Industry News
Chemical Industry News
26 killed in fireworks factory explosion in China
Incident on 4 May injured over 60 others, with rescue work hampered by further fires and explosions
Letters: May 2026
Readers delve into ancient history, celebrate glassblowers and ponder if they are alchemists
Versatile skeletal editing strategies upgrade nitrogen compounds into drug building blocks
Two techniques could help speed up the discovery of drugs containing nitrogen heterocycles
Geopolitics as a competitive advantage: LANXESS benefits from supply chain disruptions in Asia
A persistently weak economic environment, ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and prior year’s portfolio divestments characterized the first quarter of the 2026 financial year for specialty chemicals company LANXESS. Sales amounted to EUR 1.378 billion, which was
For the first time, researchers are peering inside record-breaking superconductors
An international research team, including scientists from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), has achieved a methodological breakthrough in the study of superhydrides, a promising class of superconductors. For the first time, the team succeeded in analyzing
Gendorf as a booster for Bavarian industry
The GENDORF Chemical Park is focusing on change: In the presence of Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger, site operator InfraServ Gendorf announced that it would be opening up the traditional chemical site specifically
Laboratory software provider realigns itself
GUS LAB GmbH has been operating under the name LIVO Technologies since March 31, 2026. The change of name marks an important step in the organizational realignment following the takeover of the GUS Group by
Plant status: China’s CSPC restarts HDPE unit and LLDPE line 1 & 2
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals (CSPC) Location: Guangdong, China Product: High density polyethylene (HDPE), Linear low density polyethylene...
Plant status: China’s CNOOC Dongfang restarts MTBE plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: CNOOC Dongfang Petrochemical Location: Hainan, China Product: Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) Capacity (tonnes/year): 90,000 Event start:...
East Asia LAB stable to firm despite holidays while south Asia trails
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The linear alkylbenzene (LAB) market in east Asia was stable-to-firm despite China and Japan being closed for holidays this week. Some spot flexi-tank parcels were heard sold up to...
Plant status: China’s Cangzhou Dahua shuts its BPA plant for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Cangzhou Dahua Location: Cangzhou, Hebei, China Products: Bisphenol A (BPA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 Event start: Around 6 May 2026 Event...
India’s Chiripal enters rPET business with new plant at Jammu
MUMBAI (ICIS)--Chiripal Poly Films plans to start producing recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) at a new plant in India’s Jammu by next year, sources close to the company said. A company...
China travel, consumer sectors hampered by high energy prices – Nomura
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Higher fuel costs and severe weather conditions significantly hampered mobility and consumer spending across China during the recent five-day Labor Day holiday, according to...
Plant status: China’s CNOOC Dongfang restarts one line of MMA unit
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: CNOOC Dongfang Petrochemical Location: Dongfang, Hainan, China Product: Methyl methacrylate (MMA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 70,000 (two lines)...
Plant status: China’s ZPC restarts its PO plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Location: Zhejiang province, China Product: Propylene oxide (PO) Capacity (tonnes/year): 270,000 Event start:...
Oil prices rise as investors assess fresh US proposal to end Mideast war
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Oil prices climbed in early Thursday trading after plunging to two-week lows in the previous session on optimism about a possible end to the war in the Middle East, with reports...
Indonesia PE supplier reduces domestic spot prices three times in a week
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--A key polyethylene (PE) supplier in Indonesia announced reductions in domestic prices three times during the week as demand in the local Indonesian market continues to slow. On 2...
Isomer MX S Korea export prices fall, tracking retreating upstream values
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Spot isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) prices went down on 6 May, reflecting drops in upstream values. Brent crude futures fell on Wednesday, declining for the second straight session...
US Kronos reports Q1 net loss on lower average TiO2 prices, volume
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Kronos had a net loss of $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2026 primarily due to lower income from operations because of lower average titanium dioxide (TiO2) selling prices and...
NYMEX: US natural gas futures slide with TTF, crude oil
Front-month US natural gas futures closed lower on 6 May as hopes renewed that fighting between the US and Iran would end The June Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $2.73/MMBtu, down about 2%...