Industry News
Chemical Industry News
INSIGHT: Five key takeaways for naphtha, LPG markets amid Hormuz risk and Asian exposure
Naphtha prices continue to surge as crude and freight costs spike, leaving European values increasingly driven by upstream strength rather than the direct Middle East supply loss. Europe is far more...
TTF front-month falls after strong open as traders cite impact of profit-taking and oil
Additional reporting by Ethan Tillcock TTF surges 32% at market open but quickly falls Traders cite profit-taking and crude as main factors Market may be pricing in long war as TTF curve flattens...
Asia-Europe and Europe-Asia chemical tanker spot rates rise amid US-Iran war
LONDON (ICIS)--The week ending 6 March brought chaos and strong upward pressure to spot chemical tanker markets, resulting in Asia to Europe and the reverse Europe to Asia spot rates increasing,...
Brazil’s regulator clears IG4’s Braskem stake purchase in boost to debt restructuring push
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazil's antitrust authority CADE has approved asset manager IG4’s acquisition of a controlling stake at Braskem, paving the way for an ongoing debt restructuring process at the...
Unconventional catalyst support promotes record green methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide
Homing in on a specific crystal structure for the support can boost activity by 70%
Chemical industry at a turning point: six keys to transformation
The German chemical industry is facing major challenges: It must achieve climate neutrality while remaining competitive. With this in mind, VDI Research, together with the VDI-GVC, evaluated international roadmaps and strategy papers in the study
Non-destructive battery testing: New method developed
Rechargeable batteries are everywhere — from portable electronic devices and electric vehicles to renewable energy storage. Battery failures are often due to the loss or chemical degradation of the electrolyte. An international research team involving
24 million US dollars for climate-neutral flying
To meet the projected demand in aviation, global production of sustainable aviation fuels must increase more than 150-fold by 2050 - a volume that cannot be achieved with biogenic fuels alone. Metafuels has developed a
Plant status: Indonesia’s LCI lowers cracker runs amid naphtha supply disruptions
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Lotte Chemical Indonesia (LCI) Location: Cilegon, Indonesia Products: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 1 million (ethylene), 520,000...
Plant status: Thailand’s PTTGC mulls restart of cracker from turnaround in April
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) Location: Map Ta Phut, Thailand Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 500,000 (ethylene), 260,000...
Plant status: India’s IOC shuts cracker on technical issue – sources
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Indian Oil Corp Location: Panipat, India Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 947,000 (ethylene), 465,000 (propylene) Event...
Plant status: India’s OPaL lowers cracker op rate on LNG supply disruption
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: OPal Location: Dahej, India Product: Ethylene, propylene Capacity (tonnes/year): 1,100,000 (ethylene), 400,000 (propylene) Event start: Week of...
Plant status: S Korea’s LG Chem shuts Yeosu NB latex units for maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS) – Here is a plant status report: Name: LG Chem Location: Yeosu, South Korea Product: NB Copolymers (acrylonitrile butadiene latex) Capacity (tonnes/year): 127,000 (two lines) Event...
Asia-US container rates rise on Middle East conflict; global bunker prices surge with crude
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US were mostly higher this week as the conflict in the Middle East wages on, while surging crude oil prices amid the...
US phenol price increases emerge separately amid US-Iran conflict
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US phenol price increases have emerged separately this week, according to market sources and customer letters seen by ICIS. The following price increases are being sought separately:...
Multiple US acetone price increases emerge separately amid US-Iran conflict
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Multiple US acetone price increases have emerged separately this week, according to market sources and customer letters seen by ICIS. The following price increases are being sought...
Brazil’s Petrobras naphtha sales plunge but booming upstream offsets weak refinery mix
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Petrobras reported a sharp decline in naphtha sales in Q4 and in 2025 overall, year on year, but the Brazilian state-owned oil company fell short to expand on the causes for such a...
NYMEX: US gas futures rise on increased demand signals, and tightened gas storage
Front-month US natural gas futures rose on 6 March on colder weather, recovering US LNG feedgas demand and large gas storage withdrawal The April 2026 Henry Hub contract on NYMEX settled at...
INSIGHT: Three key pressures shaping the US PET resin market amid the Iran escalation
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Three key factors are defining the outlook for the US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin market as feedstocks strengthen, trade policy uncertainty grows, and global fundamentals...
US government announces $20 billion plan for maritime reinsurance in Middle East
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US will provide maritime reinsurance, including war risk, for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) said on Friday. The...