Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Industry associations warn: Germany and Europe at risk as a battery location
Five business associations have written an open letter to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several federal ministers: They see the battery location and therefore the battery ecosystem in Germany and Europe at risk. The Competence
Chemical language models don’t need to understand chemistry
Language models are now also being used in the natural sciences. In chemistry, they are employed, for instance, to predict new biologically active compounds. Chemical language models (CLMs) must be extensively trained. However, they do
Researchers Develop New Method for Producing Previously Unknown Compounds
An international team of chemists has unveiled a new method to increase the reactivity of amines, compounds that feature in many of the world’s most widely used drugs. The novel approach promises to streamline pharmaceutical
East China MEG inventories increase further on intensive import arrivals
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Monoethylene glycol (MEG) inventories in east China increased to 488,000 tonnes on 17 October, up by around 4.3% from 10 October, ICIS data showed, due to concentrated import...
Plant status: India’s IOC delays Group II base oils maintenance prior to expansion
DUBAI (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Indian Oil Corp. (IOC) Location: Haldia, India Product: Group II Base Oils Capacity (tonnes/year): 219,000 Event start: H2 October 2025 Event...
China PET export prices at six-month low on lower upstream, muted buying
SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- China’s polyethylene terephthalate (PET) export prices look set to extend their downtrend this week, tracking lower feedstock prices and subdued buying in the market. Spot...
Plant status: India’s Chennai Petroleum to restart Group I base oils in H2 Oct
DUBAI (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Chennai Petroleum Location: Chennai, India Product: Group I base oils Capacity (tonnes/year): 219,976 Event start: Mid-September 2025 Event finish:...
Russia aims to expand Arctic LNG fleet capacity
Russia ice-class tanker close to completing sea trials Russia aims to build ice-class LNG carrier Western sanctions likely to stall efforts SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Russia is moving closer to commissioning...
Singapore’s Sept petrochemical exports fall 16%; NODX swings to growth
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Singapore’s petrochemical exports fell by 16% year on year to Singapore dollar (S$) 882.8 million in September, as the trade-reliant economy braces for the full impact of the 10%...
China major producers’ polyolefin inventories fall on restocking activities
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The combined polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) inventories of Chinese state-owned petrochemical giants Sinopec and PetroChina fell on restocking activities after the National...
Plant status: China’s Shandong Jinling Chemical shuts PO plant for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shandong Jinling Chemical Location: Shandong, China Product: Propylene oxide (PO) Capacity (tonnes/year): 160,000 Event start: Around 12 October...
Plant status: China’s Kellin eyes Nov restart of C3-based IPA unit
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Kellin Chemical Location: Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, China Product: Isopropanol (IPA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 50,000 (C3-route line) Event start:...
Asia TiO2 price sees slight uptake with effects of price hike trickling through
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Titanium dioxide (TiO2) spot indicative prices in Asia were up slightly so far on Friday. Buy indications were heard at 1,850-1,870/tonne FOB (free on board) China, some...
NYMEX: Predictable storage data release weighs on natural gas futures
Front-month US natural gas futures declined for a third-straight session on 16 October following the release of weekly storage data, which aligned with most analysts’ expectations The November...
US gasoline supplies decline as refinery utilization rates fall
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US gasoline supplies dropped during the week ended 10 October, due in large part to a sharp decline in refinery run rates. Gasoline demand remains below seasonal norms. Gasoline...
CEOs of chemical manufacturing companies share rail merger concerns with Trump – ACC
HOUSTON (ICIS)--A group of 40 chemical manufacturing CEOs sent a letter to the White House on Thursday urging US President Donald Trump and federal regulators to closely scrutinize the proposed...
APLA ’25: US Gulf PVC pushes deepen margin pressure in Latin America amid regional headwinds
CANCUN, Mexico (ICIS)--Latin America's polyvinyl chloride (PVC) market faces growing imports, sluggish demand and pressure from cheap US Gulf exports. Overproduction and outside competition have...
APLA ’25: Brazil import needs and Mexico trade pressures redefine regional caustic soda dynamics
CANCUN, Mexico (ICIS)--The Latin American caustic soda market is approaching a critical juncture, as shifting supply dynamics, US market influence, and potential structural shifts in Brazil are...
More than 97% of electron microscope images remain unpublished
Huge datasets that would be a valuable training aid for AI are being lost
The lost treasure of electron microscopy
Unpublished images should be brought to light to aid science communication and speed up discovery