Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Iran’s urea exports decline 24% in 2025 after production disruptions
LONDON (ICIS)--Urea exports from Iran declined by 24% to 4.4 million tonnes in 2025 compared to nearly 5.8 million tonnes in 2024, according to customs data, after production was hit by war and a...
Brazil’s chemical distribution sales fall in 2025 as industrial stagnation takes hold – Associquim
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazil's chemical distribution sector posted falling sales in 2025, year on year, as the country's industrial activity stagnated, according to the head of the chemicals...
Canada 2026 chemical sales projected to rise 1-3%, absent new trade shocks
TORONTO (ICIS)--Canada’s shipments (sales) of industrial chemicals should grow by 1-3% in 2026, following a 8% decline in 2025 due to weak prices, trade group Chemistry Industry Association of...
Czech gas supply risks loom on fast depleting stocks, potential cold snap
Czech Summer '26 flips to a premium to Winter '26 in second half of January Supply risks loom amid fast depleting stocks and potential cold snap in second half of February, early March Czech OTC...
Spain’s plastics industry demands tax relief, import controls as competitiveness fades
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Spain's plastics industry has called for urgent government measures including tax exemptions and stricter import controls after Europe's share of global plastics production plunged...
Brazil’s chemical employers, workers warn government over plant closures, demand tax reliefs
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazilian chemical industry unions and the trade group representing producers have jointly urged the government to resolve uncertainty over a key tax regime, warning that plant...
Saudi Arabia’s Ma’aden issues 20,000 tonne sulphuric acid purchase tender
LONDON (ICIS)--Saudi chemical and fertilizer major Ma’aden is closing a purchase tender this week for 20,000 tonnes of spot sulphuric acid for March arrival to Ras-al Khair (RAK). The tender, which...
LNG Compass: US freeze cuts LNG exports
LNG Compass is a new column from the ICIS LNG analyst team highlighting key factors impacting supply, demand and prices; helping traders navigate their way through volatile global markets. US cold...
Environment agency vow to end animal testing in US by 2035 receives mixed reaction
Toxicologists and research advocates worry that EPA’s goal to end animal testing for chemicals is premature
Europe isocyanates February contract discussions are underway
LONDON (ICIS)--Market participants have begun negotiations for February monthly contracts covering various isocyanate products, including methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and toluene...
Germany’s VCI welcomes EU-India trade deal
LONDON (ICIS)--German chemical producers’ trade group VCI has welcomed Tuesday's EU-India trade agreement. For Germany's chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry, the agreement would open up...
Europe styrene spot prices hit six-month high on restocking demand, upstream lift
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe styrene spot prices are now at their highest levels since July 2025. Despite the gains, spot activity was comparatively limited in the Europe styrene market in the week ended 23...
Europe polyol February contract talks have started
LONDON (ICIS)--Negotiations for February slabstock conventional flexible polyether polyols contracts have started between certain market players in the European market. A key focus for the...
GAS ALERT: Griffin Markets goes live on BBL IAM platform, expanding TTF–NBP capacity booking options
LONDON (ICIS)--BBL Company said Griffin Markets will go live on 27 January as the second broker connected to its Implicit Allocation Mechanism (IAM) platform, following the initial launch with...
Australia urea imports rise in November 2025 after buyers step in at lower levels
LONDON (ICIS)--In Australia, urea imports increased in November 2025 to 194,356 tonnes compared to 53,612 tonnes in November 2024, according to customs data, as buyers moved earlier than usual in...
Europe MEG demand remains structurally soft, US tariff uncertainty continues
LONDON (ICIS)--The outlook for the European monoethylene glycol (MEG) market is downbeat as long-term consumption is in decline and EU-US trade disputes and tariff uncertainties have caused some...
Carbon border taxes may do more harm than good
Industry argues UK proposals are flawed and will not promote decarbonisation
Lithuania’s LNG terminal kicks off open season for long-term capacity
Klaipeda operator to offer a capacity based on multi-user model CEE companies eye terminal for diversification of supply and routes Terminal may benefit from increased Polish export capacity to...
Spanish LNG arrivals could hit January five-year low, supporting PVB prompt
PVB Day-ahead premium to PEG could remain wide to encourage spot volumes amid depleting tanks January storage obligation reduced by 15% on 24 January (Enagas) could foster sendout Above-norm winds,...
Europe benzene spot prices spike to 16-month high on supply concerns
LONDON (ICIS)--Spot trade surged in Europe late in the week ended 23 January, as the benzene contract window for February opened. That surge helped drive a spike in prices to the highest level since...