Industry News
Chemical Industry News
US nat gas futures slide on demand, shoulder season weakness
Shoulder season weather demand has limited Henry Hub futures US loadings slightly down month-on-month Storage data shows inventories rose higher above five-year average HOUSTON (ICIS)--US natural gas...
Axalta raises prices to offset raw material inflation
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Axalta Coating Systems will keep raising prices to keep up with rising raw material and energy costs in the wake of the Middle East conflict, CEO Chris Villavarayan and CFO Carl...
Tough European May melamine contract talks; market faces cost pressure, demand challenges
LONDON (ICIS)--European May contract discussions are off to a torrid start, with buyers resisting separately indicated increases so far as a result of difficulties in passing on further cost...
Europe AA, acrylate esters set for ‘temporary new normal’ of tight supply, limited activity
LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe acrylate ester and acrylic acid (AA) markets are starting to settle into a “temporary new normal” of tight supply but limited demand. May supply set to be limited but...
Europe May PO contract price increases on propylene movement
LONDON (ICIS)--The European propylene oxide (PO) contract price for May has increased by €96/tonne from April, following a rise in the upstream propylene (C3) settlement. May PO prices were...
US March PCE price inflation accelerates to 0.7% monthly pace
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US inflation, as measured by the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, rose 0.7% month on month in March, up from 0.4% in February and 0.3% in January, according to...
Bosnia-Herzegovina signs long-term contract to import 0.5bcm/year of US LNG from 2030
Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Aluminij Industries signed a 20-year long-term deal with Aktor to import 0.5bcm/year of US LNG from 2030 Both companies also intend to develop a gas power plant to be installed...
Commission to allow gas-for-power subsidies on case-by-case basis
European Commission revises state-aid rules to address energy price rises Mainly targeted at fuel-dependent and energy-intensive sectors Commission will evaluate country requests to subsidize...
Brazil producer prices rise 2.37% in March as Middle East tensions push up petrochemicals, fertilizers
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazilian producer prices rose 2.37% month on month in March, driven by a sharp jump in extractive industries and a broad-based surge across the petrochemicals sector, as escalating...
Europe May EO contract climbs as ethylene hits record high
LONDON (ICIS)--The European May ethylene oxide (EO) contract price climbed by €82/tonne following the settlement of the upstream ethylene contract. The European ethylene contract reference price...
WEEK 18 ICIS EUROPEAN BIOMETHANE MARKETS: Interest in German unsubsidized biomethane rises on higher THG targets
Additional reporting by Alice Casagni, Andrea Battaglia, Jake Stones and Marko Tymoshchuk Subscriber notice: This following content is part of a draft report that ICIS is distributing regularly for...
Dopant boosts carbon nanotubes’ conductivity tenfold
Doped nanotubes could enable stronger, lighter electricity cables
First total synthesis of macrocycle with four stereocentres at the heart of bacterial photosynthesis
Technically daunting synthesis of bacteriochlorophyll a finally reaches completion
Methane zapped into plasma bubbles makes low-emission methanol
Process offers greener, electrified route to important feedstock chemical
Middle East crisis boosts Wacker’s first-quarter results
Wacker Chemie AG reported sales amounting to €1.41 billion in Q1 2026 (Q1 2025: €1.48 billion), 5 percent lower than the prior year. By contrast, sales increased 12 percent compared with the preceding quarter (Q4
Three new world-scale plants: BASF expands production across two continents
BASF’s Aroma Ingredients business unit announced the official launch of three newly built world-scale plants – menthol and linalool in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and citral in Zhanjiang, China. This announcement follows the inauguration ceremony of BASF’s
Electrochemistry captures coffee’s taste, powering a more consistent cup
It takes a surprising amount of work to keep coffee consistent cup to cup. An electrifying new approach from University of Oregon researchers could make the task easier. They’ve discovered a way to measure the flavor profile of a cup of coffee — by sending an electrical current through
Plant status: Indonesia’s UIC reduces LAB run rates from May
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: PT Unggul Indah (UIC) Location: Merak, Indonesia Product: Linear alkylbenzene (LAB) Capacity (tonnes/year): 180,000 Event start: 1 May 2026...
China major producers’ polyolefin inventories continue falling on pre-holiday restocking
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The combined polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) inventories of Chinese state-owned petrochemical giants Sinopec and PetroChina continued falling due to restocking ahead of the...
Asia TiO2 sees uptrend slowing going into holidays
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Titanium dioxide (TiO2) spot indicative prices in Asia were slightly higher so far on Thursday. Buy indications were capped at $2,500/tonne FOB (free on board) China, some $50/tonne...