Industry News
Chemical Industry News
S Korea Q2 revised higher to 0.6% amid improved exports
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea’s economy grew by 0.6% year on year in the second quarter, up from the advanced estimate of a 0.5% expansion, on the back of stronger exports, central bank data showed...
S Korea isomer MX edge up on higher Oct discussions, H1 Nov talks limited
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea’s isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) spot export prices edged up on 2 September, ICIS data showed. The half months assessed are H1 October, H2 October and H1 November....
Plant status: China’s Jiaxing Jinyan restarts ethanolamines plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Jiaxing Jinyan Chemical Location: Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China Product: Ethanolamines Capacity (tonnes/year): 80,000 Event start: 4 August 2025...
Plant status: China’s Maoming Shihua restarts ethanolamines plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Maoming Petrochemical Shihua Location: Maoming, Guangdong, China Product: Ethanolamines Capacity (tonnes/year): 20,000 Event start: H1 July 2025...
US corn reaches 15% maturity with soybeans dropping leaves at 11%
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US corn crop has reached a maturity rate of 15% with 11% of the soybean crop having dropped their leaves according to the latest crop progress report from the US Department of...
NYMEX: US gas futures post slight gains after early-day losses
Front-month US natural gas futures rose softly on 2 September as weather forecasts continued to indicate mild temperatures would hold through mid-month in the eastern US The October Henry Hub...
Russia’s Gazprom seals China expansion plans, as hurdles remain
New gas agreement to expand Russia's role in China Additional supply likely to start in 2030s Prices at heavy discounts compared with European contracts SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Russian incumbent Gazprom...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude gains on Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure
Ukraine drone attacks impacted Russian oil supply, led to morning session gains End of driving season signals start of likely reduced demand in the US Loadings data of North Sea crude grades showed...
US August barge acetone contracts decrease on lower feedstocks
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August barge acetone contracts have decreased by 2.125 cents/lb ($47/tonne), according to sources. Contracts were assessed at 46.25 cents/lb DEL (delivered). Spot feedstock...
Plant Status: Formosa olefins unit at US Point Comfort site has upset
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Formosa Plastics USA Location: Point Comfort, Texas, US Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 730,000 ethylene; 275,000 propylene...
Brazil’s Unigel Q2 financials remain hit by plant shutdowns, debt restructuring
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Unigel’s second quarter (Q2) sales fell more than 15%, year on year, although the company managed to turn around last year’s Q2 net loss and post a profit, the Brazilian...
US construction spending falls 0.1% in July, led by nonresidential sector
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US construction spending fell 0.1% month on month to an estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,139.1 billion in July, according to US Census Bureau data on Tuesday. Increased...
Netherlands’ June base oils output falls
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Netherlands’ base oils output fell to a 14-month low in June, contrasting with a rise in Europe’s imports from key suppliers of Group II base oils. The higher imports...
US June base oil supply exceeds demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--US base oils supply rose to a five-month high in June on the back of higher output and imports. The rise in supply contrasted with a fall in demand to a four-month low. Supply
US manufacturing contracts for sixth month, but new orders rise
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Economic activity in US manufacturing contracted in August for the sixth consecutive month, as measured by the latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) from the Institute for Supply...
Chemical markets could ‘tighten materially’ if shutdown plans become reality – analyst
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Global chemical supply/demand fundamentals could “tighten materially” if meaningful plant shutdowns take place, said a Wall Street analyst. “After three consecutive years of...
Westlake’s force majeure lifted on EPIKOTE 862 BPF resins products from Pernis
LONDON (ICIS)--Westlake Epoxy has removed the force majeure on bisphenol F (BPF) resin EPIKOTE 862 products, as supply has improved, according to recent company correspondence sent to customers. The...
EDF extends 2.3GW of UK nuclear capacity to March 2028
EDF confirmed a one-year life extension for the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear plants on 2 September An additional 2.3GW of nuclear capacity will be online until March 2028 instead of March 2027...
Venator holding companies appoint administrators for asset sales
LONDON (ICIS)--Venator has appointed global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal to be administrators in the insolvency process in its three non-trading holding companies and to carve out...
Bullish, volatile Nordic power spot prices could return in week 38 on supply-side risks
Nordic Day-ahead system price hit a five-month high in week 35 on low wind, NO2 hydro and nuclear Limitations for NO2 hydro recovery with warmer and dry weather anticipated in week 38 Low wind,...