Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Bacterial factories: A key to climate-friendly chemistry
The chemical industry is involved in virtually every product we use in daily life. However, it is also responsible for a significant share of global CO₂ emissions. ETH researcher Ronja Rappold wants to change that.
Cooking plastics into oil
The Catalysis Engineering Group at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) has developed a new robust process for the recycling of mixed plastics waste. A newly developed pilot plant aims to demonstrate how this can be
Winter-ready lithium batteries: scientists use “polarity-contras” electrolyte strategy to outsmart extreme cold
When lithium batteries face extreme cold, their performance often plummets — a major challenge for energy storage, electric vehicles, and aerospace exploration. Now, scientists in China have found a way out by rethinking "polarity-contrast." A
Oil surges on Mideast conflict flare-up; Asian equities slump on tech rout
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Oil prices surged in early trade on Monday as tensions flared up in the Middle East while Asian stocks retreated on a tech sector rout and expectations of US interest rate hikes....
S Korea isomer MX spot prices edge up on active July trade
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Spot export prices for South Korea-origin isomer-grade mixed xylenes (MX) inched up on 5 June, following active July window discussions, with trading concentrated in a tight range....
China’s average run rate of PO plants falls further to 56.6% on operational cuts
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s propylene oxide (PO) plants posted an average run rate at 56.6% in the week ended 5 June 2026, down by 2.7 percentage points from the last reporting period, ICIS data...
Plant status: FPC prolongs Taiwan EVA output cut to H2 June
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Formosa Plastics Corp (FPC) Location: Mailiao, Taiwan Product: Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 168,000 (No 1); 48,000 (No...
Asia naphtha buyers to stay cautious despite plunging prices
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Slow demand for naphtha derivatives such as polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in Asia will continue to keep naphtha buyers cautious in the next few weeks although...
China’s average MTBE plant run rate near one-year low
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The average run rate of China’s methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) plants dropped to 55.1% in the week ended 5 June 2026, near a one-year low, ICIS data showed. The rate was...
Plant status: India’s DPL slashes IPA run rate by 50%
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Deepak Phenolics Ltd (DPL) Location: Dahej, India Product: Isopropanol (IPA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 60,000 Event start: 31 May 2026 Event...
China BPA average plant run rate rises to 66.6% on plant restart
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The average run rate of China’s bisphenol A (BPA) plants was at around 66.6% in the week ended 5 June 2026, up by two percentage points from the last reporting period, ICIS data...
Plant status: China’s Fund Energy (Ningbo) postpones MEG unit restart plan
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Fund Energy (Ningbo) Location: Ningbo, Zhejiang, China Product: Monoethylene glycol (MEG) Capacity (tonnes/year): 500,000 Event start: 25 May...
Plant status: China’s ZPC shuts No 1 MEG unit for planned maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC) Location: Zhejiang, China Product: Monoethylene glycol (MEG) Capacity (tonnes/year): 750,000 (No 1)...
NYMEX: US gas futures scale back weather-driven gains
US natural gas futures dropped on 5 June, undoing some of the recent weather-driven gains as June forecasts scaled back slightly The July ’26 front-month contract settled at $3.229/MMBtu, down 3%...
Asia-US container rates soar on demand surge as volumes pulled forward to beat tariffs
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US surged this week - rising by more than 30% on some routes - as a demand surge ahead of Section 301 tariffs taking...
US May glycol ether spot prices rise, but E-series prices rise more than PM and PMA
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US May glycol ether spot prices rose month on month for both the E-series, butyl glycol (BG) and butyl diglycol (BDG), and the P-series, propylene glycol methyl ether (PM) and...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil prices down after Oman oil exports reported to be unimpeded by port explosion
Omani exports unencumbered by reports of oil port explosion Collapse of Israel-Lebanon peace accord supports oil prices OPEC’s global demand growth outlook likely to be overly optimistic US oil rig...
Canada’s new vehicle sales fall for eighth month amid ‘feels like’ recession
TORONTO (ICIS)--Sales of new light vehicles (cars and light trucks) in Canada fell 1.7% year on year to an estimated 184,000 units in May, for an eighth consecutive decline, according to estimates by...
INSIGHT: Brazil’s industry, cabinet in crisis mode as US tariffs threat add uncertainty in electoral year
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazil's main industrial trade group and economic analysts are weighing the implications of two sweeping tariff proposals unveiled this week by the US administration which, if...
Europe June BPA formula contract price extends gains on costs
LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe bisphenol A (BPA) formula contract price has increased in June, representing the third consecutive monthly rise, on higher upstream costs. The BPA formula contract price...