Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Germany’s grid fee proposals benefit storage operators over generators, household producers
The German Federal Network Agency presented preliminary plans for a structural reform of electricity grid fees from 2029 onwards Storage asset operators would benefit most, while generators, as well...
EU looks to boost protective trade policy against Chinese imports
Critical Medicines Act and rumoured chemicals rules aim to decrease China’s supply chain dominance
David Leigh wins vote to become next president-elect of the Royal Society of Chemistry
University of Manchester supramolecular chemist said he stood for election to help make case for respect for evidence and free inquiry
Scientists produce more novel but less disruptive work as they age
Analysis poses tough questions on who should receive more funding – younger researchers or older ones?
Carlos Negro Assumes Chairmanship of the World Chemical Engineering Council
The World Chemical Engineering Council (WCEC) announced a significant leadership transition as Professor Carlos Negro (Spain) has assumed the role of Chairman of the World Chemical Engineering Council, succeeding Professor Guohua Chen (China). Professor Guohua
East China benzene inventories decline on lack of arrivals
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Benzene inventories at shore tanks along eastern China decreased to 111,500 tonnes on 2 June, according to ICIS data, due to a lack of cargo arrivals. Inventories at local ports...
Plant status: China’s Shandong Yulong restarts BD plant No 1
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shandong Yulong PC Location: Longkou, Shandong, China Product: Butadiene (BD) Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 Event start: Around 6 May Event...
Materials chemistry shapes the future of catalysis
The synthesis of materials can serve as a tool for developing smart, adaptive electrocatalysts. This rapidly evolving field of research involves in-situ analytics, data-driven discoveries and autonomous robotics. These new approaches could accelerate the discovery
MIT researchers develop a low-cost technique to get lithium out of rocks
Demand for lithium has surged in recent years as lithium-ion batteries power increasingly more of our world. And yet, even as places like the U.S., Europe, and Australia have abundant lithium resources within their borders,
Making climate-neutral plastics and cosmetics using bacteria
Plastics, medicines, cosmetics – there are very few everyday products that do not rely on using fossil resources. A European research team led by Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin is now aiming to revolutionize this cornerstone
Plant status: China’s Shenhua Ningxia shuts BD plant for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shenhua Ningxia Coal Industry Location: Ningxia, China Product: Butadiene (BD) Capacity (tonnes/year): 65,000 Event start: Late May Event...
Plant status: China’s Zhongjin Petrochemical shuts PX plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhongjin Petrochemical Location: Ningbo, China Product: Para-xylene (PX) Capacity (tonnes/year): 1.6 million Event start: 30-31 May 2026 Event...
Europe must develop own oil and gas reserves to lower energy costs – Huntsman CEO
COLORADO SPRINGS (ICIS)--Europe - Germany, in particular - must develop its own hydrocarbon resources to alleviate the high cost of energy and feedstocks for chemicals, said the CEO of Huntsman Corp....
Plant status: China’s Hailun Chemical to restart No 3 PTA unit in end-July
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Jiangsu Hailun Chemical Location: Jiangyin, China Product: Purified terephthalic acid (PTA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 3.2 million Event start: 22...
Japan’s INPEX faces strike by unions at Australia LNG facilities
Limited strike action started today at all three INPEX facilities in Australia Workers to halt loading of LNG cargoes from 11-23 June Talks under Fair Work Commission had made some progress SINGAPORE...
hephaistos.bio obtains CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick
The biotech startup hephaistos.bio has obtained CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to help manufacturers replace complex and energy-intensive chemical processes with more resilient and sustainable production methods. Combining computational biology, chemistry, and machine learning, the
Iran at apex of leverage over Strait of Hormuz as Gulf countries size up alternate routes – Huntsman CEO
COLORADO SPRINGS (ICIS)--Iran’s leverage over transit through the Strait of Hormuz is likely at its peak and set to wane in the coming months as pipelines to bypass the Strait are planned and...
MDI plant could take at least a month to restart from Iran war
COLORADO SPRINGS (ICIS)--It could take at least a month to restart a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) plant from a cold start, meaning supply tightness caused by the war in Iran could persist...
US corn plantings at 93% completed with soybeans at 87%
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US corn plantings are now 93% completed with soybeans having reached 87%, according to the latest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Progress Report. The pace of corn planting...
NYMEX: US natural gas futures lower despite warmer weather
Front-month US natural gas futures decreased on 1 June as US LNG feedgas demand eased The July 2026 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $3.179/MMBtu, down nearly 3.4% from the previous session...