Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Japan Sept flash manufacturing PMI slips to 48.4 on poorer overseas demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japan’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 48.4 in September from 49.7 in August on the back of poorer overseas demand, flash estimates from a private sector...
Asia MMA sentiment cautiously strengthens amid battered market
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia methyl methacrylate (MMA) sentiment is poised to see cautious improvement, supported by recent price gains in China’s domestic yuan-denominated MMA market. Sentiment could...
Plant status: China’s Shandong Lihuayi plans to shut PO plant for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shandong Lihuayi Group Location: Shandong province, China Product: Propylene oxide (PO) Capacity (tonnes/year): 300,000 Event start: 9 October...
China Aug MEG imports little changed vs Jul
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s monoethylene glycol (MEG) imports in August were largely stable from July, amid fewer outflows from Saudi Arabia but more from Iran and Malaysia. The imports in August...
China August melamine exports down 3.68% vs July on weaker demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's melamine exports experienced a 3.68% month-on-month decline in August 2025, reaching 52,633 tonnes. ICIS data show that prices were bottoming out in July and this likely...
China Aug BG, BDG imports up 13.5% vs July on increased producer availability
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's imports of butyl glycol (BG) and butyl diglycol (BDG) in August 2025 increased by 13.5% month on month to approximately 17,377 tonnes. This marks the third consecutive month...
Trump at UN repeats push to cut Russian energy exports and adds ‘immediately’
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 23 September called for a halt to Russian energy purchases 'immediately' by Europe to join proposed stronger US...
NYMEX: US gas futures edge up following slight recovery of LNG feedgas nominations
US natural gas futures edged higher on 23 September, as LNG feedgas nominations rose slightly The October 2025 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $2.853/MMBtu, up 1.7% from the previous session...
US epoxy resins volatile as it grapples with tariff fallout
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US epoxy resins is in flux as the market continues to deal with the fallout of imports no longer being exempt from reciprocal tariffs. No clear pricing trends have emerged so far as...
RAIL: Largest US railroad union backs UP-NS merger after job security agreement
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the nation’s largest railroad union, reached an agreement...
PODCAST: Experts dive into immediate and future impacts of tariffs on US PET/R-PET markets
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US recycled plastics Senior Editor Emily Friedman, US PET Markets Reporter Melissa Wheeler, Vice President of the Polyester Chain, Antulio Borneo, and Senior Recycled Plastics Analyst...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil prices rose steadily as news about re-opening pipeline stalled
Prices fell Monday evening after news emerged of Iraqi-Kurdish pipeline restart The deal looks to have stalled, leading to prices bouncing back News of increased Iraqi exports latest example of...
India’s August base oils imports fall
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India’s base oils imports fell to a six-month low in August amid a slump in shipments from Asia. A rising flow of shipments from the US cushioned the fall. Total base oils imports...
Canadian firm opens rare earth magnet plant in Estonia
TORONTO (ICIS)--Canadian company Neo Performance Materials (Neo) on Monday, 22 September, officially opened a new permanent magnet manufacturing facility at Narva in northeast Estonia, at the border...
EU Deforestation Regulation to be delayed by another year
LONDON (ICIS)--The European Commission has decided to propose a second delay to the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by a year, primarily due to concerns about the...
Muted demand; competition weigh on Europe epoxy prices in September
LONDON (ICIS)--There are signs of downward pressure for Europe epoxy prices in September, amid subdued market conditions and competitive pressure, although some rollovers are also in the mix....
Downstream expansions fuel 65% surge in India’s sulphur imports in Jan-July
LONDON(ICIS)--Sulphur imports into India surged by 65% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2025, driven by downstream capacity expansions. The commissioning of new sulphur-burning units and...
Dutch power Q4 ’25 prices likely to remain below German counterpart
Additional reporting by Eduardo Escajadillo Dutch power Q4 ’25 contract switched to a discount to the German counterpart on 19 September A trader told ICIS they expect the Dutch contract to remain...
MOVES: Swiss Gurit appoints new CFO
LONDON (ICIS)--Swiss advanced composite materials company Gurit has appointed Viktor Bernhardt as its new CFO, effective 1 December. Bernhardt succeeds Javier Perez-Freije, who will leave Gurit in...
Ethiopia’s urea imports increase as financing improves
LONDON (ICIS)--Ethiopian imports of urea increased by more than 70% to 867,679 tonnes in January-August from 508,929 tonnes in the same period of 2024, according to customs data. The increase has...