Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Merck upgrades full-year guidance and expects revenue of up to €21.4 billion
Merck delivered a solid start to fiscal 2026. In the first quarter, the Group generated moderate organic sales growth and sustained profitability. This was driven by Process Solutions and Semiconductor Materials, while strong foreign exchange
Click chemistry toolbox expanded with ‘forbidden’ C–C bond forming reaction
Copper-catalysed addition produces functional links that should be compatible with biological systems
Implementing ideas in industry
An initial thought can take on a life of its own as different stakeholders contribute their expertise
Battery week 2026: The EV cathode race & battery-recycling photocatalysts
Who will win the EV cathode race, manganese cobalt or iron phosphate? Plus, how a new photocatalyst could change the way we recycle batteries.
Insolvency overcome: DOMO site in Premnitz finds investor
The DOMO Engineering Plastics GmbH site in Premnitz has a future again: Insolvency administrator Prof. Dr. Lucas F. Flöther from the law firm Flöther & Wissing has reached an agreement with an investor to take
Start-ups as drivers of innovation in the tire circular economy
Allianz Zukunft Reifen (AZuR) is further expanding its unique European network for a sustainable circular tire economy - and is specifically focusing on networking innovative start-ups with established industry partners. While the young founders contribute
Self-optimising catalysts boost the efficiency of water electrolysis
To what extent can self-activating catalysts enhance hydrogen production in electrolyzers? Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have investigated this question, and their findings were recently published in the renowned scientific journal Advanced Energy
China’s Wanhua plans polyols expansion in Yantai and Penglai
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s Wanhua Chemical is planning to upgrade and expand its polyether polyols capacities at two sites in Shandong – Yantai and Penglai – to meet rising demand, the company...
Plant status: China’s PetroChina Jilin restarts BD plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical Location: Jilin, China Product: Butadiene (BD) Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 Event start: Mid April Event...
Plant status: China’s Bohua Yongli shuts oxo-alcohol plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Tianjin Bohua Yongli Location: Tianjin, China Product: N-butanol (NBA), isobutanol (IBA), 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) Capacity (tonnes/year): 85,000...
Oil prices dip ahead of US president Trump’s visit to China
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Oil prices retreated on Wednesday as investors weighed up the upcoming US-China summit against lingering supply fears fueled by the ongoing Iran conflict and the near closure of the...
S Korea’s isomer MX export prices extend gains on strong upstream
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea’s export prices for isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) were higher on 12 May amid firm upstream values, but faced deterrence from downstream paraxylene (PX). ICIS data...
Plant status: China’s Sinopec Hainan to shut BD plant for maintenance in June
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinopec Hainan Petrochemical Location: Yangpu, Hainan, China Product: Butadiene (BD) Capacity (tonnes/year): 130,000 Event start: Early June...
Plant status: China’s ZPC restarts PDH plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC) Location: Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China Product: Propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 600,000 Event start:...
Bayer reports solid start to the year and confirms currency-adjusted Group guidance for 2026
The Bayer Group has reported a solid performance across all divisions for the first quarter of 2026. “We’re pleased with how our businesses started the year and we’re confirming our currency-adjusted outlook for 2026,” CEO
NYMEX: Henry Hub prices fall as supply grows
Front-month US natural gas futures reversed some of the prior session’s gains on 12 May as the market refocused on the growing length in supply during shoulder season The June Henry Hub contract on...
Venture Global cites CP2 expansion after TotalEnergies and Vitol LNG deals
VG signed a new five-year 0.85mtpa LNG agreement with TotalEnergies, starting in 2026 VG expanded its existing five-year deal with Vitol to 1.7mtpa from 1.5mtpa VG expanded the planned CP2 bolt-on...
Millennial Potash begins Phase 3 drilling at Gabon project
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Canadian fertilizer developer Millennial Potash announce that it has initiated its Phase 3 drilling campaign at its flagship Banio Potash Project in Gabon. These efforts will consist...
Crude oil prices could increase in ‘a very big way’ as inventories falling fast – UBS
NEW YORK (ICIS)--Crude oil prices could see a big surge higher as inventories are being depleted rapidly and approaching 35-year lows, said UBS. Pre-Iran conflict, around 20.5 million bbl/day of...
Rising diesel costs spur fuel surcharges as crude prices remain elevated from Iran conflict
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US on-highway diesel fuel prices are up by almost 63% compared with the same week a year ago amid the US war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, spurring fuel