Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Plant status: Seqens to carry out August maintenance at phenol/acetone plants in France
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Seqens Location: Roussillon, France Products: Phenol/acetone Capacity (tonnes/year): Plant 1: 65,000 (phenol)/40,000 (acetone); Plant 2:...
Silicon-based ‘ladder molecules’ take a step up in complexity
New compounds are ‘among the most complex organosilanes ever synthesised’
Researcher severely injured in 2016 Hawaii lab explosion receives £5 million settlement
Thea Ekins-Coward lost an arm in an experiment with unsafe apparatus
From 0 to 100 in 12 minutes: timetable for lithium-sulphur batteries
Pick up a coffee once and the car is fully charged - this is how many people imagine the mobility of the future. But today's batteries are still a long way off. Although modern lithium-ion
Bodo Möller Chemie consolidates market presence in Spain with Quitec takeover
On June 1, 2025, the Bodo Möller Chemie Group integrated the client base of Spanish specialty chemicals distributor Química Tecnológica Norte S.L. (Quitec) into its distribution network. Quitec is a long-standing distribution partner of Henkel’s
Identifying chemicals of concern in plastics – and pathways towards safer polymers
To curb global plastic pollution and to make plastics safer and more sustainable, countries are currently negotiating a global treaty. A new study published in Nature provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of all chemicals
Synthetic fuel from the offshore wind farm
Grid-independent, modular and seaworthy: the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and partners want to produce synthetic fuels from wind energy, seawater and ambient air on a floating platform in the H2Mareproject PtX-Wind. A corresponding modular
RAILROADS: Appeals court vacates US regulator’s reciprocal switching rule
HOUSTON (ICIS)--A federal appeals court has vacated the reciprocal switching rule enacted by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) last year, saying the agency exceeded its authority. Reciprocal...
NYMEX: US natural gas futures rise following storage report
US natural gas futures rose on 10 July, following the latest storage report release that showed a smaller-than-expected build The August ’25 front-month contract settled at $3.337/MMBtu, up 3.8%...
INSIGHT: Return to 25% tariff on South Korea expected to pressure US ABS imports
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US President Trump on 7 July sent letters to the president of South Korea that tariff levels will be set at 25% on 1 August, with “goods transshipped to evade a higher tariff"...
Brazil fertilizer imports from US would be minor in trade war
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Brazil's massive agriculture sector imports relatively small amounts of fertilizer from the US, so these would play a minor role in any trade war. The US has threatened to impose...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil prices fall as US tariff policy weighs on sentiment
OPEC reigns in near-term oil demand growth forecasts, 2030 estimates remain in place OPEC’s long-term view remains growth until 2050 fueled by non-OECD demand US tariff policy uncertainty continues...
Argentina’s chemicals output up 3.3% in May, overall industry up 2.2%
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Argentina chemicals output rose by 3.3% in May, year on year, the country’s statistical office Indec said this week. Chemicals performance was mixed, however, with some subsectors...
Brazil’s chemicals producers urge dialogue over US tariff threat
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazil's trade group representing chemicals producers Abiquim has expressed concern over US President Donald Trump's threat to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports, calling for...
Temperate forecast for late July weighs on Henry Hub futures
US gas storage volumes stable week-on-week, per EIA data Higher-than-average net injections likely to persist LNG plant capacity ramp-ups to support feedgas demand HOUSTON (ICIS)--A relatively cool...
Germany inflation dips to 2.0% in June; early data point to decline in manufacturing output
LONDON (ICIS)--After coming in at 2.1% in both May and April, Germany’s consumer price index (CPI) inched down to a 2.0% year-on-year pace in June, the country’s federal statistical office...
Chile’s economy performing well while country waits on copper tariffs
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Chile's annual rate of inflation stood in June at 4.1%, down from 4.4% in May, as food and clothing costs declined, the country’s statistical office INE said this week. Meanwhile,...
Europe gasoil premiums steady on firm cracks, seasonal support
LONDON (ICIS)--European gasoil cash differentials and crack spreads held firm midweek, supported by steady distillate margins and resilient regional buying interest amid seasonal demand. Jet and...
Europe spot melamine still under pressure from Asian imports
LONDON (ICIS)--Melamine spot prices softened in Europe this week on ongoing pressure from Chinese imports, with prices declining from already low levels. Melamine spot prices were assessed at a...
Europe June PTA prices increase to align with higher upstream PX
LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe purified terephthalic acid (PTA) June contract has increased, based on ICIS calculations. Consequently, the June PTA contract price is up by €13/tonne to reach...