Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Important new source of oxidation in the atmosphere found
Hydroperoxides are strong oxidants that have a significant influence on chemical processes in the atmosphere. Now, an international research team involving the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) has shown that these substances also form
PerPlacsBio Launched: Biodegradable Plastics Transform Agriculture and Forestry
The University of Münster, the University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg and the nova-Institute have launched the project PerPlacsBio – Prospects for bio-based and biodegradable plastics in agriculture and forestry. The project is funded by
US Nov retail sales rise 0.6% from Oct, faster than expected
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US retail and food services sales were $735.9 billion in November - up 0.6% month on month (October: -0.1%), and up 3.3% year on year from November 2024, the US Census Bureau reported...
OUTLOOK FOR 2026: Upside risk for Italian power prices amid bullish gas and carbon picture
ICIS predicting bullish gas and carbon prices in Q1 2026 This is likely to support Italian power prices due to country’s reliance on gas-fired generation Growing solar capacity will pressure...
BP to book up to $5bn Q4 write-down for green business
LONDON (ICIS)--BP is set to absorb a $4-5 billion post-tax impairment for its fourth-quarter 2025 financial results, primarily driven by the performance of its transition business, encompassing green...
Europe January ECH regular freely negotiated January business likely steady
LONDON (ICIS)--Early indications for freely negotiated Europe epichlorohydrin (ECH) monthly business point to relative price stability in January so far, despite the propylene cost decrease. One...
UREA: Egyptian export business on-hold amid CBAM uncertainty
In Egypt, no business has taken place and suppliers of Egyptian urea confirm last week’s extraordinary press conference, held on 7 January 2026 by the European Commission, where it announced it...
Plant status: SABIC aims to restart Wilton LDPE plant around end-Q1 2026
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: SABIC Location: Wilton, UK Product: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) Capacity (tonnes/year): 400,000 Event start: 3 December 2025 Event finish:...
BMWE unlikely to intervene as Rehden on track to miss February target
Additional reporting by Ghassan Zumot Rehden gas storage site 12% full on 13 January, on course to miss 30% 1 February target BMWE says site less critical due to new LNG and other supply alternatives...
Sorfert sells 30,000 tonnes of urea at $426/tonne FOB Arzew
In Algeria, Sorfert has sold 30,000 tonnes of urea at $426/tonne FOB Arzew to the US for end of January/early February loading. The price is equivalent to $415/short ton FOB Nola. During the previous...
US producer price inflation accelerates in November
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US producer price inflation, as measured by the producer price index (PPI), ran at a 3.0% year on year pace in November, up from 2.8% in October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)...
Deaths of municipal technicians in Zimbabwe from noxious gases linked to lack of chemistry expertise
An inability to pay good wages has seen technical talent leave the country with poorly-trained employees put at risk
Haltermann Carless exits oxo business, sells Texas site
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Haltermann Carless has exited its oxo business and sold its assets at Manvel, near Houston in the US, the Germany-based fuels, solvents and energy products company said on Wednesday....
TTF-East Asian LNG price correlation to keep strong in 2026
Europe gas - Asia spot LNG price correlation strengthens Reduced volatility limits inter-basin arbitrage opportunities but supports some return of price-sensitive buyers Price downside likely after...
Non-OECD nations to drive modest 2027 oil demand growth – OPEC
LONDON (ICIS)--Global oil demand growth is expected to average 1.3 million barrels/day next year, a muted uptick from projected consumption this year driven by non-OECD countries, OPEC said on...
Critical Chemicals Alliance calls for urgent action to save Europe’s chemical industry
LONDON (ICIS)--European chemicals players are calling for action from legislators to “shift decisively from diagnosis to delivery” to tackle the unprecedented rate of closures across the region....
Initial Europe epoxy sentiment relatively stable for January in sluggish market
LONDON (ICIS)--Initial sentiment for Europe epoxy is relatively stable, but with some talk of softening in January, as ongoing margin concerns are weighed against the need to secure the business in a...
Plastic recycling’s perfect storm
Pending policies that demand more recycling cannot offset problems of high costs and competition from cheap virgin polymers
Strong costs, tighter supply and steady demand support China’s propylene in January
SINGAPORE (ICIS)—China’s propylene market is expected to be underpinned in January by firm costs, along with better fundamentals amid reduced domestic and import supply and improvements in the...
Asia ethanol stable to soft amid policy uncertainty, seasonal shifts
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s ethanol market remained broadly stable to slightly soft in early January, as policy uncertainty and seasonal supply dynamics continued to send mixed signals across...