Industry News
Chemical Industry News
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude prices give up early gains on reports of extended US-Iran ceasefire
Reports of US-Iran ceasefire deal trims morning rally less than 24 hours after exchanged strikes Support for prices provided by US drawdown of crude, gasoline stocks last week Gasoline inventories...
US June methanol contracts roll over, ending five-month uptrend
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US June methanol contract prices rolled over from May, stalling a five-month uptrend which included steep increases following the conflict in the Middle East. April and May contract...
Supporting pregnant chemists
Risk assessments and flexible working policies all provide valuable support – but how proactively this is offered varies greatly
Focused Energy secures US$240 million: the world’s first laser fusion power plant is set to be built in Germany
Focused Energy, the world’s leading laser fusion company, has raised $240 million in a Series A financing round — making it the largest fully secured Series A financing in the global fusion industry to date.
11 presumed dead in US paper mill implosion
Two deaths confirmed, nine missing and nine others injured after chemical tank ruptured
25 years ago click chemistry changed science. What happened next?
Barry Sharpless and his team first introduced the concept of ‘clicking’ molecules together 25 years ago
Click chemistry, 25 years on
A quarter of a century since first introducing the concpet of ‘click’, one of its originators explains how it became a transformational tool for scientists
German government publishes technology roadmaps for six key technologies
The Federal Cabinet has presented the roadmaps for the key technologies of the High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD). The HTAD is the German government's central innovation policy project to strengthen competitiveness, value creation and technological sovereignty.
Rubber reborn: McMaster startup converts tire waste into sustainable solutions
A McMaster startup is turning old rubber tires into new materials used in construction, reducing waste and carbon emissions along the way. Neopara Materials has created a reinforcing filler ingredient made with ground-up tires that can be converted
Greentown Go Make 2026 with Shell and Technip Energies Announces Startup Cohort
Greentown Labs, climatetech and energy incubator, announced the startup cohort for Greentown Go Make 2026—an open-innovation program with Shell Catalysts & Technologies (Shell) and Technip Energies. Go Make 2026 focuses on process technology and catalytic
Asia plasticizers demand to stay weak; Chinese exports spike
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s plasticizers demand will remain slow in the weeks ahead as buyers will continue to resist current high prices amid economic uncertainties and high exports coming out of...
Indonesia PE, PP import duty removal plan in limbo; no clear decision yet
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Indonesia’s proposal to reduce import duties on raw materials used in plastic manufacturing appears to be making little progress, with market players still waiting for an official...
Oil surges as fresh US strikes on Iran dampen peace deal hopes
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Oil prices jumped on Thursday morning, following heavy losses overnight, following fresh US attacks on Iranian military targets, with hopes fading over an imminent peace deal...
APIC ’26: Thai SCGC’s proposed JV with PTTGC a “strategic offensive” – CEO
FUKUOKA, Japan (ICIS)--Thai producer SCG Chemicals (SCGC) expects its planned joint venture (JV) with PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) to be a “natural fit” that positions Thailand as the leading...
APIC ’26: Weak sentiment plagues Asian MMA market amid market headwinds, uncertainty
FUKUOKA, Japan (ICIS)--The Asian methyl methacrylate (MMA) spot market is poised to remain under pressure in the near term amid prevailing market headwinds, according to sources at the 2026 Asia...
NYMEX: US gas futures rise on contract rollover
US natural gas futures increased sharply on 27 May, the final day of trading for the June contract, as other energy benchmarks fell in value The June Henry Hub contract rolled off the curve at...
US MMA may be reaching inflection point after conflict-driven frenzy
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US methyl methacrylate (MMA) may be entering a period of relative calm after adjusting to a new normal. May contracts increased sizably as the market continued to feel the impact of...
Plant status: INEOS Ohio, US, ACN facility experiences unplanned outage
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: INEOS Nitriles Location: Lima, Ohio, US Product: acrylonitrile (ACN) Capacity (tonnes/year): 190,000 Event start: early May Event finish: mid May...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude falls to five-week low as optimism for US-Iran deal grows
Brent and WTI front-month crude prices fall to their lowest in over a month Traders betting on progress made from US and Iran to end war ICIS Oil Analytics releases new forecasts, June prices to
Shipping through Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted – Flexport
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted even as the US and Iran continue to negotiate an end to the hostilities, according to freight forwarder Flexport. US strikes on...