Industry News
Chemical Industry News
LatAm PP international prices increase in Chile, Peru on higher Chinese offers
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--International polypropylene (PP) prices increased in Chile and Peru on the back of higher offers from China, while in Argentina and Brazil, prices dropped tracking competitive...
LatAm PE international prices fall on competitive US export offers
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--International polyethylene (PE) prices fell across Latin American (LatAm) countries on competitive offers from the US. In Argentina and Mexico, domestic PE prices were assessed as...
US styrene spot prices steady amid lackluster demand
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US styrene spot prices were steady this week with little buying interest seen. The arbitrage window to Europe is closed and operating rates are in the low to mid-70% range. Styrene...
SHIPPING: Asia-US container rates fall further; trend expected to continue post-ILA strike
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US continued to fall after a lengthy strike was averted at US Gulf and East Coast ports and as peak season volumes have...
US Chemical Safety Board to investigate Pemex’s Deer Park refinery blast
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is to open an enquiry about the “very serious” incident that occurred at Pemex’s Deer Park refinery in Texas, after...
US Q4 fatty alcohols contracts increase with higher costs, tight supplies
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US Q4 fatty alcohols contract were assessed higher from Q3, tracking higher production and freight costs. Tight spot availability amid ongoing turnarounds in southeast Asia as players...
Plant status: Lotte schedules Q1 turnaround for EO, EG unit in Lake Charles
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Lotte/ Westlake Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana Product: Ethylene oxide (EO), ethylene glycol (EG) Capacity (tonnes/year): 600,000 (EO), 800,000...
CRUDE SUMMARY: Crude benchmarks slip but on track for weekly gain on mixed supply outlook
Libyan oil returns to market after dispute Middle East supply disruption concerns continue to buoy prices US oil rig count up by two to 481 - Baker Hughes LONDON (ICIS)--Oil prices slipped on Friday...
Some Florida ports reopen while millions lack power after Milton
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Some ports in Florida have resumed operations while millions in the US state remain without power after Hurricane Milton made landfall earlier in the week, south of the fertilizer hub...
US Q4 glycerine contracts increase as supply concerns rise
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US Q4 glycerine contracts were assessed higher from Q3, tracking higher spot prices associated with tight availability. Vessel delays keep spot availability tight as biodiesel...
US consumer confidence falls amid worries about high prices
HOUSTON (ICIS)--After rising in August and September, US consumer confidence fell in October as consumers continue to worry about high prices, according to preliminary results of the University of...
Europe BPA spot soft to stable in still slow market
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe bisphenol A (BPA) spot indications are soft for low-end business, but stable at the high-end this week, as demand continues to stall, albeit in a still fairly balanced market....
Pemex US refinery blast leaves two dead, ops to return to normal within hours
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--A gas explosion at Mexico’s state-owned energy major Pemex’s refinery in Deer Park, Texas, left two dead and dozens injured. Operations are expected to return to normal during...
EPCA ’24: Europe PX demand outlook for 2025 bearish on downstream rationalization, soft gasoline market
LONDON (ICIS)--The European orthoxylene (OX) market is anticipating little change for 2025 versus this year regarding volume requirements from domestic buyers, according to sources on the sidelines...
Plant status: Mider Helm methanol maintenance Sept-Oct at Leuna, Germany
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Mider Helm Location: Leuna, Germany Product: Methanol Capacity (tonnes/year): 800,000 Event start: September Event finish: late-October Reason:...
US PP imports in August reach record levels while exports decline
HOUSTON (ICIS)-- US polypropylene (PP) imports in August grew 46.4% month on month and are up 34.6% year to date compared to 2023, according to monthly trade data provided by the US Census Bureau. ...
German power plant strategy to strengthen grid
German government reaches an important milestone in its Power Plant Safety Act, opening a public consultation Once finalised, the act could strengthen Germany’s hydrogen economy and address grid...
Plant status: Nobian restarts Rotterdam, Netherlands chlor-alkali plant – EPCA sources
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Nobian Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Products: Caustic soda, chlorine Capacity (tonnes/year): Caustic soda 713,000 dmt (dry metric tonnes),...
EPCA ’24: Europe acetone spot price drop a surprise amid turnarounds
BERLIN (ICIS)--Acetone free delivered (FD) northwest Europe (NWE) spot prices have softened at the top end of the market. Some players on the sidelines of the European Petrochemical Association...
US September producer prices flat month on month, up 1.8% year on year
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US producer prices were flat month on month in September and up by 1.8% year on year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on Friday. Services prices “remained...