Chemicals News Today

Chinese cotton prices dropped 3.36 per cent between October 26 and 30, narrowing the cotton-VSF spread to 2.39 per cent and reducing cotton's premium to 16.31 per cent. Mills should review blend costs.

Hydrofluoric acid prices in China slipped to $2.439/kg in October from a September peak of $2.480/kg, pressured by soft refrigerant demand and easing feedstock costs.

State-owned PT Pupuk Indonesia is building two chemical plants in Gresik and Bontang to produce 600,000 tonnes of soda ash annually, cutting imports by 60% and saving US$110 million yearly.

Russia has banned exports of key petrochemical products, including benzene and phenol, for three months to ensure sufficient raw materials for domestic industries following previous fuel export restrictions.

India's iron chelates market is poised for steady growth through 2035, driven by rising high-value horticulture, alkaline soils, and increasing demand for targeted micronutrient solutions.

The global Carboxymethyl cellulose market is projected to grow at a 3.5% CAGR through 2035, driven by steady demand from the oilfield, food, and pharmaceutical sectors, offering growth opportunities for Indian manufacturers.

Adperma's Rs 6,000-crore Haldia plant will start producing 345 KTPA of phenol and 215 KTPA of acetone by December 2026, boosting domestic chemical manufacturing and reducing India's import dependence.

Researchers developed a low-cost chemical looping method using nickel for syngas production, cutting equipment costs by 62%, reducing unit costs by 53%, and achieving an energy efficiency of 91.2%.

China's rapid petrochemical capacity expansion, driven by policies since 2015, has led to severe overcapacity. The government is now shifting toward value-driven growth, impacting global trade flows and multinational strategies.

Vinati Organics has approved a ₹500 crore greenfield expansion project to establish new specialty chemical manufacturing facilities, enhancing its production capabilities, product portfolio, and market presence across multiple industries.