Industry News
Chemical Industry News
EPCA ’25: Little respite for European toluene in Q4
LONDON (ICIS)--As the industry prepares to gather for the European Petrochemical Association annual meeting in Berlin, the toluene market remains under pressure with little sign of structural...
EPCA ’25: European methanol market faces flat Q4 demand amid winter supply risks
LONDON (ICIS)--European methanol consumption is forecast flat for the fourth quarter across derivative markets, while supply should remain balanced despite potential production disruption linked to...
EPCA ’25: Regulation and financing continue to dominate pyrolysis oil discussions
LONDON (ICIS)--Discussions among players in the pyrolysis oil market at the European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) annual meeting 22-25 September are likely to centre-on four interlinked topics:-...
EPCA ’25: Europe butac sellers eye risk from low-cost Chinese imports
LONDON (ICIS)--Butyl acetate (butac) sellers in Europe are increasingly concerned about competitively-priced imports from China. With spot buying interest already muted across the region, domestic...
EPCA ’25: Europe MMA margin squeeze, financial challenges shape rest of 2025
LONDON (ICIS)--The ongoing margin squeeze and financial challenges are set to shape discussions the Europe methyl methacrylate (MMA) players will have at EPCA ‘25. 2026 budgets being drawn up amid...
EPCA ’25: Slow momentum for Europe polyols and downstream sectors
LONDON (ICIS)--Consumption of polyols as well as sectors downstream has generally been limited this year, and expectations for a recovery over the rest of this year remain low. Construction PMI down...
SHIPPING: Asia-US container rates mixed, face downward pressure on trade war, soft demand
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US were mixed this week, but a collapse on the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) indicates that carriers are in...
NanYa Plastics seeking price increase on US PET resins on elevated costs
HOUSTON (ICIS)--NanYa Plastics is seeking a 6 cents/lb price increase on US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) effective 1 October. The price increase can be attributed to the increased cost of energy,...
M&G Polimeros announces price increase on US PET, R-PET on volatile raw materials, freight costs
HOUSTON (ICIS)--M&G Polimeros announced a 6 cents/lb price increase on US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET (R-PET), effective 1 October. The price increase can be attributed to...
NYMEX: US gas futures ease on softer LNG feedgas nominations and ample storage
US natural gas futures fell on 19 September, as above-average storage volumes and reduced feedgas demand weighed on the Henry Hub benchmark The October 2025 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at...
Europe PS September contract prices decrease driven by styrene, distribution also assessed
LONDON (ICIS)--September contract prices have decreased €45/tonne in the Europe polystyrene (PS) market, almost in line with the €46/tonne decrease for upstream styrene. Styrene and PS prices...
RAIL: New intermodal service from US railroads UP, NS shows no need for merger – ACD
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Chem industry trade groups are opposed to the announced merger of Class 1 railroads Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), and the president and CEO of the Alliance for...
Europe EPS September contract prices decrease to lowest level since July 2023
LONDON (ICIS)--September contract prices have decreased €40/tonne in the Europe expandable polystyrene (EPS) market, mainly driven by the €46/tonne decrease for upstream styrene. Styrene and...
Europe ABS September contract prices fall for sixth month, feedstock costs
LONDON (ICIS)--Contract prices have decreased €25/tonne for September in the Europe acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) market, mainly driven by composite feedstock costs including...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil prices down as supply glut continues to outweigh US interest rate cut
Concerns over softening crude demand continue to weigh Recent US interest rate cut fails to provide significant boost to prices Reports European Commission plans to ban Russian LNG imports by 2027 US...
Europe PET sellers battle for volume as PET prices hit breaking point
LONDON (ICIS)--Prices for European polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are unsustainably low without a significant market shift to restore margins. "Desperation to keep plants open and running is so...
Plant Status: TPC Group US Texas BD unit on reduced rates
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: TPC Group Location: Houston, Texas, US Product: Butadiene (BD) Capacity (tonnes/year): 508,000 Event start: Early September Reason: Reduced rates...
Plant status: Nobian Rotterdam chlor-alkali FM resolved late July
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Nobian Location: Rotterdam (Botlek), the Netherlands Product: Caustic soda, chlorine Capacity (tonnes/year): Caustic soda 713,000 dmt, chlorine...
Plant status: Spain’s Plastiverd cuts PET rates to align with domestic market
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Plastiverd Location: El Prat de Llobregat, Spain Product: PET Capacity (tonnes/year): 210,000 Event start: September Event finish: Unknown Reason:...
Plant status: Italy’s Plastipak reduces PET output as per other European sites
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Plastipak Location: Verbania, Italy Product: PET Capacity (tonnes/year): 160,000 Event start: September Event finish: Unknown Reason: Commercial...