Industry News
Chemical Industry News
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude prices ease as US pauses planned attack on Iran
US shelves plans for attack on Iran while Tehran provides updated peace proposal Evidence of flexibility in US stance outside demands to curtail Iran’s nuclear program US extension of sanctions...
Tight global balances, higher Q3 demand, could impact Argentina tender prices
Tighter global balances could lead to increased prices for Argentina's latest tender for ten July cargoes Prices are expected to be similar or higher than Argentina's previous tender results The...
Panama Canal plans for water shortages as US NOAA forecasts 98% chance of El Niño
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Water levels at the freshwater lake that fuels operations at the Panama Canal have been kept at historically high levels in preparation for shifting weather phenomena likely to take...
Canada March manufacturing capacity utilization rises to 82.2%, chemical at 80.7%
TORONTO (ICIS)--Canada’s manufacturing capacity utilization rate rose to 82.2% in March, from 76.9% in February, led by gains in the transportation equipment, petroleum and coal product, and...
Chile’s economy shrinks in Q1 but inflation rise ups chances for rate hike – analysts
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Chile's economy contracted more than expected in the first quarter of 2026, posting its first annual decline in three years as a sharp fall in investment and a plunge in exports...
Canada CPI inflation hits 2.8% in April, led by gasoline, but rate hike unlikely
TORONTO (ICIS)--Consumer price inflation in Canada, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), ran at a 2.8% year on year pace in April, up from 2.4% in March, according to data by federal agency...
Cool summer, mild winter could curb European gas, power demand this year – LSEG
Cool North Atlantic Ocean temperatures could lead to bearish European summer, winter weather Downside for gas and power contracts due to reduced cooling and heating demand ICIS analysis does not...
Saudi’s SABIC exports urea via Yanbu to bypass Hormuz disruption
LONDON (ICIS)--In Saudi Arabia, 20,000 tonnes of urea has been exported to Bangladesh from the Yanbu Commercial Port on the Red Sea, according to Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), as shipments through...
Electrifying MOF synthesis drastically reduces time it takes to make them
External electric fields stimulate the formation of various metal–organic framework materials
British Steel’s nationalisation plan contrasts against chemical industry decline
UK steel production has been declining for decades thanks to high costs and cheap imports
Handbook of practical advice will help chemistry departments reduce environmental impact, save money
Collection of real-life examples aims to balance environmental and financial concerns
Plant-based sugars become raw materials for plastics: UPM secures Avantium patents
UPM announces that it has reached an agreement with Avantium N.V. to acquire the intellectual property related to Avantium's Ray Technology®, a process for the production of bio-based mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) and mono-propylene glycol (MPG)
AI extends EV battery life by 23% without slowing down fast charging
Fast charging shortens the life of vehicle batteries, but is necessary on longer journeys with electric vehicles. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have now developed a new AI method that adapts fast charging
The structure of water: entropy determines whether ions adhere
Water molecules do not simply swirl around in disorder, they can form certain preferred structures. This scientific fact is often presented in a completely unscientific way, for example when there is talk of an alleged
Reversible glue technology goes electric
A collaboration between electrical and chemical engineers at Newcastle University is responsible for a reversible glue that can change how we recycle electronic waste. The team has already demonstrated reversible adhesive technology with wide applicability
Japan Q1 GDP expands 2.1% on year, up 0.5% on quarter
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japan’s GDP in January-March (Q1) grew 2.1% on an annualized basis, driven by increased private consumption and export growth, official data showed on Tuesday. On a...
Plant status: Vietnam’s Long Son shuts PE/PP units since mid-May
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Long Son Petrochemicals Location: Long Son, Vietnam Products: Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE),...
Singapore’s Aster proceeds with $80m ethylene export capacity expansion
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Aster Chemicals & Energy has reached a final investment decision to proceed with an $80-million project to double the ethylene (C2) export capacity of its cracker complex on...
Asia MMA prices stabilize from earlier declines; near-term outlook remains uncertain
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia methyl methacrylate (MMA) prices stabilized in the week ended 15 May, reflecting unchanged supply-demand fundamentals, largely steady prices in the local Chinese market, and...
S Korea isomer MX export prices enter fresh week with gains on upstream support
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea’s isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) spot prices climbed on 18 May amid upstream price gains. Downstream paraxylene (PX) also rose in prices, lending support to isomer...