Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Germany’s dependence on goods from China has increased since 2023 – study
LONDON (ICIS)--In 2023, Germany’s government released a “Strategy on China” report in which it warned about Germany’s dependence on China for key goods and raw materials. While the report...
GAS ALERT: Ukrainian regulator NERC adopts new gas storage tariffs
LONDON (ICIS)--Ukrainian energy regulator NERC has adopted new storage tariffs that will come into force on 1 June. Under the latest rules, gas storage per day will drop by 11.1% but injection costs...
Mitsubishi Chemical details MMA/PMMA business restructure
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG) is implementing initiatives globally toward restructuring its methyl methacrylate (MMA) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) business, according to its...
European jet fuel market loses altitude as oversupply erodes war risk premium
LONDON(ICIS)--The European jet fuel market is expected to remain under downward pressure in the near term as improving prompt supply, softer aviation demand and weakening distillate fundamentals...
Plant status: MOL says blast-hit Olefin-1 cracker likely out of action for months
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: MOL Group Location: Tiszaujvaros, Hungary Plant: Olefin-1 steam cracker, run by MOL Petrochemicals Product: Ethylene Capacity (tonnes/year):...
UK Q3 energy price cap rises 13% quarter on quarter amid US-Iran war
UK energy price cap for July-September set at £1,862 for an average household This has risen 13% from the Q2 cap, driven by higher wholesale prices amid the ongoing US-Iran war Length of conflict in...
MMA tank near Los Angeles no longer a threat, all evacuation orders lifted
HOUSTON (ICIS)--All evacuation orders have been lifted after a damaged methyl methacrylate (MMA) tank in Garden Grove, California, was deemed no longer to be a threat, according to media reports. The...
Energy Traders Europe criticises Romanian licensing rules as potentially in violation of EU law
Energy Traders Europe sees licensing rules as potentially violating EU law Seeks temporary suspension of rules and recognition of group-level competencies Could seek further action from European...
German economic expert council cuts 2026 GDP growth forecast to 0.5%
LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s government-appointed council of economic experts (Sachverstandigenrat) has cut its forecast for the country’s 2026 GDP growth to 0.5% - down from 0.9% in its previous...
Solar growth compressing European peakload premiums over baseload – part 2
French and German peak-to-base discounts deepening year on year Expanding solar capacity pressuring spring and summer peak contracts Discounts likely to continue until October, ICIS Power Foresight...
Hormuz Strait closure supports freight rates, threatens crude and petrochemical demand
LONDON (ICIS)--The shipping industry is navigating a highly challenging period in the wake of conflict in the Middle East. Global tanker rates have climbed as the cumulative impact of the closure of...
Urea market finds stability as India embarks on purchase spree despite concerns
LONDON (ICIS)--India continues to prioritise urea imports as demand remains strong ahead of the start of the monsoon or kharif sowing season in June, even as the government intensifies efforts to...
Traders track weather risks as Middle East conflict supports Asian gas premium
East Asian LNG defends gas price premium to European gas US LNG points to Asia but Europe still receives the most volumes Traders to track hot weather conditions across Asia LONDON (ICIS)--The Middle...
Plant status: Hungarian MOL’s base oils units to run at limited capacity until late Q3
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: MOL Group Location: Szazhalombatta, Hungary Products: Base oils, Group I Capacity (tonnes/year): 195,352 Event start: 20 October 2025 (loss of...
Climate change driving extreme acidification of North American streams that threatens life in them
Oxidation of sulfides in melting permafrost acidifies stream and leaches toxic metals from minerals
Quantum computing & a mysterious microplastic contaminant
A pair of quantum computers have helped achieve a new record for number of atoms used in a model, but how close are we to using this technology in our own labs? Plus, an unexpected
London’s tap water contains PFAS, but at surprisingly low levels
Data from homes and public fountains across the UK’s capital show that treatment and dilution keep PFAS levels below current safety limits
Million-euro investment: Westfalen doubles industrial gases capacities in Switzerland
The Westfalen Group is continuing to expand its industrial gases business in Europe and is extensively extending its existing filling plant in Eiken near Basel in Switzerland. With an investment in the double-digit million range,
Metso introduces an advanced lithium carbonate process to support battery materials production
Metso is introducing the next generation of its lithium carbonate production process, a proven single-pass technology designed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from spodumene concentrate with high yield, low operating costs, and in a more
Frequency combs: the key to the next generation of spectroscopy
Atoms and molecules are the fundamental building blocks of matter. Spectroscopy identifies and quantifies chemical species through the unique spectral fingerprints they imprint on light. Spectroscopy has many applications, ranging from fundamental tests of quantum