Industry News
Chemical Industry News
RPM to start up new resins plant in Belgium by year-end
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US specialty coatings, sealants, chemicals and building materials producer RPM International is investing in a new production plant in Belgium that is expected to open by the end of...
US RPM expects fiscal Q2 sales to be flat, may take time for benefits from rate cuts to flow through – execs
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US specialty coatings, sealants, chemicals and building materials company RPM International expects its fiscal 2025 second-quarter consolidated sales to come in flat, compared with...
US September EO contracts assessed higher on increases in upstream ethylene contracts
HOUSTON (ICIS) – US September ethylene oxide (EO) contracts were assessed at 59.5-61.5 cents/lb ($1,312-1,356/tonne), up one cent from August as September ethylene contract prices continued to...
Mexico’s manufacturing contraction deepens in September as perfect storm gathers pace
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Mexico’s petrochemicals intensive manufacturing sectors deepened their contraction during September as a perfect storm of lower orders, lower output and lower employment levels is...
US port strike ‘limbo’ for Europe PE importers, questions over stocks, prices
LONDON (ICIS)--US port strikes are posing questions for European polyethylene (PE) players including arrival of material, value of local stocks, and approach to selling. Dockworkers on the US East...
European caustic soda contract prices rise for September on tight Mediterranean availability
LONDON (ICIS)--European caustic soda contract prices rose in the week ending September 27, on the back of sharply tighter availability in the Mediterranean. Iberian contract prices rose €140/dry...
INSIGHT: Brazil’s booming economy creates problems of its own – but chemicals absent from bonanza
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Brazil's economy has beaten the odds in 2024, and GDP growth is expected to top 3% for the year, although this success is coming accompanied by a series of challenges – not least...
US July base oils demand falls
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--US base oils and lube demand fell in July and lagged supply amid a simultaneous slowdown in domestic consumption and exports. A round of stock-building cushioned the slowdown as...
Europe September PVC contract prices increase on tighter availability
LONDON (ICIS)--Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contract prices in Europe settled with increases in the week ending September 27. Northwest European and Mediterranean contract prices both rose €15/tonne...
US shift on plastics output caps creates uncertainty in UN global treaty
ATLANTA (ICIS)--The US has changed its position on production caps in the UN plastics treaty, a shift that injected uncertainty about the trajectory of the negotiations and how the US could ratify...
European Commission proposes one year extension of EUDR implementation to aid preparation
LONDON (ICIS)--The European Commission has proposed a 12 month phasing-in period for the EUDR to allow proper and effective implementation. The EUDR (EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products) was...
GLM MARKET REPORT: Asia price premium over Europe narrows as TTF strengthens
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The ICIS East Asia Index (EAX) premium over the ICIS TTF narrowed in the week, amid greater heating demand in Europe, but this will likely diminish soon due to cooler weather...
German chlor-alkali spot margins rise as electricity prices decrease
LONDON (ICIS)--German spot chlor-alkali margins rose in the week ending 27 September, on the back of lower electricity costs. Electrochemical unit (ECU) values fell by slightly less than 1% week on...
European sendout to increase as prices support LNG imports
Narrower spread between Europe, Asia could bring more LNG to Europe in October More US cargoes could head to Europe with some vessels already diverting Europe can absorb more LNG this month, with...
Azoty secures extended financing for delayed PDH-PP plant to end-October
LONDON (ICIS)--Poland’s Grupa Azoty said late on Tuesday that it has secured extended financing with 15 financial institutions until 31 October for its long-delayed $1.8 billion world-scale propane...
Yara opens new ammonia import terminal in Germany
LONDON (ICIS)--Yara International opened its new ammonia import terminal in Germany. The hub in Brunsbuttel, located on the North Sea and Kiel Canal, will enable imports of up to 3 million...
Europe MEK pricing stable, rebalanced supply
LONDON (ICIS)--European methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) spot pricing is stable at €1,450-1,550/tonne FD (free delivered) NWE (northwest Europe). Pricing above the assessed range was heard, but could not...
Europe September capro contract prices fall on weak demand
LONDON (ICIS)--European caprolactam (capro) contract prices for September decreased from August, amid weak demand, lengthy supply and pressure from lower prices for downstream nylon 6 . ICIS...
Plant status: LAT Nitrogen melamine plant in Germany restarts, running reduced
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: LAT Nitrogen Location: Piesteritz, Germany Product: Melamine Capacity (tonnes/year): 80,000 Event start: August 2024 Event finish: End September...