Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Pakistan’s gas demand for power generation weakens
High LNG import costs erode competitiveness of gas-fired power plants Solar and coal displace LNG in the generation mix amid weak demand Residential and industrial consumers increasingly shift to...
China’s Dec BD imports largely stable; exports resume
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--In December 2025, China’s butadiene (BD, HS Code: 29012410) imports reached 56,943 tonnes, almost stable month on month, data from the ICIS Supply & Demand Database showed....
Fears over US intervention in Iran dampen Mideast PP, PE trades
DUBAI (ICIS)--Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) restocking in both the East Mediterranean (East Med) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets has been underwhelming throughout January due to...
Plant status: China’s ZPC restarts No 2 BPA plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical (ZPC) Location: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China Product: Bisphenol A (BPA) Capacity (tonnes/year): 240,000...
Compact electron accelerator for treating PFAS-contaminated water
So-called forever chemicals or PFAS compounds are a growing environmental problem. An innovative approach to treating PFAS-contaminated water and soil now comes from accelerator physics: high-energy electrons can break down PFAS molecules into harmless components
AI-driven ultrafast spectrometer-on-a-chip: A revolution in real-time sensing
For decades, the ability to visualize the chemical composition of materials, whether for diagnosing a disease, assessing food quality, or analyzing pollution, depended on large, expensive laboratory instruments called spectrometers. These devices work by taking
UWT establishes subsidiary in Poland
UWT continues to grow: the new UWT Polska branch was opened in mid-September. The branch is managed by Tadeusz Karmaza, with whose experienced team the company has been working successfully for many years. The establishment
HSH Chemie acquires two sweetener specialists
HSH Chemie Group announces a significant milestone in its growth strategy with the acquisition of Hamburg Fructose GmbH International (HFG) and No Sugar Sugar GmbH (NOSS), effective January 1, 2026. The two acquisitions further strengthen
Mexico’s Zama oil field operator appointment major milestone but majors skeptical on mixed contracts – IEA
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Mexico achieved a major milestone in its production revival plans with the appointment of Harbour Energy as operator of the large shallow-water Zama oil field, the International...
Electricity transit between EU and non-EU countries is exempted of CBAM, expert
Traders halted transit amid uncertainty over CBAM wording Electricity transit exemption consistent with world trade rules Customs declaration prevails over TSO nominations in CBAM declaration LONDON...
China urea exports rebound in 2025 on Beijing’s policy shift
LONDON (ICIS)--Urea exports from China rebounded in 2025 to 4.9 million tonnes compared with 260,554 tonnes in 2024, according to customs data, after the government removed restrictions on exports...
Plant status: Egypt’s SIDPEC to shut HDPE production next week – sources
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Co (Sidpec) Location: Amreya, Alexandria, Egypt Product: High density polyethylene (HDPE) Capacity (tonnes/year): 250,000...
China imports 26% less ammonia in 2025 year on year
LONDON (ICIS)--Imports of ammonia into China dropped by 26% in 2025 year on year, according to customs data. More than half of the volumes imported into China came from Indonesia, followed by Saudi...
OUTLOOK FOR 2026: France to sustain discount to neighbouring power markets despite forecasts of lower nuclear output
ICIS predicts a drop in French nuclear generation in 2026 Despite this prediction, French power prices are likely to remain low Low demand output, less sensitivity to gas, carbon markets to pressure...
US pending home sales fall 9.3% in December
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US pending home sales in December fell 9.3% month on month from November, and they fell 3.0% year on year from December 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported on...
TTF Summer ’26 premium to Winter may return to discount
Rally in near dated contracts has triggered TTF Q2 ’26 to trade at premium to Q1 ’27, peak winter delivery TTF premium to EAX at $1.091/MMBtu, supportive of European imports Summer ’26 could...
US air strikes seriously damaged leading research institute in Venezuela
Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research’s maths building ‘completely destroyed’ and chemistry building seriously damaged
MOVES: Kraton CEO Boldrini leaves, exec team takes over
LONDON (ICIS)--The CEO of Kraton, Marcello Boldrini, left the US-based producer of biobased chemicals and specialty polymers effective 8 January, the company said in a statement to ICIS. “Mr...
South Korea sulphuric acid interactive trade map January-December 2025
LONDON (ICIS)--South Korea’s Trade Statistics Promotion Institute (KTSPI) has released sulphuric acid trade data for January-December...
EU move to refer EU-Mercosur deal to ECJ a ‘disgrace’ – VCI chief
LONDON (ICIS)--A vote in European Parliament to refer the recently-approved EU-Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for scrutiny represents policymakers opting for economic...