Industry News
Chemical Industry News
US’ August base oils supply falls
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--US base oils supply fell in August as a slide in imports outweighed firm domestic production. A rebound in exports moved a large portion of domestic output to overseas markets. The...
Battery-free bioelectronic implants
Spurred by advances in energy-harvesting materials, a new generation of advanced implantable biomedical devices is emerging that does away with the bulky battery. James Mitchell Crow reports
How ‘magic mud’ gives baseball pitchers a better grip
Unique mud formula coats and roughens baseballs, boosting control and grip for pitchers
Early detection makes batteries safer
The safe use of lithium-ion batteries, such as those used in electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems, critically depends on condition monitoring and early fault detection. Failures in individual battery cells can lead to
New catalytic strategies boost alkene synthesis
Photocatalyst makes complex alkenes from acids, alkanes or alcohols, while a ‘phase-pure’ iron catalyst reduces unwanted Fischer–Tropsch waste products
Climate-friendly electricity from ammonia
Using hydrogen to generate electricity does not cause any climate-damaging emissions. But storing and transporting the gas pose technical challenges. With this in mind, Fraunhofer researchers use ammonia, a hydrogen derivative that is easier to
The mechanism behind ice-forming bacteria
Particular „Ice-nucleating proteins“ produced by certain bacteria have the ability to control the freezing point of water – so efficiently that no other known material can compete. An interdisciplinary team led by Konrad Meister from
How to replace PFAS?
Hardly any other chemical substance can compete with PFAS, due to their unique properties. That explains why it is so hard to find a replacement for these toxic “forever chemicals”, which accumulate in the environment
Generation Change in the Management of JÜKE
On November 1, 2024, a significant milestone was reached at JÜKE Systemtechnik GmbH in Altenberge: The two long-standing CEOs Heinrich Jürgens and Martin Hovestadt handed over the management to the next generation. Their two sons
Bottle-to-bottle US R-PET pellet demand remains steady amid end-of-year slowdown
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Demand for US recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) pellet remains steady from bottle-to-bottle players who are heard to have strong orders through the end of the year,...
US bottle demand for imported R-PET flake remains steady despite global freight risk, changing international dynamics
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Amid a backdrop of changing freight rates and local bale prices, imported recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) flake pricing and thus demand has remained relatively stable...
US harvest on its final stretch with corn at 91%, soybeans now 94% completed
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US farmers are on their final stretch of harvesting with 91% of the corn crop completed and soybeans now at 94%, according to the latest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly...
US East Coast PET bale demand slows from fiber but pricing remains elevated compared with 2024
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US East Coast curbside polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bale demand is mixed as the end of the year approaches. While most bottle-to-bottle players see strong orders and are running...
US East Coast spot R-PET flake markets steady amid mixed signals
HOUSTON (ICIS)--East Coast spot domestic recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) flake prices remain steady as various players manage mixed market demand and changes in bale feedstock. Demand for...
US West Coast PET bale supply struggles to support export, local demand
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Though some portion of US West Coast polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bale supply has always been exported, more recently demand from Mexico has increased, consuming an ever-growing...
US fertilizer segment watching but not overly concerned over Canada port strike activity
HOUSTON (ICIS)--As a fresh labor union strike halted activity at Canadian ports along its west coast on Monday, US fertilizer participants were watching the latest worker strife unfold with only...
US Huntsman hits Q3 guidance, expects decline in Q4 earnings
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Huntsman's Q3 performance met its earlier guidance, but it expects Q4 earnings to fall because of weakness in construction, continued issues with supply chains and the strike at...
INEOS announces lifting of force majeure on copolymer PP products
HOUSTON (ICIS)--INEOS announced on 4 November 2024 in a letter that the previously declared force majeure on polypropylene (PP) impact copolymer products has been lifted due to production and...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude prices bounce as OPEC+ confirms December output hike delay
OPEC+ will delay planned 180,000 barrel/day production hike until 2025 Market remains primed for 25 basis points US Federal Reserve interest rate cut North Sea benchmark boosted by 9% freight rate...
US East Coast nHDPE bale prices cross over 60 cent/lb threshold
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Continuing on trend, US East Coast natural high density polyethylene (nHDPE) bale prices have jumped significantly, now being transacted above 60 cents/lb FOB (free on board). Though...