Chemicals News Today

Methanol markets softened across Asia as spot enquiries declined after aggressive April buying. China export arbitrage remained open, while India demand for June cargoes weakened amid expected arrivals and geopolitical uncertainty. Domestic India inventories tightened temporarily, supporting ex-tank prices. Weak China downstream sentiment, fluctuating futures, and soft freight discussions continued limiting aggressive procurement activity regionally.

ICAR recommends ammonium sulphate (21% N, 24% S) as a urea alternative for paddy, citing domestic production and dual nutrients. This addresses India's fertilizer import issues, despite its lower nitrogen density and soil acidity risks.

Balaji Amines commissioned India's first commercial DME plant in Solapur with 1 lakh tonnes annual capacity. It produces Dimethyl Ether as an alternative fuel for LPG blending (up to 8%) and industrial use, boosting energy self-reliance.

HAB Pharma and Signature Phytochemicals merged, creating a ₹600 crore entity. This strengthens manufacturing, R&D, and global exports, with new facilities opening by August 2026, focusing on specialty drugs and innovation for long-term growth.

Iran eased import rules for petrochemical and polymer raw materials on May 20 via sailor/border porter procedures. This aims to counter supply chain disruptions and rising prices for plastics like PE and PP, exacerbated by regional conflict.

The Middle East war caused a global Ethylene Oxide (EO) price surge, with China seeing a 65% increase to $1.313/kg by April 2026. Despite May corrections, prices remain elevated (e.g., US $1.76/kg), indicating a volatile market with ongoing supply risks.

Miss Infinity Of India 2026, Deepthi Srirangam, officially launched Avento Agro Chemicals' new AV Gold product. This marks a significant product introduction for the company.

Researchers found rain, temperature, and pH significantly impact solar panel antisoiling coating lifetime. Fluoropolymer coatings are more pH-dependent than phenylsilicone, with lower tilt angles reducing life. This aids climate-specific coating selection.

China Bazaar Futures opened on May 20, 2026. PP futures opened higher at 8968 RMB/MT, LLDPE also higher at 8070 RMB/MT, while PVC futures opened lower at 5048 RMB/MT, indicating mixed market trends.

Feedstock offers update for May 20, 2026: Naphtha C&F Japan at $975. Ethylene prices declined across USA, Europe, and Asia. Styrene saw minor drops in Asia. Propylene, PTA, and MEG showed mixed or stable trends.