Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Sumitomo Bakelite to acquire part of Kyocera’s chemical business
LONDON (ICIS)--Sumitomo Bakelite has agreed to acquire parts of Kyocera's chemical business for about Japanese yen (Y) 30 billion (US$190 million). The business Bakelite will acquire will include...
TTF gas up 45% since early January – what next?
Prompt bullish risk remains for TTF Highly weather dependent over next four weeks Bearish drivers will return, latest by end of winter LONDON (ICIS)--The potential upside to ICIS TTF prompt prices is...
INSIGHT: Leaders grapple with a world order shifting on its axis
LONDON (ICIS)--"Nostalgia is not a strategy”. So said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, addressing an unsettled audience at a World Economic Forum that saw multiple world leaders grapple onstage...
Public values scientists but fewer feel informed about science, UK survey finds
Survey will provide government with insights on how the public perception of science could be improved
INTERVIEW: Canada must boost competitiveness as trade uncertainties mount
TORONTO (ICIS)--Amid mounting trade tensions and an uncertain outlook for the USMCA pact, Canada must focus on controlling what it can – and strengthen its own competitiveness. That was the message...
Europe’s distillate balance to evolve in spring as diesel tightness outweighs weaker jet fuel
LONDON (ICIS)--European middle distillate markets will continue to rebalance in the coming weeks as tightening diesel supply outweighs seasonally softer jet fuel demand. While jet differentials...
Europe bioethanol prices rise on proposed US E15 mandates
LONDON (ICIS)--European spot bioethanol fuel prices rallied this week as traders reacted to a potential year-round expansion of E15 mandates in the US, a move expected to prioritize domestic blending...
European refinery solvents market sees weak demand and volatility undermine January sales
European refinery solvents market sees weak demand and volatility undermine January sales LONDON (ICIS)--European refinery solvents markets are struggling to find their feet in 2026 amid weak demand...
European BD February contract rises €30/tonne, ending 10-month slide
LONDON (ICIS)--The European butadiene (BD) contract reference price for February has been set at €730/tonne compared with January, at an increase of €30/tonne. This marks the first contract price...
Baader Bank lowers forecast for Swiss specialty firm Clariant on poor downstream demand
LONDON (ICIS)--Baader Bank has revised down its forecast for Swiss chemicals producer Clariant, against a backdrop of challenging macroeconomic conditions, the German firm announced on Thursday....
Plant Status: Total declares FM at Feluy, Belgium site following technical issues
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report. Name: TotalEnergies Location: Feluy, Belgium Product: Polypropylene (PP) Capacity (tonnes/year): 720,000 total Event start: 21 January 2026 Event finish:...
British NBP February ’26 premium over March could widen into expiry
Update: the article has been updated to include further explanation of SSW risk Short covering, temperature revisions drive up NBP Front-month in week 3 and week 4 of 2026 NBP February '26 premium...
Bullish sentiment spreads as China sulphuric acid export quota bites
LONDON (ICIS)--The effects of a sulphuric acid export quota imposed on at least six Chinese smelters and one burner are starting to emerge. Beijing, through the National Development and Reform...
Atomic physics gets its own ‘periodic table’ that covers highly charged ions
New table could help with the redefinition of the second and creation of the next generation of atomic clocks
Asia MEG prices surge by over 2% on reduced imports despite slowing demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s monoethylene glycol (MEG) prices surged by 2.55% during the day on the back of reduced imports, despite slowing downstream demand. Spot deals went up to $432-453/tonne CFR...
Asia PX, PTA higher despite weak prompt fundamentals
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Prices for paraxylene (PX) and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) were higher despite near-term weak fundamentals, supported by higher prices seen in the Chinese futures market....
To PhD or not to PhD? That is the question
Undergraduate student Umaymah Ahmad finds out what it’s like to go into academic research
ICIS TTF Early Day assessments: 22 January 2026
- Temperatures in northwest Europe drop with colder-than-average weather in the Netherlands and Germany for the week started 19 January, but return to average seasonal weather for the week starting...
Indonesia considers new state-owned textile firm to support local industry
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Indonesia is studying the feasibility of a new state-owned enterprise (SOE) in the textile sector to support the industry amid global tariff pressures. Aim to up textile exports to...
China Dec base oils imports hit single-month low in 2025 on muted buying interest
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s base oils imports in December 2025 slumped month on month to around 90,321 tonnes, hitting the single-month low in 2025, according to the ICIS Supply & Demand...