Chemicals News Today

Indonesia's nickel ore mining restriction plans are driving Asian nickel prices up sharply. Prices jumped 8% today, with SHFE nickel up over 25% since December 2025. Stainless steel grades 304 and 316L also rose.

China's urea prices rose 4.6% in December, driven by Indian tenders and improved export outlook. Market sentiment strengthened, boosting producer margins for new coal gasification tech, despite moderate domestic demand.

Powerol Energy Systems, a leading Indian manufacturer of automated pyrolysis and rCB plants, supplies major global tyre brands. CEO Balaji Kothandan highlights the sector's shift to an organized industry and projects double-digit growth.

Germany's Remmers acquires 50.01% of Teknovace for Rs 300 crore ($33.3M). Teknovace will expand wood coatings capacity tenfold to 60,000 tonnes/annum, making India an export hub and global R&D centre.

AVG Logistics launched a rail-based liquid logistics venture for safe chemical transport. Each train carries ~3100 tons, generating Rs. 22-24 crore annually, enhancing sustainable and efficient bulk liquid movement.

On Jan 8, 2026, China's futures market opened firm for May 2026 contracts. PP rose to 6,500 RMB/MT, LLDPE to 6,647 RMB/MT, while PVC remained steady at 4,972 RMB/MT.

Global ethylene feedstock prices remained mostly stable across key regions. In the US Gulf Coast, ethylene prices eased to 19.00 cents/lb on an FD basis, marking a decline. European prices were unchanged, with FD NWE assessed at €525/MT and CIF NWE at €675/MT. In Asia, values also held steady, with CFR North East Asia at $740/MT and CFR South East Asia at $720/MT.

BPCL awarded Technip Energies a contract for its Bina petchems expansion. This includes adding 550,000 metric tons per year of Polypropylene (PP) capacity and butene-1, advancing the project by January 2026.

China's propylene market is projected to face continued oversupply in 2026 due to rising output and imports. This glut will consequently depress propylene prices, despite anticipated capacity growth lagging downstream sectors.

India's Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, released Jan 7, aims to replace the 1968 Act. Critics note it retains old gaps, offers limited changes from 2020, and weakens language, lacking state regulatory powers and criminal liability.