Industry News
Chemical Industry News
OUTLOOK ’25: China DEG supply remains high, cautious outlook for demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Despite a lack of new capacity, domestic diethylene glycol (DEG) output still rose sharply in 2024 driven by improved co-product monoethylene glycol (MEG) margins. Looking ahead...
OUTLOOK ‘25: Asia MEG makers to see relief on slower expansions, rising margins
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--After a relatively strong performance in 2024, Asian monoethylene glycol (MEG) makers may see more relief in 2025 as new capacity expansions remain at a slower pace, while feedstock...
OUTLOOK ’25: China strengthens position in Asia-Pacific nylon trade
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Asia-Pacific nylon market in 2024 saw demand grow largely in the Chinese domestic market due to increased demand for industrial plastics. Regional exports remained stable, with...
OUTLOOK ’25: Asia soda ash to see boost from solar glass capacity additions outside China
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Solar glass capacity additions in southeast Asia and India could fuel demand for soda ash amid mounting soda ash supply pressures in China as previously strong domestic demand...
OUTLOOK ’25: More stringent regulations to dampen export prospects of Asian rPET
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Producers of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) across Asia will continue to position themselves as net exporters of premium materials to deep-sea markets. Compliance to...
OUTLOOK ’25: Asia EDC suppliers to focus on contractual commitments amid suppressed demand
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's ethylene dichloride (EDC) spot market is expected to remain structurally thin into 2025 due to lackluster downstream performance. Lackluster downstream performance leaves...
OUTLOOK ’25: Asia caustic soda demand growth likely to be uneven
SINGAPORE(ICIS)--Asia’s caustic soda spot market holds an optimistic demand outlook for certain markets, but players acknowledge that difficulties remain as market players head into 2025. Asian...
OUTLOOK ’25: China caps ACN run rates, looks to increase exports
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The supply of acrylonitrile (ACN) in China's domestic market is expected to increase significantly in 2025, especially because Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical (ZRCC) and...
US E-series glycol ethers and PMA drop in December; January price increase nomination emerges for E-series
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Spot prices of US E-series glycol ethers softened in December, as multiple market participants saw notable drops in the prices of butyl glycol (BG) and butyl di-glycol (BDG). Among...
East China’s SM inventory rises 46.1% on lower consumption
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Styrene monomer (SM) inventory level in east China increased by 46.1% week on week, ICIS data showed on Wednesday. The total stock was at 46,600 tonnes, increasing by 14,700 tonnes...
Plant status: China’s Sinopec Shanghai restarts LDPE Line 1 and 2
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sinopec Shanghai PC. Location: Shanghai, China Product: Low density polyethylene (LDPE) Capacity (tonnes/year): 90,000 Event start: 11 November...
Plant status: S Arabia’s Yanpet to restart No 1 MEG plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Company (Yanpet) Location: Yanbu, Saudi Arabia Product: Monoethylene glycol (MEG) Capacity (tonne/year): 400,000 (No...
China average BDO plants’ run rate down to 55.2%
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's butanediol (BDO) plants posted a lower average run rate of 55.2% in the week ended 24 December, ICIS data shows. The run rate was down by 0.5 percentage points from the...
Plant status: China’s Shandong Binhua New Material starts up MTBE plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Shandong Binhua New Material Location: Shandong, China Product: Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) Capacity (tonnes/year): 742,000 Event start:...
China’s Nov 2024 SM imports drop 29% on month
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China imported 60,752 tonnes of styrene monomer (SM) in November 2024, down by 29% month on month. The total imports in January-November 2024 was at 355,446 tonnes, according to the...
US epoxy resins heading into potentially volatile Q1 2025
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US epoxy resins will be in flux during Q1 2025 as there will be a lot of moving parts that have the potential to create volatility and impact prices. December liquid contracts were...
OUTLOOK ’25: US BDO demand to strengthen on lower inflation but EV policy, tariffs may be headwinds
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US butanediol (BDO) demand is expected to strengthen in 2025 amid more controlled inflation and lower interest rates, but possible tariffs and changes to electric vehicle (EV)...
OUTLOOK ’25: LatAm PET prices pressured by economic challenges, tariff shifts
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) prices in Latin America are expected to soften in H1 2025, driven by changes in import tariffs, lower Asia prices and easing freight rates. Seasonal...
OUTLOOK ’25: US PET demand expected higher but supply disruptions, tariffs remain risks
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Demand for US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) should increase in 2025 if lower inflation and interest rates drive consumption with stronger growth expected in the second half of the...
OUTLOOK ’25: Ample LatAm PS supply meets poor demand
HOUSTON (ICIS)--The Latin American polystyrene (PS) market will continue facing headwinds in 2025 on the back of weak demand across the region combined with plentiful supply. Demand low even in...