Industry News
Chemical Industry News
Helene becomes hurricane as it heads towards northwestern Florida
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Helene strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday while maintaining its course to make landfall in a sparsely populated region of northwestern Florida later in the week,...
European refinery solvents spot prices mixed
LONDON (ICIS)--Refinery solvents free delivered (FD) spot prices were mixed this week, with average hexane numbers lower and average solvent naphtha prices slightly higher. White spirit levels,...
Petrobras Tres Lagoas fertilizers plant 85% completed; talks on Unigel’s leased plants ongoing – exec
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--Petrobras may allocate between Brazilian reais (R) 3.0-3.5 billion ($548-639 million) to finish building its fertilizers plant in Tres Lagoas, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul,...
INSIGHT: Weak volumes, geopolitical uncertainty hold back chemical M&A
NEW YORK (ICIS)--The lack of a meaningful recovery in volumes amid a weak macroeconomic backdrop along with geopolitical uncertainty are key factors hindering mergers and acquisitions (M&A)...
INSIGHT: Mexico phosphates litigation reignites LatAm extractivism debate
SAO PAOLO (ICIS)--Mexico has been ordered to pay $37.1 million to Odyssey Marine Exploration after losing a years-long arbitration case against the US marine miner over its Don Diego phosphate...
Plant Status: Arkema’s acrylate ester plant in Carling, France, offline for planned maintenance
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Arkema Location: St. Avold/Carling, France Product: Acrylic acid (AA), butyl acrylate (butyl-A), methyl acrylate (methyl-A), ethyl acrylate...
Trans-Balkan gas pipeline TSOs can find creative solutions to reduce tariffs – study
Trans-Balkan transit route could become competitive if capacity and tariff obstacles are addressed Energy Community-commissioned study finds creative leverage points on Ukraine and Moldova border...
US September butac prices ease, distributor prices decline as supply remains ample
HOUSTON (ICIS)--US butyl acetate (butac) contract and distributor prices both declined from August to September by 4 cents/lb ($88/tonne). US export prices also followed the same downtrend in prices....
Origin Materials cuts jobs at Canada renewable chemicals plant
TORONTO (ICIS)--Origin Materials has decided to operate its “Origin 1” renewable chemicals plant at the Sarnia petrochemicals production hub in Canada’s Ontario province at an “on demand”...
Logistics major CMA CGM to acquire 48% of Brazil’s Santos port
SAO PAULO (ICIS)--CMA CGM has agreed to acquire a 48% stake at Santos Brasil, the operator of the Santos port, Sao Paulo’s door to the sea and the largest port in Latin America, the French...
Romania readies plans for 3GW offshore wind power by 2032
Romania plans to join Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) meeting, announces offshore wind plans and targets This means investors could start to plan and develop offshore wind projects, bearish...
Brazil August lube demand holds firm
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Brazil’s lube demand held firm in August, keeping pressure on domestic refiners and importers to maintain sufficient base oils supply to cover requirements. Lube consumption from...
Poring over biomacromolecules
What will nanopore sequencing turn its hand to next?
German chemical industry sentiment deteriorates in September – VCI
LONDON (ICIS)--After an unexpected rebound in August, the mood in Germany’s chemical-pharmaceutical industry deteriorated significantly in September, producers’ trade group VCI said in an update...
Phosphate producer major OCP sees revenue rise in H1 2024 year on year
LONDON (ICIS)--Morocco-based fertilizer giant OCP has announced results for H1 2024. During the six months, revenue amounted to $4.32 billion, up from $3.7 billion in the same period a year earlier....
European naphtha, gasoline spot prices track oil as demand improves
LONDON (ICIS)--Northwest European open-specification naphtha (OSN) spot values have been fluctuating, reflecting upstream Brent oil prices. Still, a steady prompt-month crack spread supported by...
Europe OX imports up slightly in H1 2024, exports hike
LONDON (ICIS)--Imports of orthoxylene (OX) into the EU and the UK edged up by 0.3% in the first half of 2024 year on year, although the continent's trade deficit shrunk because of higher exports...
Plant status: Malaysia’s PETRONAS shuts Sipitang fertilizer unit
Name: PETRONAS Chemicals Group Location: Sipitang, Malaysia Products: Granular urea and ammonia Capacity (tonnes/year): 1.2m granular urea; 740,000 ammonia Event start: 25 September Event finish: TBC...
Steady growth expected for global economy this year and next – OECD
LONDON (ICIS)--The global economy is turning in a positive direction with growth expected to remain steady throughout this year and next, according to the OECD on Wednesday. World economic growth...
Aspect’s new gas discovery to boost Croatian supply
Aspect Croatia Kft has discovered a gas deposit in the Sisak-Moslavina County, representing about 10% of Croatia’s daily gas production The new discovery can decrease Croatia’s dependence on gas...