Chemicals News Today

RM Drip and Sprinklers Systems expands manufacturing in Nashik, Maharashtra, boosting capacity by 50% (12,000 tonnes/annum). This broadens product mix for irrigation, infrastructure, and industrial markets, aligning with rising demand and policy support.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) has announced its ex-Panipat price revision effective from 10 January to 16 January 2026. PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) is priced at ₹75,500/MT, marking an increase of ₹300/MT. MEG (Mono Ethylene Glycol) remains unchanged at ₹50,400/MT. DEG (Diethylene Glycol) has been raised sharply to ₹44,800/MT, reflecting an increase of ₹3,800/MT.

India must adopt Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) to counter soil degradation from chemical overuse. This holistic approach, combining diverse inputs, ensures long-term food security, reduces costs, and builds climate resilience for future generations.

Asian polymer markets are witnessing a sharp rally as China’s futures-led surge triggers panic restocking across the region. After a prolonged margin squeeze, producers are pushing for price hikes, while India’s low inventories and declining imports are forcing buyers to accept higher prices in the near term. Gains are expected across PP, PE, LDPE, and PVC until early February. However, a market correction is likely post-Lunar New Year as Chinese plants restart and supply normalizes.

Connect Chemicals inaugurated a new three-story research laboratory in Pune, expanding R&D capabilities for customer-focused innovation and long-term growth. This investment strengthens modular custom manufacturing and global operations.

Osaka Organic Chemical reported sales growth and strong performance across segments for the fiscal year ended Nov. 30, 2025. The acrylic ester group notably recovered in sales, driven by demand for automotive paints.

Kureha announced a price increase for sodium hypochlorite to cover rising expenses associated with maintaining its aging production facilities.

Tanfac Industries secured a seven-year, $261 million deal to supply fluorinated chemicals to a Japanese customer, ensuring significant revenue stability. The agreement was announced on January 15, 2026.

China's octanol designed capacity is projected to reach 4,685,000 tonnes in 2026, an increase of 960,000 tonnes. This surge will create a supply surplus, intensifying market competition and pressuring producer profits.

Propylene prices in China moved sharply higher as supply tightened following a drop in PDH operating rates. Several propane dehydrogenation units were taken offline, notably Jinneng Chemical and Wanhua Chemical (Penglai), which significantly reduced domestic propylene availability. Wanhua (Penglai) shut down its 900,000 tpa PDH unit on January 13, further aggravating the supply crunch and lending strong upward momentum to propylene prices.