Industry News
Chemical Industry News
IMF ups Japan’s GDP growth outlook but political turmoil clouds market
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 14 October revised upward Japan’s GDP growth forecast for 2025 to 1.1% – from 0.4% in its previous July update – and 0.6% in 2026,...
Plant status: China’s Zhongyuan Dahua shuts melamine lines for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhongyuan Dahua Location: Puyang, Henan, China Product: Melamine Capacity (tonnes/year): 60,000 (in total) Event start: 15 October Event finish:...
Plant status: Taiwan’s FCFC shuts No 2 PX unit for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp (FCFC) Location: Mailiao, Taiwan Product: Paraxylene (PX) Capacity (tonnes/year): 700,000 Event start: 13...
India’s DCM Shriram commissions Jhagadia ECH plant
MUMBAI (ICIS)--India’s DCM Shriram has commissioned part of its 52,000 tonne/year epichlorohydrin (ECH) plant at its Jhagadia complex in Bharuch district in the western Gujarat state on 14 October,...
Plant status: China’s ZPC to shut one PC unit in Dec
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC) Location: Zhoushan, China Product: Polycarbonates (PC) Capacity (tonnes/year): 260,000 Event start:...
China, India growth paths continue to diverge amid US tariff resiliency – IMF
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The sharply diverging economic paths of China and India are defining the near-term prospects for the emerging and developing Asia region, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)...
Catalyst turns greenhouse gas into an energy source
The energy transition not only needs new sources, but also efficient storage and transportation solutions. Researchers at Kiel University (CAU) have now developed a new type of catalyst that can convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) -
BASF and Carlyle reach binding transaction agreement on coatings business to create a leading standalone company
BASF and funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle, in partnership with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), have entered into a binding agreement relating to BASF’s automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinish coatings, and surface treatment businesses
CO₂ as a raw material: new process makes climate gas usable for the chemical industry
Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT), Ruhr University Bochum and Evonik Oxeno have developed a novel catalyst system that enables the use of the climate gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a raw material
China’s deflations slow in Sept as demand improves
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s retail and wholesale prices remained in deflation in September but at eased pace as stimulus measures boost demand, official data showed on Wednesday. September’s...
BLOG: US HDPE adjusts to the trade war but risks for US petchems in general are substantial
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Click here to see the latest blog post on Asian Chemical Connections by John Richardson. So far, so good — at least in volumes — for US high-density polyethylene (HDPE)...
China’s average run rate of melamine units lower on plant shutdowns
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The average run rate at Chinese melamine units dropped to the mid-to-high 50s% in the week ended 10 October due to several planned shutdowns for maintenance post-holiday, according...
Plant status: China’s Golden Elephant shuts melamine lines for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sichuan Golden-Elephant Sincerity Chemical Location: Meishan, Sichuan, China Product: Melamine Capacity (tonnes/year): 100,000 (two lines) Event...
ANALYSIS: Ottawa fast-tracks LNG Canada Phase 2 amid looming global supply surge
LNG Canada Phase 2 prioritized under the new MPO Train 2 of project undergoing start-up activities in early October LNG Canada must navigate oversupplied market HOUSTON (ICIS)--Canadian Prime...
Nanoplastics detected in animal cells
Researchers at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) in Dummerstorf and the University of Udine have detected the uptake of nanoplastics in farm animal cell cultures. The results provide evidence of potential risks
Alberto Perez Pereira has become the new Managing Director for Bodo Möller Chemie Spain and Portugal
Alberto Perez Pereira took over the helm at the Bodo Möller Chemie national subsidiaries in Spain and Portugal on October 1, 2025. In his new role as Managing Director, he will primarily focus on expanding
Plant status: Taiwan’s CPC runs No 3 cracker lower for Oct on issue
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: CPC Location: Lin Yuan, Taiwan Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 720,000 (ethylene), 370,000 (propylene) Event start: Around...
Plant status: Taiwan CPC’s No 4 cracker turnaround on track for Nov
XI’AN (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: CPC Corp Location: Lin Yuan, Taiwan Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 385,000 (ethylene), 230,000 (propylene) (No 4) Event...
NYMEX: Unremarkable October weather weighs on natural gas futures
Front-month US natural gas futures dropped on 14 October as forecasts for the latter half of October continued to suggest comfortable weather conditions that would be unlikely to boost power or gas...
SHIPPING: China ports target US vessels as new USTR port fees take effect
HOUSTON (ICIS)--As new port fees initiated by the US Trade Representative (USTR) take effect today for ships owned, operated, or built in China, the Chinese government has also enacted similar...