Industry News
Chemical Industry News
China BPA average plant run rate inches down to 73.2% on operational cut
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The average run rate of China’s bisphenol A (BPA) plants was at around 73.2% in the week ended 30 April 2026, down by 0.8 percentage points from the last reporting period, ICIS...
S Korea isomer MX export prices firm amid higher June talks on upstream gains
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--South Korea’s isomer grade mixed xylenes (MX) spot export prices were higher on 5 May, buoyed by overnight increase in upstream crude and naphtha prices. ICIS data showed that...
New method reveals hidden changes in vitamin B12
Researchers at European XFEL have developed a way to study liquid samples that are too dilute for many existing X-ray experiments. The method is highly sensitive, and in the first experiment a group of international
US Celanese expects big jump in Q2 earnings on prices, volumes
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Celanese expects adjusted earnings per share to rise sharply in Q2 because of higher volumes and prices in its acetyls business and improved pricing in its Engineered Materials...
US Chemours Q1 profit falls on higher costs; expects Q2 sales boost on seasonality
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Chemours saw Q1 gross profits fall by 10% as costs outpaced revenues, and the company anticipates Q2 net sales to jump by 15-20% on favorable seasonal trends and full-year growth to...
Celanese to close Singapore nylon plant, ‘optimize’ two US units
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Celanese plans to shut down a nylon 6,6 plant in Sakra, Singapore, and pursue what it described as "optimization" at two other plants in the US, the engineered materials producer said...
MOVES: US CF Industries names Scribner as executive VP and CFO
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US fertilizer producer CF Industries (CF) announced that its board of directors has selected Andrew Scribner as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective 26 May....
US BD production from steam crackers falls in February
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The February daily rate of US butadiene (BD) production from steam crackers fell on lower industry operating rates, according to data from Worley Consulting. Total BD production also...
INSIGHT: Middle East dynamics shift as UAE’s Fujairah Port hit, US guides ships
NEW YORK (ICIS)--The Middle East crisis is shifting into a new phase as Iran launched attacks on the UAE’s key export Port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman and an ADNOC-affiliated ship, while the
NYMEX: US gas futures lowered on strong gas production and lower US LNG feedgas demand
Front-month US natural gas futures edged down on 5 May on strong gas production The May 2026 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at $2.788/MMBtu, down nearly 3% from the previous session Lower 48 gas...
US Westlake seeks to offset higher costs in building material segment
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Westlake is seeking higher prices for products made in its building-material segment to offset higher costs for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and transportation, the chief financial...
US April auto sales fall from March, down by 7.1% year on year as affordability issues persist
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US April sales of new light vehicles fell from March and from the same month a year ago on a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) as affordability issues persist. The decrease was...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Oil prices dip sharply despite an Iran-US ceasefire in name only
Oil prices slide despite US-Iran ceasefire being tested by tit-for-tat attacks Iranian missiles hit UAE port of Fujairah, US sinks Iranian small boats US Navy escorts freight carrier through Strait...
US February ethylene production decreased on lower operating rates
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The February daily rate of US ethylene production from steam crackers declined on lower industry operating rates, according to data from Worley Consulting. Total ethylene production...
US propylene production declined following planned turnarounds
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The daily rate of US propylene production from steam crackers dropped significantly for this month, according to data from Worley Consulting, formerly Advisian. Total propylene...
Data centers driving growth in pipe, cabling – US Westlake
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The construction of data centers in the US is increasing demand for pipes and fittings that are used to provide the sites with water for cooling, US-based vinyls producer Westlake...
Cash flow crisis triggers Plastic Energy administration; Spanish plants excluded from process
LONDON (ICIS)--Plastic Energy Finco Limited (PEF) and its technology arm, Plastic Energy Limited (PEL), have entered administration following severe cash flow challenges and a downturn in the...
Plant status: TotalEnergies declares force majeure on polypropylene units due to compressor failure
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: TotalEnergies Location: LaPorte, Texas, USA Product: Polypropylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 1,226,000 Event start: 4 May 2026 Event finish: Unknown...
Chile’s economy contracts again in March on poor mining, manufacturing
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Chile's Imacec monthly economic activity index fell 0.1% in March, year on year, on the back of a decline in petrochemicals-intensive goods production as well as mining, which...
Westlake considers purchase of Vynova’s involvent vinyls plant in Germany
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Westlake has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire Vynova's vinyls plant in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, which is in insolvency proceedings, the chief financial officer of the...