Chemicals News Today

India's textile hub, Surat, faces an LPG crisis due to Iran war disruptions, halting supplies. Workers are leaving, industries face shutdowns, and emergency measures prioritize households.

CropLife India warns of 20-25% pesticide price hike and fake materials due to West Asia war, fuel costs, and supply chain disruptions, impacting farmers and industry earnings.

LPG shortages are driving Jharkhand's small businesses to informal coal markets, increasing costs, safety risks, and air pollution. This highlights urban energy system fragility and reverses clean fuel gains, demanding diversified solutions.

NMDC Nagarnar's crude coal tar prices surged 32.5% to INR 48,500/t in a 17 Mar'26 auction, selling 3,000 t. This significant rise from INR 36,600/t reflects strong demand and improved market sentiment.

The acetic acid market in March 2026 is being driven primarily by cost-side pressures, with prices rising across Asia due to higher methanol and freight costs. However, weak downstream demand—especially from VAM—along with ample supply in China, is limiting further upside. While prices remain firm, the market lacks strong consumption support, resulting in a volatile but range-bound trend, particularly in India.

India's Eight Core Industries grew 2.3% in February 2026, with Cement, Steel, Fertilizers, Coal, and Electricity showing positive growth. Cumulative growth for April-Feb 2025-26 reached 2.9%.

India's Textiles Minister outlined government-backed green initiatives to clean up the vast textile supply chain. A pilot project, 'Eliminating Hazardous Chemicals,' is rolling out across eight textile clusters and four fashion houses to promote sustainable practices.

Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Limited (SPIC) announced on March 20, 2026, that its Tuticorin plant has restarted production, impacting agricultural chemicals.

IFGL Refractories halted LPG operations at its Kandla plant due to supply disruption from the Gulf conflict, prioritizing domestic consumers. The company cannot quantify the impact, but shares fell 0.50% on March 20.

The MCD has set up a ₹6 crore ingesta plant at Ghazipur slaughterhouse, four years after proposal. It will process 9 tonnes/hour of animal waste into bio-fertilizer, improving sanitation and meeting NGT norms, with full operations starting soon.