Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Chemical reaction almost as old as the universe was faster than thought
New modelling and experimental work solves mystery of primordial chemistry
cylib confirms EUR 26.1 million grant for battery recycling facility
Battery recycling company cylib has secured EUR 26.1 million in European Union funding from the ERDF/JTF programme in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to build one of the largest lithium-ion battery recycling facilities in
Using fungi to produce sustainable platform chemicals
The new startup wants to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in industry. Biotechnological processes are to be used to bring more sustainability to the material-intensive chemical industry, which has caused massive environmental problems
Turning rust into fuel
Researchers from the Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), one of the centers under the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan, report an inexpensive iron hydroxide catalyst that could support the use of sodium
Asian PX struggles with weak downstream demand, possible higher demand from US
SINGAPORE(ICIS)--Supply of paraxylene (PX) in Asia is expected to stay more than sufficient into the fourth quarter, amid a weak downstream purified terephthalic acid (PTA) demand outlook. Reciprocal...
Thailand’s IVL completes divestment of rPET subsidiary Wellman International
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Indorama Ventures Ltd (IVL) has divested its Irish recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) subsidiary Wellman International Ltd, the Thailand-listed polyester major said on...
Weak feedstock price outlook, squeezed downstream margins exert downward force on Asian OX
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Orthoxylene (OX) prices in Asia are expected to face a downward pressure heading into the fourth quarter, amid a lack of support from the feedstock isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX)...
China Aug PO imports fall from Jul, with Thailand being the only import origin
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s propylene oxide (PO) imports in August decreased by 17.5% month on month to 12,626 tonnes, as there was only one import supplier in the month, according to the ICIS Supply...
INSIGHT: The rise of regulation in Asia and role of mandates in recycled polymer markets
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asian governments are increasingly implementing legislation for plastics recycling and its adoption, as they introduce mandates and provide direction in the push for greater...
S Korea isomer MX see higher Nov discussions, prompting export price gains
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) export prices from South Korea were higher on 29 September, tracking firmer negotiations for November cargoes. Higher prices in the downstream...
Plant status: China’s Qingdao Haiwan runs new ECH unit at 100% in late Sep
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Qingdao Haiwan Group Location: Qingdao, Shandong, China Product: Epichlorohydrin (ECH) Capacity (tonnes/year): 150,000 (2 x 75,000) Event start:...
East China benzene inventories drop as consumption exceeds arrivals
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Benzene inventories at shore tanks along eastern China decreased to 107,000 tonnes on 30 September, according to ICIS data, as consumption outpaced arrivals. Inventories at local...
Plant status: China’s Qingdao Haiwan runs new epoxy resins unit at 100% in late Sep
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Qingdao Haiwan Group Location: Qingdao, Shandong, China Product: Epoxy resins Capacity (tonnes/year): 150,000 Event start: 29 September 2025...
Asia epoxy resins producer margins squeezed on high feedstock ECH prices
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's epoxy resins market is expected to stay supported by firm prices of feedstock epichlorohydrin (ECH). Epoxy resins producer margins squeezed amid firm feedstock ECH prices...
Plant status: China’s Hengli Petrochemical to shut No 1 PTA unit
SINGAPORE(ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Hengli Petrochemical Location: Dalian, China Product: Purified terephthalic acid (PTA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 2.2 million Event start: 9 October...
Plant status: S Korea’s Kumho P&B restarts epoxy resins units in late Sep
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Kumho P&B Chemicals Location: Yeosu, South Korea Product: Epoxy resins Capacity (tonnes/year): 90,000 + 62,000 + 45,000 Event start: 4...
ICIS Analyst View: Scaled-down but resilient: Russia’s Arctic LNG-2 emerges as source of flexible supply
Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project was originally planned as a 19.8mtpa facility, with three 6.6mtpa trains due to be brought onstream in Russia’s north, close to the existing Yamal LNG facility....
Plant status: Taiwan’s Nan Ya to shut No 1 MEG unit for maintenance in mid-Oct
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Nan Ya Plastics Location: Mailiao, Taiwan Products: Monoethylene glycol (MEG) Capacity (tonnes/year): 460,000 (No 1) Event start: Mid-October...
Asia chemical markets face bearish outlook, soft prices ahead of China’s Golden Week
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asian chemical markets are experiencing broad-based bearish sentiment and strong downward pressure on prices heading into China's Golden Week holiday from 1–7 October, driven by...
China major producers’ polyolefin inventories rise on reduced buying activities
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The combined polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) inventories of Chinese state-owned petrochemical giants Sinopec and PetroChina rose slightly as buyers retreated from the...