Industry News
Chemical Industry News
EU new car registrations up 1.8% in 2025, well below pre-pandemic – ACEA
LONDON (ICIS)--New car registrations in the EU increased by 1.8% year on year in 2025, but were still well below pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest data from the European Automobile...
PODCAST: Lithuania’s LNG terminal operator CEO lines up long-term plans after record-breaking year
LONDON (ICIS)--Lithuania’s offshore Klaipeda LNG terminal had a record year in 2025. Operator KN Energies anticipates an even better year in 2026. It has launched an open season for long-term...
Europe acetic acid January contract talks near end, Q1 negotiations continue
LONDON (ICIS)--European acetic acid contract price talks for January are close to conclusion, with rollovers heard for agreements that have already been fixed. Q1 negotiations are underway, but are...
Sabic offloads petrochemicals and plastics plants in Europe and Americas
German private equity firms Aequita and Mutares aim to return struggling plants to profitability
Brexit led to decline in UK participation in EU research programmes, report finds
Researchers decry difficulties joining international collaborations following 2016 referendum vote
Inspired by the octopus: Active nano-optics enable photonic skin
Drawing inspiration from octopods’ ability to adapt, a team of researchers from Stanford University (USA) and Paderborn University have developed a thin film-like platform that is able to dynamically change not only its colour, but
Start-up aims to make the chemical industry more sustainable
The start-up SYPOX has set itself an ambitious goal: it wants to make the chemical industry more sustainable. Instead of burning oil and gas, the heat required for a wide range of chemical processes is
Energy flow in semiconductors: new insights thanks to ultrafast spectroscopy
For the first time and with unprecedented accuracy, a team of researchers from the University of Basel has observed unique energy flow mechanisms in a semiconductor material following excitation by extremely short laser pulses. Gaining
BASF explores options for biometric imaging business
LONDON (ICIS)--BASF is considering strategic options, including the potential sale of trinamiX, a subsidiary that specializes in biometric imaging and mobile material analysis, the Germany-based...
FBMC WEEKLY: Cold, low wind output in Germany could support French power imports in week 5
LONDON (ICIS)--The German-French spot power price spread could widen through week 5 as France is forecast to maintain its position as the cheapest market in the flow-based market coupling (FBMC)...
Romania’s BRM to introduce new gas contracts including Weekend from early February
BRM to introduce new gas contracts from February Weekend and Monday offerings to bring Romanian hub in line with others in region Less trader time on screen over weekend required LONDON...
Romanian gas trade licensing rules may hit market liquidity – sources
Romania's new licensing regulations clash with EU rules for unilateral recognition Latest order an 'improvement' on previous initial draft Regulation adopted amid concerns over small companies with...
Australian LNG heads to Atlantic, possibly Europe
Two Australian LNG loadings could be heading to Atlantic basin This is not exceptional but is unusual given longer shipping Could reflect weak shipping, and limited Asian spot LNG demand LONDON...
Europe MPGI consumption on a rising trend
LONDON (ICIS)--Demand for European industrial grade monopropylene glycol (MPGI) used in de-icing applications has strengthened in recent weeks, a trend that is expected to underpin overall...
MARGINS: Europe PE margins up despite rising feedstock, gas costs
LONDON (ICIS)--Margins at polyethylene (PE) plants in Europe increased week on week due to higher product and co-product pricing, ICIS Margin Analysis showed on Monday. The increases were mitigated...
Urea price increase catches market off guard
LONDON (ICIS)--Persistent demand from the US, renewed activity from traders for Europe and Australia along with short covering for India and talk of another import tender have boosted urea prices to...
European naphtha under pressure as weak spot demand offsets firmer forwards
LONDON (ICIS)--European open‑spec naphtha spot prices came under renewed pressure as weak physical demand, soft petrochemical margins and fading gasoline support outweighed firmer paper activity,...
India turns to Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Russia for DAP in Jan-Nov as China steps back
LONDON (ICIS)--India’s diammonium phosphate (DAP) imports rose by 50% in January-November 2025 year on year. The only major supplier of DAP that saw a decrease of exports to India was China, which...
India’s urea imports hit 9.1m tonnes on surging local demand
LONDON (ICIS)--In India, urea imports jumped up 88% in January-November 2025 to nearly 9.1 million tonnes compared to over 4.8 million tonnes in the same period of 2024, according to customs data, as...
GAS ALERT: Uniper releases cushion gas at Etzel ESE storage site
LONDON (ICIS)--Uniper Energy Storage said on 26 January it has temporarily released technically required gas, otherwise known as cushion gas, at its Etzel ESE storage site, lifting the facility’s...