Industry News
Chemical Industry News
East China acetone inventories up by 34% to 31,500 tonnes
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Acetone inventories at Jiangsu ports in east China have increased to 31,500 tonnes in the week ended 14 November, ICIS data showed on Friday. The inventories were up by 34% from...
China’s Sinochem Quanzhou refinery unit catches fire, 7 people injured
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--A fire broke out at a refinery unit of Sinochem Quanzhou Petrochemical in southern China on 13 November, injuring seven people. The blaze occurred at around 16:30 local time (08:30...
Isomer MX S Korea export prices edge down on upstream, downstream drops
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) spot prices edge down on 13 November day on day, reflecting overnight upstream losses and slight declines in downstream paraxylene (PX). According to...
China major producers’ polyolefin inventories continue falling on buyers’ restocking
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The combined polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) inventories of Chinese state-owned petrochemical giants Sinopec and PetroChina continued falling on restocking activities,...
INSIGHT: Slowing demand pressures Asia chemical markets in November
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s chemical markets are still under pressure in November due to weak fundamentals, with ample supply while demand softens toward the year-end. Ongoing expansions of new...
Q3 2025: Merck Shows Solid Organic Growth Across All Sectors
Merck delivered solid organic growth in the third quarter of 2025. This performance demonstrates resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty and strong currency headwinds. Growth was mainly driven by Process Solutions in the Life Science business sector,
Traditional yoghurt recipe reveals ants’ fermentation power
Rebecca Trager meets a cross-disciplinary team investigating an ancient way to make yoghurt, which involved a trip to a tiny Bulgarian village
UK government unveils roadmap to speed the development of animal testing alternatives
Scientists warn that non-animal methods are unlikely to ever replace animal testing, particularly in discovery science
Plant status: China’s ZPC shuts EVA unit for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC) Location: Zhoushan, China Product: Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 300,000 Event...
Europe November polyols price assessments stable to higher
LONDON (ICIS)--Slabstock conventional flexible polyether polyols contract prices in Europe for November were assessed this week at rollovers and increases. Prices for November were assessed in line...
UK economic growth continues to slow in Q3 as GDP rises by just 0.1%
LONDON (ICIS)--UK economic growth continued to slow in the third quarter with GDP increasing by just 0.1%, the country’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Thursday. Growth in Q3 was...
Plant status: China’s Oriental Energy (Zhangjiagang) restarts PDH plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Oriental Energy Zhangjiagang Location: Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, China Product: Propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 600,000 Event start: Around 8...
Asia ethanolamines market outlook bleak amid thin margins, poor demand
KUALA LUMPUR (ICIS)--The Asia ethanolamines market is likely to stay suppressed in 2026, according to a representative from Malaysia’s PETRONAS Chemicals Marketing (Labuan). Demand for...
ESA ’25: Sulphur cost burden leaves EU chemical and fertilizer industries ‘incredibly depressed’
CATANIA, Italy (ICIS)--Steady increases in burner feedstock sulphur costs have left downstream industries "incredibly depressed", said players at the European Sulphuric Acid Association (ESA)...
Plant status: OXEA plans butac maintenance at Marl, Germany
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: OXEA Location: Marl, Germany Product: Butyl acetate (butac) Capacity (tonnes/year): 100,000 Event start: H2 November Event finish: H2 November...
LNG Weekly Market Report: Asia retains narrow price premium over Europe’s TTF
OUTLOOK Prompt TTF contracts have been under pressure as a mild weather in northwestern Europe has stemmed winter demand onset Muted demand in early November has seen inventories remain relatively...
Methanol poisoning: the chemistry behind how a toxic alcohol gets into drinks
Methanol in alcoholic drinks kills thousands every year. How does this toxic compound enter drinks, why is it dangerous and what can you do to stay safe?
Plant status: Malaysia’s Petronas to shut ethanolamines unit in April 2026
KUALA LUMPUR (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Petronas Chemicals Derivatives Location: Kerteh, Malaysia Product: Ethanolamines Capacity (tonnes/year): 75,000 Event start: Around 1 April...
Asia MEG market hits year-low on supply glut, shrinking demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia spot monoethyle glycol (MEG) prices have hit the lowest level within the year as the supply glut and shrinking demand continued to push down discussions. Spot prices closed at...
ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 13 November 2025
- In its latest World Energy Outlook report, International Energy Agency (IEA) said that European gas demand is expected to decline while share of LNG is expected to grow. By 2030, global LNG...