Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Plant status: S Korea’s SKGC to cut Incheon PX to 50% in mid-Jun
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: SK Geo Centric (SKGC) Location: Incheon, South Korea Product: Paraxylene (PX) Capacity (tonnes/year): 1.3 million Event start: Mid-June 2026...
Oil prices fall after Trump holds off planned attack on Iran
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Oil prices fell in early trade after US President Donald Trump said he called off a planned military strike on Iran scheduled for Tuesday to allow for negotiations to end the war....
China’s domestic urea prices extend falls on weak demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s domestic urea prices continued to fall on Monday, pressured by weaker domestic demand alongside a broader decline in international urea markets. Demand from downstream...
Taiwan’s Jan-Apr EDC imports rise year on year
TAIPEI (ICIS)--Taiwan's ethylene dichloride (EDC) imports from January to April 2026 totaled 80,003 tonnes, according to data from the ICIS Supply & Demand Database. This is a notable...
Taiwan’s Jan-Apr VCM exports fall year on year
TAIPEI (ICIS)--Taiwan's vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) exports from January to April 2026 totaled 96,562 tonnes, according to data from the ICIS Supply & Demand Database. This was a notable...
Taiwan’s Jan-Apr caustic soda exports fall significantly year on year
TAIPEI (ICIS)--Taiwan's liquid caustic soda exports from January to April 2026 totaled 146,562 tonnes, according to data from the ICIS Supply & Demand Database. This was a significant decrease...
NYMEX: US gas futures gain on warmer weather and an increase in US LNG feedgas demand
Front-month US natural gas futures rose on 18 May as US weather warms up, signalling increased cooling demand The June 2026 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $3.024/MMBtu, up nearly 2.2% from...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Ongoing tensions across Middle East, falling crude stocks pushing markets higher
Oil prices rise with more geopolitical uncertainty, lingering supply concerns Unsuccessful Beijing visit from Trump weighs on sentiment Falling crude oil reserves pushing traders to secure physical...
Strait of Hormuz transits increase slightly as Iran, US negotiations continue
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Even as transits through the Strait of Hormuz have ticked higher, a shipping analyst believes that Iran retains de facto control over the waterway where about 20% of crude oil supply...
US, China reach deals on soybeans, aircraft, trade boards
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US and China agreed to establish boards of trade and investment following their meeting earlier in May, the president of the US said on Sunday. China also agreed to purchase 200...
Europe BD export spot prices continue downtrend; eyes remain on Asia
LONDON (ICIS)--European butadiene (BD) export spot prices continued on a four-week downtrend in the week ending 15 May, amid earlier weakness in Asia. Average European FOB (free on board) ARA...
Phillips 66 to build midstream plants amid growth in US chem feedstock
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Phillips 66 plans to build a new natural gas processing plant and fractionator, one of several companies that have recently announced new midstream projects as forecasts continue to...
Brazil shields economy from oil shock, Argentina rides Vaca Muerta surge – IEA
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazil stands out as one of the emerging markets best equipped to absorb the high crude oil price shock due to its net exporter status, a large sugar cane ethanol vehicle fleet and...
MARGINS: Europe PE contract margins rise amid higher product, co-product pricing
LONDON (ICIS)--Contract margins at polyethylene (PE) plants in Europe rose week on week on the back of higher product and co-product credits, ICIS Margin Analysis showed on Monday. Operators using...
Moldova supplier expropriation decision could deter investors, market liberalization
Licence withdrawal could deter investors Decision motivated by state security risks Government blocked company's attempts to supply gas to Russian-controlled Transnistria in 2025 LONDON (ICIS)--A...
Xylene spot premiums rise with improved demand
LONDON (ICIS)--The European mixed xylenes (MX) spot premium range continued its upward trend in the week ending 15 May, on the back of improved buying interest from gasoline blenders. The spot...
CSS/CDS MONTHLY: Middle East tensions cap German spark spread recovery
By James Riley and Giovanni Musella German CSS weakens again as Iran tensions lift gas prices above €50/MWh High gas prices keep gas-fired plants out of the money Scope for a broader European coal...
US home builder confidence edges up in May but remains pessimistic
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--US builder sentiment in the market for newly built single-family homes rose for the first time in recent months in May, though confidence was low, according to the latest survey by...
New record set by quantum computing as it models its largest protein yet
Two IBM quantum processors working in concert with two supercomputers simulate a protein–ligand system with 12,000 atoms
How depolymerisation could enable infinite reuse of plastics
Nina Notman discovers how a type of chemical recycling – depolymerisation – could increase recycling rates, reduce plastic waste and enable a more circular economy