Industry News
Chemical Industry News
State attorneys general coalition urges justice department to review UP-NS merger
HOUSTON (ICIS)--A coalition of state attorneys general asked the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to review the proposed merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) freight railroads,...
Mexico’s $325 billion infrastructure plan could boost growth, but execution risks remain – Fitch
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Mexico's ambitious five-year infrastructure investment plan could lift economic activity by as much as two percentage points in 2026 alone, but its success will depend on whether...
Germany’s wholesale prices keep rising in January, chemicals fall 0.8%
LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s wholesale prices rose 1.2% year on year in January, the same rate as in December and following an average increase of 1.0% in 2025, according to data by the country’s...
Europe MTBE average price rises with higher Eurobob
LONDON (ICIS)--The European methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) market saw the average price rise in the week ended 13 February, alongside higher Eurobob gasoline values. The factor to gasoline was...
Europe MA spot prices hold steady on limited confirmed deals
LONDON (ICIS)--European maleic anhydride (MA) spot prices for liquid and flake grades were assessed stable in the week ended 13 February due to limited confirmed deals reported in the market. This...
Europe PA spot prices for both grades stable on slow activity
LONDON (ICIS)--The European phthalic anhydride (PA) market held broadly steady in the week ending 13 February, with spot prices for both liquid and flake grades assessed stable amid limited confirmed...
China deal marks ‘significant shift’ in Canada’s trade policy
TORONTO (ICIS)--Canada’s recent agreement with China marks a “significant shift” in Canadian trade policy and is a step towards diversifying trade away from the US, according to Oxford...
Steady Dutch gas exports to Germany are expected in March, PRISMA auctions show
Moderate bookings on German borders, with large capacity booked at TTF/THE border points Under 2mcm/day of capacity booked for northward flows at the Belgian‑Dutch border to compensate for low...
PODCAST: Europe ACN, ammonia markets grapple with CBAM uncertainty and uneven fundamentals
LONDON (ICIS)--European ammonia and acrylonitrile (ACN) players are facing supply and demand challenges while regulatory changes, including the recently enforced EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism...
ICIS WHITEPAPER: Together or apart – Fragmentation stalls the EU’s single energy market as it faces global risks
LONDON (ICIS)--The 2022 energy crisis and new global risks have exposed the vulnerability of the EU's single market. To meet the emerging challenges, the EU needs to deepen its electricity and gas...
Italian decree draft triggers far-curve sell-off, squeezing power spreads with Germany and France
Leaked draft of Italy’s energy decree drops Cal ’27 and ’28 power contracts Sell-off sharply compresses Italy’s premium over Germany, France, and Hungary Further downside hinges on government...
Europe February epoxy market caught between rising costs and sluggish demand
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s epoxy market is facing a tug of war in February, as spiking upstream benzene costs have triggered attempts to steady epoxy prices in the face of soft demand and stiff...
Europe oleochemical players lose confidence in EUDR after second delay
LONDON (ICIS)--The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has faced fierce criticism since it was first adopted in 2023, but the second delay to its implementation has left little confidence in its new...
ICIS EXPLAINS: What’s driving European gas prices?
Gas remains a physical asset but trades increasingly at the margin. Fundamentals anchor TTF, while macro flows and positioning drive short‑term moves. Gas and carbon are correlated but not...
Glenfarne to market Alaska LNG volumes on both DES and FOB basis
Glenfarne to market volumes from proposed Alaska LNG on both DES and FOB basis Danaos to provide 6-10 LNG carriers to deliver cargoes Alaska LNG a key feature in trade discussions between US and...
US home builder confidence falls for second month
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US builder sentiment in the market for newly built single-family homes fell for a second consecutive month in February, according to the latest survey by the National Association of...
Asian SBR/PBR trades taper on holiday lull, post-holiday outlook mixed
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Spot discussions for Asian synthetic rubber imports, across different grades from styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) to polybutadiene rubber (PBR), are taking a pause this week, in part...
Strong interest in Ukrainian gas capacity for March, Polish points also in high demand
Strong demand for Ukrainian capacity in March auctions Polish points also see strong interest as regional demand hits records Russian flows to remain strong after large Strandzha 2 booking LONDON...
Thailand imports less urea in 2025 as high prices erode buying power
LONDON (ICIS)--In Thailand, a total of 2.5 million tonnes of urea was imported in 2025, down 4% from over 2.6 million tonnes in 2024, according to customs data, due to carry-over stocks being high...
Fresh US sanctions on Iran poised to reshape ammonia flows as Turkey and India brace for impact
LONDON (ICIS)--A new round of US sanctions on Iran is expected to affect the ammonia markets in Turkey and India. Iran exported 785,737 tonnes of ammonia in 2025, with India the top destination...