RAIL: Largest US railroad union backs UP-NS merger after job security agreement
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the nation’s largest railroad union, reached an agreement...
PODCAST: Experts dive into immediate and future impacts of tariffs on US PET/R-PET markets
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US recycled plastics Senior Editor Emily Friedman, US PET Markets Reporter Melissa Wheeler, Vice President of the Polyester Chain, Antulio Borneo, and Senior Recycled Plastics Analyst...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil prices rose steadily as news about re-opening pipeline stalled
Prices fell Monday evening after news emerged of Iraqi-Kurdish pipeline restart The deal looks to have stalled, leading to prices bouncing back News of increased Iraqi exports latest example of...
India’s August base oils imports fall
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India’s base oils imports fell to a six-month low in August amid a slump in shipments from Asia. A rising flow of shipments from the US cushioned the fall. Total base oils imports...