Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Plant status: China’s Yulong Petrochemical shuts PP Line 1, restarts Line 3
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shandong Yulong PC Location: Longkou, China Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 400,000 (Line 1); 400,000 (Line 3) Event start:...
Indonesia unveils Rp16.23 trillion stimulus package to hit growth target
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Indonesia will roll out a rupiah (Rp) 16.23 trillion ($990 million) stimulus package in a bid to meet its GDP growth target of 5.2% in 2025, the government said on 15 September. The...
India’s Reliance H2 Sep MEG contract nomination rolls over
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India’s Reliance Industries announced its nomination for the second half of September monoethylene glycol (MEG) contract price at $530/tonne, a company source said. The price is...
Plant status: China’s ZPC shuts No 1 SM plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC) Location: Zhejiang, China Product: Styrene monomer (SM) Capacity (tonnes/year): 600,000 Event start:...
Lithuanian chemists developed oxygen sensors that can be applied from food packaging to cancer diagnostics
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania, have developed new organic compounds that act as highly sensitive oxygen sensors. These sensors can accurately detect even the slightest amounts of oxygen in the environment –
Tiny switches, big effect
An inter-university team from TU Wien and the University of Vienna has made important progress in understanding so-called photoswitches. These tiny molecular "light switches" change their structure when they are irradiated with light - similar
US corn harvest at 7% completed with soybeans at 5%
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US corn harvesting has reached 7% completed with soybeans at 5%, according to the latest crop progress report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The current rate of corn...
US BD daily production from crackers rises on higher operating rates
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The June daily rate of US butadiene (BD) production from steam crackers rose amid higher industry operating rates, according to data from Worley Consulting. Total BD production fell...
NYMEX: US gas futures rise on LNG feedgas nomination recovery
US natural gas rose on 15 September on increased demand, as stronger LNG feedgas nominations rebounded over the weekend The October front-month contract settled at $3.043/MMBtu, up 3.4% from the...
Braskem to dodge debt hit from Mexico venture but risks to business profile, reputation remain – Moody’s
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Braskem’s debt profile should not be affected by issues at its Mexican subsidiary Braskem Idesa, which undoubtedly will need to restructure its debt or get a cash injection after...
US propylene production decreased in June
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The daily rate of US propylene production from steam crackers dropped in June, according to data from Worley Consulting, formerly Advisian. Total propylene production also declined,...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude benchmarks rise as pressure on Russia oil bullish for prices
Successful Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure US president Trump urges NATO nations to halt Russian oil purchases Largely disappointing Chinese economic data adds to last week’s...
US ethylene monthly, daily output rose in June
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The daily rate of US ethylene production from steam crackers rose in June, according to data from Worley Consulting, formerly Advisian. Total ethylene production also increased,...
US Department of Commerce issues preliminary antidumping determination on China MDI
HOUSTON (ICIS)--On 11 September 2025, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced its preliminary affirmative determination in the antidumping duty (ADD) investigation of methylene diphenyl...
Asia base oils supply outlook: Week of 15 September
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s base oils prices hold firm versus regional gasoil prices. Sustained strength of base oils margins suggests supply-demand fundamentals remain balanced to tight....
US-Canada PP production, sales down in August
HOUSTON (ICIS)--August preliminary sales and production data have been recently released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Vault Consulting. Month-on-month percentage changes are shown...
Asia base oils demand outlook: Week of 15 September
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s base oils demand could get support from signs of steady requirements in markets like southeast Asia and India. Regional demand could get additional support from blenders’...
Americas/EMEA base oils supply outlook: Week of 15 September
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--US base oils prices hold firm in narrow range versus vacuum gasoil (VGO) prices. Source: ICIS Still-firm margins curb pressure on refiners to adjust output. Moves to maintain...
German caustic soda ECU contract margins rise in week ending 12 September, energy costs lower
LONDON (ICIS)--German spot chlor-alkali contract margins rose in the week ending 12 September, on the back of lower energy costs. Electrochemical unit (ECU) values were also slightly higher, adding...
Americas/EMEA base oils demand outlook: Week of 15 September
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--US base oils demand likely to stay muted. Expectations of sufficient supplies, downward pressure on prices and seasonal slowdown in consumption at year-end incentivize buyers to...