Industry News
Chemical Industry News
FBMC WEEKLY: Strong wind, muted demand to pressure European power spot prices through week 24
LONDON (ICIS)-- Bearish European power spot prices could continue across the flow-based market coupling (FBMC) region amid mild temperatures and well-above-average wind power output through week 24....
What kind of damage has RFK Jr’s health department inflicted on vaccine research in the US so far?
Since becoming health secretary in early 2025, Robert F Kennedy Jr has confirmed the worst fears of his critics
Warming seas impact cell structures that deliver oxygen to coral
Oxygen-sensitive nanoparticles reveal a new mechanism of coral stress
Prospector AI Search, now powered by chemical intelligence
UL Solutions has selected Kimia to power intelligent search across Prospector's Personal Care and Cosmetics users, changing how formulators worldwide find and evaluate ingredients. The new time-saving intelligent natural language solution was demonstrated live at NYSCC Suppliers'
UPDATE: Israel strikes Mahshahr petrochemical complex in southwest Iran
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Israeli air force has “attacked several targets at the petrochemical complex in Mahshahr” in southwest Iran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a post on social media...
Plant status: S Korea’s H&G Chemical takes EVA plant offline
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: H&G Chemical Location: Yeosu Industrial Complex, South Jeolla province, South Korea Product: Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) Capacity...
Israel strikes Mahshahr petrochemical complex in southwest Iran
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Israeli air force has “attacked several targets at the petrochemical complex in Mahshahr” in southwest Iran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a post on social media...
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)...