Industry News
Chemical Industry News
A turning point in packaging development – with the AI application hub for plastic packaging
The AI application hub for sustainable packaging development through the use of artificial intelligence, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education, is presenting its first major milestones in a Germany-wide campaign at four
US styrene October prices finalized
US styrene prices have been finalized for October...
Domestic, international PE prices steady to lower on falling US export offers
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Domestic, international polyethylene (PE) prices were assessed as steady to lower across Latin American countries on the back of competitive offers from the US. Despite that,...
Domestic PP prices fall in Colombia, Mexico on lower feedstocks
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Domestic polypropylene (PP) prices fell in Colombia and Mexico tracking lower feedstock costs. US October propylene contracts settled at a decrease on falling spot prices. Domestic...
Global PE, PP markets to see seasonal weakness in Q4 – LyondellBasell
NEW YORK (ICIS)--LyondellBasell expects the global polyolefins market to see seasonal weakness in Q4 as customers work down inventories towards year end. “In Q4, we anticipate the typical seasonal...
Heavy Q1 turnaround season expected for US EG market, supply concerns growing
HOUSTON (ICIS)—Concerns over supply availability are growing as a heavy turnaround season is expected in Q1 2025 for the US ethylene glycols (EG) market. Already, there are five sites planning to...
SHIPPING: Asia-USWC container rates edge higher on late-season holiday demand
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Shipping container rates from east Asia and China to the US West Coast rose this week, reversing a trend that saw rates fall by almost 36% from July, as late-season holiday demand...
US acetone facing bearish pressure going into November
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US acetone is under pressure going into November as the marketplace has become competitive. October barge and truck contracts both settled at a decrease. More unsolicited spot offers...
Styropek announces official closure of US Pennsylvania EPS facility
Houston (ICIS)--Styropek announced its decision to officially cease operations at its Beaver Valley, Monaca, Pennsylvania, site by January 2025, a company spokesperson confirmed. The Mexican owned...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude prices recover much of Monday’s heavy losses on market uncertainty
Potential for Iranian retaliatory strike on Israel boosting Middle East risk premium Close US presidential race also creating crude volatility Likelihood of 25 basis points US interest rate cut next...
Pace of growth in US construction spending on manufacturing slows
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The pace of growth in US construction spending on manufacturing is slowing, as shown by data from the US Census Bureau on Friday. That spending, boosted by re-shoring and government...
Plant status: MEGlobal’s Freeport, Texas site plans Q1 2025 maintenance
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: MEGlobal Location: Freeport, Texas Product: Ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DEG), ethylene oxide (EO) Capacity (tonnes/year): 700,000...
Europe domestic acetone spot prices continue to fall in weak market
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe domestic acetone spot prices continue to tumble, amid frail demand and plentiful supply. Domestic acetone spot prices have been falling since the H2 of September, as market...
US manufacturing contracts for seventh month
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US manufacturing sector activity contracted for a seventh consecutive month in October and for the 23rd in the last 24 months, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s...
Brazil’s chemicals output up 2% in September, plastics and rubber up 6.5%
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazil’s chemicals output rose by 2% in September, year on year, although it fell compared with August by 2.7%, the country’s statistics office IBGE said on Friday. Output of...
Colombia’s manufacturing output booms in October, central bank cuts rates to 9.75%
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Colombia's petrochemicals-intensive manufacturing sectors made a decisive return to growth in October on the back of a healthy increase in new business, analysts at S&P Global...
LyondellBasell may make 2026 FID on US chemical recycling plant
HOUSTON (ICIS)--LyondellBasell could make a final investment decision (FID) in 2026 on a second chemical recycling plant, which it may build in the US at its refinery site in Houston, the CEO said on...
Mexico’s manufacturing recovers slightly in October but poor demand keeps it contraction
SAO PAULO (ICIS)-- Mexico's petrochemicals-intensive manufacturing sectors continued to contract in October, although it slightly improved its performance month on month, analysts at S&P Global...
Eastman’s second US PET recycling plant to cost less; uncertainty about French project
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Eastman’s second US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plant, to be built at Longview, Texas, will cost much less than the first plant the company started up at its production site in...
Interest rate cuts to boost discretionary markets – Eastman
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Expected further reductions in US interest rates should revive demand in Eastman’s consumer discretionary markets, after almost two years of no improvement, CEO Mark Costa said in...