Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Global base oils arb outlook: Week of 25 August
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Europe Group I brightstock price stays unusually firm relative to light and heavy neutrals so far in Q3 2025. Source: ICIS Europe Group I brightstock price stays unusually firm...
Global base oils margins outlook: Week of 25 August
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Global base oils prices hold at levels versus feedstock and competing fuel prices that sustain incentive for refiners to maintain or raise output. Margins hold firm, even at a time...
China average acetic acid plants’ run rate inches up on plant resumption
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s average acetic acid plants’ run rate rose slightly, as Shaanxi Yanchang and Sinopec Great Wall resumed full operation. However, Henan Shunda shut its acetic acid plant...
Asia MA markets steady amid thin trade and cautious demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Maleic anhydride (MA) markets across Asia held largely steady the week ended 22 August, though regional trends diverged. In southeast Asia, subdued trading and cautious sentiment...
China July base oils imports fall nearly 5.74% from June
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s base oils imports in July 2025 decreased month on month to around 114,470 tonnes, according to the ICIS Supply & Demand Database. The top four import origins in July...
Plant status: China’s Ningxia Baofeng Energy to shut PP and PE units
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Ningxia Baofeng Energy Location: Yinchuan, Ningxia, China Product: High density polyethylene (HDPE); polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year):...
China July base oils exports rise slightly on Sinopec’s higher volumes
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s base oils exports in July 2025 rose by 1.09% month on month to 12,573 tonnes, as Sinopec increased its exports of Group II base oils. Sinopec Maoming increased the exports...
Asia butac, etac face pressure from poor margins, dismal demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia butyl acetate (butac) markets are grappling with slow demand on the back of a supply overhang while feedstock costs cut into margins. Weak production margins add to...
Scientists discover new phenomenon in chiral symmetry breaking
Researchers at The University of Osaka have discovered a new type of chiral symmetry breaking (CSB) in an organic crystalline compound. This phenomenon, involving a solid-state structural transition from an achiral to a chiral crystal,
Liquid gold: Prototype harvests valuable resource from urine
A newly developed system transforms human waste into a powerful tool for profitable and sustainable energy and agriculture in resource-limited regions. The prototype, outlined in a Stanford-led study, recovers a valuable fertilizer from urine, using solar
Analytik Jena founds new entity in Brazil
Analytik Jena announced that as of August 1st, 2025, the new entity “Analytik Jena Brasil Ltda.” has started operations. Analytik Jena has further developed its sales structure to serve customers and partners even more directly
SHIPPING: Asia-USWC container rates nearing pre-Red Sea diversion levels
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US continued to fall this week, with rates to the US West Coast nearing where they were when carriers began avoiding the...
NYMEX: US gas futures close lower amid higher Haynesville output
Front-month US natural gas futures abandoned Thursday’s gains, then fell further on 22 August as forecasts continued to indicate that mild temperatures would dampen late August and early September...
US August PGI, PG-USP contract ranges widen, as midpoints tick slightly higher
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August propylene glycol (PG) contracts settled between a slight decrease on the low end of the price range and an uptick on the high end. Industrial grade (PGI) and pharmaceutical...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude steady as Russia-Ukraine peace deal optimism weakens
Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies after Ukraine strikes Russia oil infrastructure German Q2 economic data weighs on prices Powell hints at possible September US interest rate cut Oil rig count down...
Europe PS August contract prices decline, distribution prices also assessed
LONDON (ICIS)--Contract prices for August have decreased €30/tonne in the Europe polystyrene (PS) market, mainly driven by the €35/tonne contract price decrease for upstream styrene. Europe PS...
Europe EPS contract prices decrease €30/tonne for August
LONDON (ICIS)--August contract prices have decreased €30/tonne in the Europe expandable polystyrene (EPS) market, mainly driven by the €35/tonne contract price decrease for upstream styrene....
Canada removes retaliatory tariffs on most US goods; 85% of bilateral trade tariff free
TORONTO (ICIS)--Canada’s government is removing retaliatory tariffs on goods imported from the US that are compliant with the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement, effective 1 September, Prime...
Europe ABS August contract prices fall double digits for fifth month in a row
LONDON (ICIS)--August contract prices have decreased €20/tonne in the Europe acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) market, mainly driven by composite feedstock costs including the €35/tonne...
August PE pipe price edges down, September offers better outlook
LONDON (ICIS)--August contract prices settled down by €5/tonne for European high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe grade, taking into account the stable, muted summer market and the monomer decrease...