SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Record-high temperatures have pushed up power demand, which could prompt Japanese power utilities back in the spot market for additional LNG volumes. The weather outlook indicates the hottest temperatures may have passed for now, after peaking at 36C in Tokyo on 8 July. However, high probability of above-average temperatures remains through to the first […]

SAO PAULO (ICIS)–Earlier this week, the head of Brazil’s chemical producers’ trade group Abiquim accompanied President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during his official visit to Bolivia and returned with deals which could potentially increase and liberalize natural gas supplies to Brazil. The chemicals industry in Brazil consumes around a third of all-natural gas available, […]

China’s polypropylene (PP) exports in 2024, based on the January-May trends, could reach 2.6m tonnes. That would be double the level of 2023. And as exports surge, China’s self-sufficiency in PP looks set to see a similar dramatic increase. As recently as 2019, China’s PP net imports (imports minus exports) totalled 4.8m tonnes. If the […]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Energy major Shell on Friday said that it expects to book $2 billion in post-tax impairments following the sale of its Singapore assets and the suspension of construction at its biofuels plant in the Netherlands. The sale of the company’s Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park announced in May will result in a non-cash, post-tax […]

LONDON (ICIS)–Tell me what you think about Net Zero and I will tell you who you are – has become a zeitgeist of the energy sector and society at large in the past decade or so. After all, “science has settled” on man-made climate change, the media have certified this as “fact” and activists in their teens […]

HOUSTON (ICIS)–This spring US farmers planted less corn than last year but conversely increased their soybeans sowings, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the acreage estimate report. The agency said corn planted area for all purposes in 2024 is estimated at 91.5 million acres, down by 3% or 3.17 million acres year […]

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Global sustainable technology firm Metso announced it has been awarded  an order by Brazilian producer Galvani Fertilizante to deliver a lime calcination kiln and cooler package for their fertilizer plant in Irece, Brazil. The company said Galvani is taking a significant step at their Irece project by introducing sustainable technological innovation with this new […]

SAO PAULO (ICIS)–Most chemical prices have stabilized, and a few are posting small rises, a trend which should strengthen in coming quarters as global manufacturing picks up, executives at US-headquartered adhesives producer HB Fuller said on Thursday. Celeste Mastin, CEO at the company, said sales volumes in Q2 had posted a “strong performance” and came […]

SAO PAULO (ICIS)–Chile remains at the forefront of restrictive plastics regulations in Latin America as the whole political spectrum tries to capitalize in rules which resonate with public opinion, according to the CEO at the country’s trade group Asipla. Magdalena Balcells added that, however, the regulations have prompted a larger push for sustainability among companies […]

TORONTO (ICIS)–Canada’s chemical industry is concerned about the impacts from a legislative amendment to address “greenwashing”, an industry executive said on Friday. The amendment to the Competition Act, contained in an omnibus bill, seeks to address claims about the environmental benefits of products. Importantly, it also seeks to address claims about the environmental benefits of […]