Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Europe MMA prices firm as limited imports and upstream cost rises felt
LONDON (ICIS)--Spot prices in the Europe methyl methacrylate (MMA) market continued to rise last week. The move up came as the higher price of key feedstock acetone began to filter down into the MMA...
US Stepan to close New Jersey surfactants site; decommission other assets by mid-2026
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Stepan is closing its Fieldsboro site in New Jersey and decommissioning some assets at Millsdale, US and Stalybridge, UK by mid-2026, the US-based surfactants producer said on Monday....
PODCAST: Sustainably Speaking: EU mass balance accounting under SUPD and future of chemical recycling
LONDON (ICIS)--Join Mark Victory, Senior Editor, Recycling at ICIS as he asks Valentijn De Neve, CEO of BlueAlp and president of industry association Chemical Recycling Europe, and Egor Dementev,...
India imports 10.2 million tonnes of urea in 2025 after surge in local demand
LONDON (ICIS)--India imported 10.2 million tonnes of urea in 2025, the most since 2020, as surging domestic demand lifted buying, according to customs data. Urea imports were up 57% last year,...
Series of stable nitrogen radical chains synthesised
These compounds may find uses as nitrene precursors
Europe polyols demand expected to remain lackluster
LONDON (ICIS)--Consumption for polyols in the European market through January was generally sluggish, with conditions likely to remain stable this month. HCOB Eurozone Construction PMI decreased in...
Iran’s urea plants back to full capacity as gas supply stabilizes
LONDON (ICIS)--In Iran, most urea plants are now operating at full rates as gas supply has stabilized after resuming around 15 February following two months of curtailment. Gas supply typically...
Fidelity Shipping emerges as buyer of Omani steam turbine LNG vessels
New Turkey-based shipowner linked to Asyad Shipping quartet Little known about how vessels will be employed One vessel signals course through Bab el-Mandeb strait LONDON (ICIS)--Turkey-based Fidelity...
Europe DEG spot prices rollover in balanced to tight market
LONDON (ICIS)--Prices in the European diethylene glycol (DEG) spot market were assessed as unchanged in the week ending 20 February in a balanced to slightly tight market. DEG truck values remained...
Warm turn, comfortable supply outlook erase late-winter risk premium at Dutch TTF and German THE hubs
TTF and THE March/April ’26 risk premium now below €0.600/MWh versus late-January peaks around €5/MWh Late-winter tightness fears have faded with warmer forecasts and comfortable near-term LNG...
German caustic soda ECU contract margins rise in week ending 20 February, chlorine value increases
LONDON (ICIS)--Average German membrane electrochemical unit (ECU) contract margins rose in the week ending 20 February, as chlorine values were calculated at a higher level. The ECU value rose, and...
US Stepan hit by Q4 loss on weak surfactants demand, interest costs
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Stepan swung to a net loss of $531,000 in the fourth quarter, down by 119% year on year, on the back of rising interest expenses and weaker demand in its core surfactants business,...
Unruly [1,2]-Wittig reaction tamed to produce products with precise stereochemistry
Stubborn rule-breaker becomes a model reaction by sidestepping radical reaction mechanism altogether
Unravelling the chemistry behind the sea’s bioluminescent sparkle
Researchers are piecing together the unusual chemical reactions that enable dinoflagellates to create spectacular light displays in tropical bays. But the mechanism behind their bioluminescence remains one of nature’s most puzzling chemical mysteries
The Potential of Sodium Ion Batteries
Sodium ion batteries have become a hot topic: They are considered to be cost-effective and widely available. At the same time, dependencies on Asian supply chains could be reduced. But does the technology deliver what
Artificial DNA base pair developed based on halogen bonds
For the first time, researchers have succeeded in developing an artificial DNA base pair that is based on a different chemical force than natural genetic material. While the common natural DNA building blocks are held
Bio-based fibers receive chemically bonded flame retardants
Fibers made from bio-based plastics reduce dependence on fossil raw materials and promote the circular economy. The covalent bonding of flame-retardant additives can open the way for these fibers to enter the mass market. The
US to use another statute to revive portion of tariffs voided by court
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US President Donald Trump said he will impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122 after the US Supreme Court struck down reciprocal tariffs under the International Emergency...
Asia-US container rates edge lower as capacity remains ample despite more blank sailings
HOUSATON (ICIS)--Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US ticked lower again this week as capacity remains ample even as carriers have increased the number of blank sailings....
NYMEX: US gas futures edge up on short-lived heating demand expectations
Front-month US natural gas futures gained on 20 February on cold weather for early March The March 2026 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $3.047/MMBtu, up nearly 1.7% from the previous session A...