Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Brazil lube demand holds in July after four-month slide
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Lube demand in Brazil edged up in July, ending a four-month sequence of sliding consumption. The fall in lube demand during Q2 coincided with a slowdown in economic growth as high...
INSIGHT: Trade war hits US brand as reliable source of chem feedstock
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The largest US exporter of the chemical feedstock ethane emerged unscathed from the temporary suspension of shipments to China, but the long-term effect of the trade dispute is...
US-EU trade deal details offer little clarity on $750 billion in energy purchases
Additional EU-US trade details offer little clarity on agreed energy purchases Ability to achieve the $750 billion commitment remains unclear European Commission to introduce legislation before end...
EU TiO2 industry welcomes ECJ annulment of carcinogen designation
LONDON (ICIS)--The European titanium dioxide (TiO2) industry and key coatings sector are breathing a sigh of relief, after the European Court of Justice’s decision to uphold the General Court’s...
Italian gas stocks to comfortably reach fullness by end of summer
LONDON (ICIS) -- Italian underground gas storage, including strategic stocks, is on track to reach full capacity by the end of September if current injection rates continue. Storage levels have...
China allows second batch of phosphate fertilizer export quotas
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s second batch of phosphate fertilizer export quotas has basically been clarified on 21 August, after the announcement of the lifting of restrictions on fertilizer exports...
European fatty alcohol spot prices climb following PKO uptrend, constrained supply
LONDON (ICIS)-- European mid-cut fatty alcohol spot prices firmed by €30/tonne, driven by sustained upward pressure from feedstock palm kernel oil (PKO). Spot prices were valued at...
China sulphur prices rise on more downstream buying
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s domestic sulphur prices continued to increase supported by more downstream buying. Prices at ports along the Yangtze River rose to yuan (CNY) 2,560/tonne on Thursday, up...
India methanol prices rise as US imposes sanctions on two importers
SINGAPORE (ICIS) – Import prices of methanol in India rose this week as US sanctions on two importers created a frenzy, with most buyers looking to stay away from Iran-origin cargo. This pushed up...
Antibiotics designed with the help of AI attack bacteria in entirely new ways
Two new compounds display potent activity against deadly drug-resistant bacteria
What happens next after the plastic treaty negotiations fail once again?
Bold action may now be needed to secure agreement on plastic pollution
Protein prediction AI could help reactivate dormant immune system in crops
Precision engineering could be used to return natural immunity to crops that have lost it over time
Building and breaking plastics with light
What if recycling plastics were as simple as flicking a switch? At TU/e, Assistant Professor Fabian Eisenreich is making that vision a reality by using LED light to both create and break down a new
With super acids against perpetual chemicals
Researchers from the UniSysCat Catalysis Cluster of Excellence at TU Berlin have succeeded for the first time in producing a class of so-called super Lewis acids that contain the element silicon and a halogen atom,
TU Wien develops a microscope for ultra-sensitive samples
Everyone who ever took a photo knows the problem: if you want a detailed image, you need a lot of light. In microscopy, however, too much light is often harmful to the sample – for
US gasoline supplies fall as exports increase
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US gasoline supplies declined during the week ended 15 August, due in part to an increase in gasoline exports. Gasoline stocks fell week on week, according to the US Energy...
NYMEX: US natural gas futures dip on demand ahead of storage report
US natural gas futures fell on 20 August, as feedgas demand remained lower compared to one week ago The September ’25 front-month contract settled at $2.752/MMBtu, down 0.5% from the prior settle...
South Korea’s July base oils exports to Americas mixed
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea’s base oils exports to the US stayed low in July, coinciding with a seasonal slowdown in the North American country’s Group III base oils consumption during the...
Latin America’s June lube demand falls
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Latin America’s lube demand fell in June for the fourth time in five months amid a simultaneous dip in consumption in the region’s largest markets. Falling demand and signs of...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil rebounds on higher US crude inventory drawdown
EIA shows 6 million barrel US crude inventory draw, lifting demand signals Whiting refinery disruption due to flooding adds support, tightening product supplies Doubt over Russia’s willingness to...