SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Some factory operations were disrupted across the manufacturing hub of Kyushu following the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture on 28 July, while the death toll has risen to 35 as of Friday morning.     Published by: www.icis.com Jonathan Yee 31-Jul-2026

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC does not currently see any impact on shipments via the Red Sea and is relying on supply-chain flexibility and alternative export routes to navigate trade disruptions amid the US-Iran conflict in the Middle East.   Published by: www.icis.com Nurluqman Suratman 31-Jul-2026  

LONDON (ICIS)– Europe’s chemical producers are set to remain outside the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for the immediate future while retaining post-2030 free emissions allowances, according to the European Commission’s latest EU ETS review published earlier this month. The review provides one of the clearest indications yet of how the Commission is balancing industrial […]

HOUSTON (ICIS)–A startup company called Twelve is betting that the technology behind its new demonstration complex in Washington state can make e-fuels and e-materials cost-competitive against products made from bio-based and recycled materials. E-fuels earned their name by their reliance on electricity as the main input to convert water and carbon dioxide (CO2) into hydrogen […]

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Rates for shipping containers from east Asia and China to the US West Coast fell this week and rates to the US East Coast were steady to higher, while rates for liquid chemical tankers ex-US Gulf were steady on most trade lanes with a slight uptick on the USG-Asia route.     Published by: […]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Malaysia’s Petrochemicals (Malaysia) will transfer its business operations – which includes its polystyrene (PS) business – to a new entity on 1 April, the company said on Friday. Petrochemicals (Malaysia), a subsidiary of Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan, operates a PS plant with a capacity of 110,000 tonnes/year at Pasir Gudang, while fellow Idemitsu subsidiary Idemitsu […]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Sika has agreed to buy Turkey-based adhesives manufacturer Akkim Sealants & Adhesives, the Swiss specialty and construction chemicals major said on Friday. Akkim operates two facilities in Turkey and Romania producing polyurethane (PU) foams, adhesives, sealants, coatings and other chemicals, with an additional site in Turkey in the works. The company generated net sales […]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–India’s annualized inflation rate stood at 2.75% in January 2026, as the country moved to a revised base year index of 2024. The inflation rate spiked primarily due to a massive surge in gold and silver jewelry prices. Food price inflation, which now accounts for about 36.8% of the consumer price index (CPI) basket, […]

LONDON (ICIS)–EU plans to expand gas-fired generation face long delays amid rising global turbine demand, particularly in the US, Hernan Arrigone, principal, energy infrastructure at global investment firm Actis told ICIS. European countries plan to add some 80GW of new gas-fired power by 2030, with 12GW alone receiving EU approval for Germany earlier in January. […]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)– Japan’s core inflation rate in Tokyo rose 2.8% year on year in November, holding steady after October and supporting a rate hike in the near future, official data showed on 28 November. Budget to tackle short-term inflation Factory output grows on robust automobile production Weakness in yen suggests rate hike to ease price […]