Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Orlen Unipetrol warns Czech windfall tax would hurt its development, green transition
LONDON (ICIS)--Orlen Unipetrol on Tuesday warned that a refining windfall tax proposed by the Czech government would significantly undercut its ability to invest in refinery modernisation and...
US consumer confidence falls ‘notably’ in September
HOUSTON (ICIS)--After softening in July and August, US consumer confidence deteriorated notably in September, according to the latest US Conference Board survey conducted from 1-23 September. The...
Ammonia Tampa contract price falls again as US application season demand nears
LONDON (ICIS)--The US Tampa ammonia contract price has recorded another drop for October at $545/tonne CFR (cost and freight). The price, settled between contract partners Yara and Mosaic, is a...
ICIS US Leading Business Barometer points to accelerating growth
NEW YORK (ICIS)--The ICIS US Leading Business Barometer (LBB), a key leading indicator of the US business cycle, is pointing to accelerating growth. The September 2026 provisional reading for the US...
China issues fourth batch of urea export quotas ahead of India tender
LONDON (ICIS)--China has issued a fourth round of urea export quotas in a surprise move, taking total allocations to more than 9 million tonnes and adding fresh supply ahead of a purchase tender in...
OPINION: Romania faces government test as political instability, downgrade fears cloud energy reform
This article reflects the personal views of the author and is not necessarily an expression of ICIS's position. LONDON (ICIS)--After nearly six months of political paralysis, Romania is set to...
PODCAST: BASF merger with Evonik could create integrated regional leader
BARCELONA (ICIS)--As Europe’s chemical industry battles for survival, a BASF integration with Evonik could form a regional leader capable of competing in a chronically oversupplied global market....
Borouge International starts up specialty PP compounding plant in Austria
LONDON (ICIS)--Global polyolefins major Borouge International has started commercial operations at a new specialty polypropylene (PP) compounding plant at its site in Schwechat, near Vienna, Austria....
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude oil prices decline on improved Middle East supply outlook
Oil benchmarks fall on resumed Saudi loadings from Yanbu port US-Iran rhetoric remains hostile amid negotiations Reports US is considering permitting broader sale of red-dyed diesel rather than US...
Evonik rejects BASF takeover bid
LONDON (ICIS)--Evonik has rejected the €10.3 billion bid from BASF, following initial discussions of a potential takeover. The specialty German producer said that the offer was too low for formal...
Canada GDP unchanged from June to July, but manufacturing off 0.9%
TORONTO (ICIS)--Canada’s real gross domestic product (GDP) was essentially unchanged from June to July as increases in construction and utilities were offset by declines in the manufacturing...
Europe MDI October contracts discussions to focus on rising costs
LONDON (ICIS)--Monthly contract negotiations for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) have now started among certain European market participants, with firmer costs a key discussion point based on...
Europe TDI October contract talks to focus on demand
LONDON (ICIS)--Monthly toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) contract negotiations for October have commenced for certain European market participants, with demand expected to be a main talking point based on...
Europe polyol October contracts discussions to center on main market fundamentals
LONDON (ICIS)--Some October contract talks for European slabstock conventional flexible polyether polyols have commenced, with the main talking points focused on trends in demand and supply. European...
Germany awaits EU review before changing gas-storage rules
BMWE says no concrete replacement for expiring gas-storage targets agreed yet Supplier obligations could shift storage responsibility from government to energy companies Commission decision due by...
GAS ALERT: Germany’s VNG partially allocates two-year Trading VTP storage product
FRANKFURT (ICIS)--Germany’s VNG Gasspeicher partially allocated its Trading VTP storage product for storage years 2027/28 and 2028/29, the company told ICIS. VNG offered 1TWh, equivalent to around...
Shell makes FID to double capacity at LNG Canada
TORONTO (ICIS)--Shell has made a final investment decision (FID) to proceed with Phase 2 of LNG Canada, it said on Tuesday. Phase 2 will double capacity at the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export...
EU-UK summit date delays could push back carbon trading system linkage
New EU-UK summit date yet to be announced EU-UK ETS linkage anticipated to be announced at summit ETS linkage could be in 2028, but 2029 may now be more realistic LONDON (ICIS)--The new date of
From preservative to poison
75 years after experts raised the alarm about sodium nitrite poisoning, new concerns have arisen about the chemical’s deliberate misuse
Looming social media ban for under-16s in UK sparks debate on accessing science online
Restrictions on children’s access to site like YouTube and TikTok will begin in March 2027