Industry News
Chemical Industry News
EEX criticizes German government plans to subsidize gas-fired power plants suggesting hedging obligation as alternative
German government plan to subsidise gas-fired power plants Traders highlight need for investment in renewable power generation EEX suggests hedging obligation to reduce price spike...
ICIS US Economic Summary: Middle East crisis and Strait closure pressure growth outlook
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (ICIS)--The war in the Middle East is lasting longer than originally expected and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Despite increased pressure on Iran, progress on peace...
CHINAPLAS ’26: SE Asian converters consider tolling with Chinese counterparts to combat costs
SHANGHAI (ICIS)--Following the recent surge in polyolefins prices, some converters in southeast Asia are now contemplating entering into tolling agreements with their Chinese counterparts in order to...
GAS ALERT: Italian latest gas storage auctions enjoy higher interest
MILAN (ICIS)--The second round of Italian gas storage auctions is attracting more interest than the first installment, with national transmission system operator (TSO) Snam allocating almost 90% of...
Sika expands in Central Asia
LONDON (ICIS)--Swiss construction and specialty chemicals company Sika is expanding activities in Central Asia by setting up a subsidiary in Kyrgyzstan, it said in an update on Tuesday. The...
MARGINS: Lower upstream costs lift Europe MEG margins, softer co-product credits cap gains
LONDON (ICIS)--Margins at mono ethylene glycol (MEG) plants in Europe rose week on week driven by softer feedstock costs, ICIS Margin Analysis showed on Tuesday. Operators based on liquefied...
UK to launch CfDs on existing wind in move to break power-gas price link
UK government announced measures to detach the power and gas price link CfD's for renewables, raising the Electricity Generator Levy rate from 45% to 55% Bearish prices likely for the wholesale...
CHINAPLAS ’26: China’s coal-based PE exports gain acceptance in Vietnam
SHANGHAI (ICIS)--China’s exports of coal-based polyethylene resins are gaining more acceptance among Vietnam’s downstream plastic converters despite some initial hesitation about quality...
WEEKLY CRUDE OUTLOOK: Oil price direction hinges on outcome of proposed US-Iran peace talks
LONDON (ICIS)--Leaving aside the crude price dip of 17 April, when hopes soared that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened, oil prices have been rangebound below $100 as the market continues to price...
CHINAPLAS ’26: Vietnam downstream factories await clarity on Middle East
SHANGHAI (ICIS)--Developments in the Middle East are the main focus for many plastic converters in Vietnam as some hold off purchasing to get more clarity, according to market sources at the...
Germany March producer prices rise 2.5% from Feb on Iran war impacts
LONDON (ICIS)--After falling 0.5% month on month in February, producer prices in Germany rose 2.5% in March, according to data from the country’s federal statistics office. Impacts from the Iran...
Awards awaited in 2.5 million tonne Indian urea import tender as geopolitics eyed
LONDON (ICIS)--In India, awards in the latest import tender are likely by 23 April, with final volumes still under discussion at the Department of Fertilizers (DoF). Most market participants expect...
Low Ukrainian demand, narrow spreads undermine interest in CEE/SEE monthly gas transport capacity auctions
Interest in monthly capacity auctions continues to fall No bookings at UA interconnections for second month in a row Traders point to no Ukrainian demand and marginal location spreads as explanation...
Plant status: Olin’s Stade epoxy ops in planned maintenance
Houston (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Olin Location: Stade, Germany Products: epoxy resins Capacity (tonnes/year): 140,000 Event start: circa mid April (estimate) Event finish: mid May...
More than 20 organic compounds found on Mars – many for the first time
International team detects benzothiophene, methyl benzoate, naphthalene, as well as single and dicyclic aromatic molecules
How chemists are making laboratories more sustainable
A collection of articles sharing tips from researchers who reduced their environmental impact with support from the RSC’s Sustainable Laboratories grants
Sustainable laboratories: Reducing plastics
When to reuse plastic pipette tips and how to overcome psychological barriers to recyling single-use items
Sustainable laboratories: Reducing water
How to adapt water cooling for water-stressed regions and investigate the carbon footprint of different circulation options
Sustainable laboratories: Reducing energy
How to identify an efficient heating mechanism and implement energy-saving measures across the lab
Sustainable laboratories: Cleaner solvents and substrates
How to identify greener replacements for DMF and recover ITO from glass substrates