Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Japanese regulator approves polyolefins integration deal
LONDON (ICIS)--Japanese competition regulator the Japan Fair Trade Commission has approved a deal between Mitsui Chemicals, Idemitsu Kosan, and Sumitomo Chemical to integrate Sumitomo’s...
Analysis of Roman shipwreck’s coatings tells story of its time on the seas
Ship was recoated several times as it sailed along Italy’s Adriatic coast
Academic freedom slides globally, as it takes a nosedive in the US
The last decade has seen institutional autonomy curbed in 50 countries
Short circuits in solid-state batteries: the mechanism finally proven
Smartphones, electric vehicles and many portable devices rely on batteries. Their energy storage capacity, lifetime and safety will strongly shape the future of electrification. Among the most promising next-generation technologies are solid-state batteries. These batteries
When molecules react: New software visualizes biological processes in motion
From energy production to genetic changes: molecules are constantly in motion within biological cells. However, experimentally investigating such processes, which occur on very small length and time scales, is extremely difficult. To overcome these challenges,
Japan’s Tosoh announces MDI price hike on increased production costs
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japan's Tosoh Corp announced price increases for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) in the Japanese domestic market, citing increased raw material and energy costs stemming from...
Oil extends gains as US-Iran diplomatic deadlock persists
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Oil prices climbed for a fifth consecutive session on Friday as a continued stalemate in US-Iran negotiations has kept the Strait of Hormuz effectively shuttered. Product (at 01:30...
Plant status: Tosoh Japan to shut one MDI line for maintenance in May
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Tosoh Corporation Location: Nanyo, Japan Product: Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 (one of two lines) Event...
Asia TiO2 sustains uptrend following price hikes
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Titanium dioxide (TiO2) spot indicative prices in Asia were higher so far on Friday. Offers were at $2,600/tonne FOB (free on board) China and higher, some $100/tonne higher...
Geopolitical price pressure hits fertilizer and flame retardant market
The geopolitical situation is driving up energy and raw material prices - with direct effects on the procurement costs for fertilizers. However, the procurement costs of synthetically produced magnesium hydroxide are also rising due to
Atome announces investment decision for Paraguay CAN plant
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Low-carbon fertilizer producer Atome announced it has reached the final investment decision (FID) on its flagship 260,000 tonne/year low carbon calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) plant in...
NYMEX: US gas futures lower following EIA gas storage report
Front-month US natural gas futures eased on 23 April on a larger than expected gas storage injection The May 2026 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $2.614/MMBtu, down nearly 4% from the previous...
Argentina forgoes private LNG importer selection process, sources say
Argentina forgoes selection of private LNG importer, maintaining Energia Argentina to manage winter LNG imports LNG tender offers from Naturgy and Trafigura were likely too high above Argentina's...
Mexico’s Alpek upbeat on PET as spreads shoot up, PP upgrade to fuel future gains – execs
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Alpek said polyethylene terephthalate (PET) spreads in Asia were trending towards $300/tonne in April as the Iran war continued to disrupt supply flows and which is likely to...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude prices continue to rise while US-Iran talks off the table
US-Iran blockades continue to thwart Strait of Hormuz traffic Pakistan-led talks remain unscheduled although Islamabad in contact with warring parties US ceasefire remains in place, but rhetoric...
CF Industries launches low carbon UAN joining with PepsiCo to reduce carbon footprint
HOUSTON (ICIS)--CF Industries and PepsiCo have entered a commercial agreement focused on reducing the carbon footprint of PepsiCo’s potato supply chain through the use of nitrogen fertilizer...
Dow to continue working on Sadara JV restructuring, update by mid-2026 – CEO
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Dow will continue to work to restructure its Sadara joint venture with Saudi Aramco and provide an update by mid-2026, its CEO said. “One of the things I will continue to do as...
Europe naphtha firms on prompt tightness, forward cracks remain weak
LONDON (ICIS)--European naphtha markets showed signs of strengthening in the prompt, supported by firmer demand and tightening regional balances, although forward margins remained under pressure. In...
Europe April ADA freely negotiated prices increase again
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe adipic acid (ADA) freely negotiated contract prices for April settled at triple-digit increases from March. The ICIS monthly freely negotiated ADA FD (free delivered) NWE...
GAS ALERT: EU adopts 20th package of sanctions against Russia
The EU has adopted a 20th package of sanctions against Russia, including measures impacting the LNG and energy industry, according to the EU statement. The package includes a ban on LNG terminal...