Industry News
Chemical Industry News
East Med PP prices softer on slow seasonal demand
BEIRUT (ICIS)--Polypropylene (PP) prices followed a soft direction in the East Mediterranean (East Med) markets in the week ended 17 October for both homopolymer and block co-polymer material,...
Plant status: China’s Sinopec Shanghai to shut BD units on planned maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Location: Jinshanwei, Shanghai, China Product: Butadiene (BD) Capacity (tonnes/year): 53,000 (No 1), 58,000 (No...
India PE trade muted ahead of Diwali as sentiment remains under pressure
MUMBAI (ICIS)--Spot activity in India’s polyethylene (PE) market tapered off during the week ending 17 October amid slowdown in business ahead of the Diwali holidays next week. The absence of fresh...
China BPA average plant run rate falls further to 70.6% on operational cut
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s bisphenol A (BPA) plants posted an average run rate at 70.6% in the week ended 17 October 2025, down by three percentage points from the last reporting period, ICIS data...
Plant status: China’s Ningxia Jiuhong shuts oxo-alcohols plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Ningxia Jiuhong Location: Ningxia, China Product: N-butanol (NBA) & Isobutanol & 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) Capacity (tonnes/year): 100,000...
Plant status: China’s Anqing Shuguang shuts No 1 oxo-alcohols plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Anqing Shuguang Location: Anhui, China Product: N-butanol (NBA) & 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) Capacity (tonnes/year): 120,000 & 100,000 Event...
Middle East PVC sentiment weak amid ample supply, slow demand
MUMBAI (ICIS)--Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) market sentiment in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and East Mediterranean (East Med) regions remained weak in the week ended 17 October 2025 amid slow...
China’s average run rate of PO plants falls to 62.1% on plant maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s propylene oxide (PO) plants posted an average run rate at 62.1% in the week ended 17 October 2025, down by two percentage points from the last reporting period, ICIS data...
India PVC sentiment cautious on ADD uncertainty, holiday slowdown
MUMBAI (ICIS)--Spot discussions for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in India stayed limited, even after some suppliers announced fresh November offers in the week ended 17 October. On the other hand, a few...
China acetic acid run rate slumps on plants maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s average acetic acid plants’ run rate dropped sharply, mainly attributed to planned maintenance at Jiangsu Sopo and INEOS YPC. Meanwhile, Sinopec Great Wall cut run rate...
Romania seeks to delay lignite closures until 2029
Romania submitted a proposal to the European Commission to postpone lignite unit closures until end of 2029, instead of 2026 targeted date Aims to "guarantee the safety of the energy system during...
Solar-powered method lights the way to a ‘de-fossilized’ chemical industry
Researchers have demonstrated a new and sustainable way to make the chemicals that are the basis of thousands of products – from plastics to cosmetics – we use every day. Hundreds of thousands of chemicals
Light Switch for Electrons: Researchers create conductive interface in nickelate materials
Using ultraviolet (UV) light, scientists have succeeded in switching an extremely conductive state on and off within seconds at the interface between two oxide materials. This newly discovered ‘light switch for electrons’ is a significant
Unlocking the power of gold: a breakthrough in green chemistry
Acetaldehyde is a key chemical intermediate traditionally produced via the ethylene-based Wacker oxidation process, which is both costly and environmentally harmful. Selective oxidation of bioethanol to acetaldehyde offers a greener and more sustainable alternative, yet
India RIL oil-to-chemicals FY Q2 earnings up 20.9% amid higher polymer margins
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India's Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) reported a 20.9% year-on-year increase to its oil-to-chemicals (O2C) earnings on a sharp rebound in transportation fuel cracks and better...
China GDP growth slows further to 4.8% in Q3 as trade tensions bite
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s economic growth slowed to 4.8% year on year in the third quarter (Q3) as trade frictions and sluggish consumption drag , the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced...
China’s average PTA plants’ run rate up on operation hikes
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plants posted a higher average operating rate, because some producers gradually ramped up operations to their typical levels following...
China’s average PX plants’ run rate drops on plant turnaround
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s para-xylene (PX) plants posted a lower average operating rate, as Urumqi Petrochemical’s plant entered scheduled maintenance. In the week ended 17 October, the plants’...
NYMEX: US gas futures gain despite increases to gas supply and production
Front-month US natural gas futures rose on 17 October with mixed temperatures across the country impacting heating and cooling demand The November Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $3.008/MMBtu,...
US Q4 acetone testing price floor amid bearish supply/demand
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US acetone is starting off Q4 on a bearish note with feedstock costs lower and demand stuck in a trough. Splitter margins are shrinking as the spread between refinery-grade propylene...