Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Plant status: Vietnam’s LSP to shut cracker by mid-May on feedstock shortages
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Long Son Petrochemical (LSP) Location: Long Son, Vietnam Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 950,000 (ethylene), 400,000...
Vietnam’s Long Son Petrochemicals to suspend operations in May on feedstock issues
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Vietnam’s Long Son Petrochemicals (LSP) will suspend operations at its complex "in or around mid-May" due to feedstock issues arising from the conflict in the Middle East, its...
Mexico’s Alepk maintains 2026 guidance despite war
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Alpek expects to reach the high end of its 2026 comparable earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $450 million to $550 million, adding $50 million...
NYMEX: US gas futures see some weather-driven gains
US natural gas futures rose on 22 April on some regional weather demand, ahead of the next storage report scheduled for release on 23 April The May ’26 front-month contract settled at $2.722/MMBtu,...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude prices climb following gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz
At least three vessels hit by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz US President Donald Trump announces indefinite extension to ceasefire US crude stocks register surprise build, gasoline and distillate...
China interactive fertilizer trade flow map Q1 2026
LONDON (ICIS)--Fertilizer import and export data for January-March 2026 has been released by the China Customs Statistics. Please select a product from the dropdown menu...
INSIGHT: Argentina’s leading index up in March but manufacturing slump, debt risks cloud outlook
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Argentina's leading economic indicator posted a third consecutive monthly gain in March, but persistent weakness in manufacturing and construction, fragile monetary conditions, and...
N America chemical rail traffic rises 3.2%, for 11th straight increase
HOUSTON (ICIS)--North American chemical railcar traffic rose 3.2% year on year, to 49,699 loadings for the week ended 18 April, marking an 11th consecutive increase, according to freight rail...
CHINAPLAS ’26: China’s PVC inventories depleting more slowly than expected
SHANGHAI (ICIS)--China's polyvinyl chloride (PVC) inventories remain high at around 1.3 million tonnes currently, according to market players at the sidelines of the 38th International Exhibition on...
Germany industrial production to stagnate in 2026 – trade group
LONDON (ICIS)--Instead of a hoped-for recovery, German industrial production will stagnate this year and may even decline, according to the latest forecast by the country’s top industrial trade...
CHINAPLAS ’26: Export sales remain a priority for China’s PVC producers
SHANGHAI (ICIS)--Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exports from China is expected to remain elevated for the near term, as producers in the country continue to fill in the regional supply shortfall, market...
US producer EQT unlikely to take on short-term LNG exposure, plans for Q2 curtailments
Current elevated prices limiting short-term opportunity to gain exposure to global LNG market Limited US gas futures outlook could lead to additional production cuts in fall EQT to offer variety of...
Buying activity drops on European refinery solvents market; truck prices mixed
LONDON (ICIS)--Average European refinery solvents truck prices were mixed this week, with solvent naphtha (C9) numbers seeing a decrease in pricing based on lower demand, while average white spirit...
INSIGHT: Brazil PET bale price hikes could stall rPET demand recovery
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Feedstock price increases in Brazil’s recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) market are raising concerns among end‑buyers and recyclers, as rPET’s current cost appeal...
Ukraine under pressure to liberalize gas, electricity markets amid funding constraints EU accession goals
Ukraine to publish energy market reform roadmap by end of Q2 Public service obligation creates financial burden for Naftogaz Vulnerable consumers and compensation mechanism need to be defined LONDON...
Italian PSV front quarter premium to TTF widens on year amid supply risks
PSV Q3 '26 contracts widening premium over TTF Outages and uncertainties about Middle East conflict likely to support prices Possible risk of tight supply in the summer in case of high cooling demand...
India’s IPL issues awards to import 2.5 million tonnes of urea
LONDON (ICIS)--In India, urea purchases under the latest import tender have touched 2.5 million tonnes despite shipments from the Middle East being severely curtailed for nearly eight weeks since the...
L&T Energy GreenTech signs long-term green ammonia partnership with Japan’s ITOCHU
LONDON (ICIS)--L&T Energy GreenTech Ltd (LTEGL) has signed a long-term partnership with ITOCHU Corporation of Japan for the supply of green ammonia. LTEGL will supply ITOCHU, on a captive...
CHINAPLAS ’26: Plant status: China’s Sanfame runs PET units at less than 80%
SHANGHAI (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sanfame Group Location: Jiangyin, China Product: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Capacity (tonnes/year): 5.1 million Event start: H2 Apr 2026...
Middle East damage, feedstock constraints to extend petchem supply recovery and tightness – analyst
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Significant damage to Middle East petrochemical facilities and the continuing constraints on naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) feedstock supply from the Strait of Hormuz will...