Chemicals News Today

Cancer-causing auramine, an industrial dye, is found adulterating turmeric and roasted chickpeas in India. Studies link it to bladder cancer and liver tumors. 14% of 356 turmeric samples showed high lead levels, highlighting widespread food adulteration.

IWAI inked MoUs for a ₹1,000-crore water metro project across the Brahmaputra in Assam (Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Tezpur) and to boost methanol/formalin exports via waterways to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia. Minister Sonowal reviewed Northeast projects.

Indian researchers created an all-boron benzene analogue, a planar six-membered boron ring, stabilized by an osmium complex. This breakthrough, involving [Cp*Os(η⁶-B₆H₁₁)], opens new avenues for catalysts and electronic materials.

The Korea Trade Commission (KTC) has increased anti-dumping duties on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) film imported from two major Chinese producers and their affiliates, effective 20 November 2025. Duties on imports from Kanghui New Material Technology Co. have been raised from 2.2% to 7.31%, while the duty on PET film from Tianjin Wanhua Co. has surged from 3.84% to 36.98%.

Sinochem Quanzhou Petrochemical has successfully restarted its 400,000 TPA High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) unit in Quanzhou, China, following maintenance. The facility is now back in operation.

Styrene Monomer (SM) prices moved up in Asian trading, with fresh assessments placing FOB Korea values at US$ 820 per MT, reflecting a firming trend in the regional market.

Nissan Chemical achieved strong sales growth in fiscal H1 ended Sept. 30, driven by increased sales in cosmetics and environmental-related products across key business divisions.

Acetone prices fell by ₹3/kg due to weak downstream demand, steady domestic production, and consistent imports. Soft benzene and propylene prices further pressured sentiment. While demand from paints, IPA, and DAA remains weak, a recovery is expected from the pharma sector by December–January, which may help stabilise prices.

Global Naphtha prices in Q3 2025 showed mixed trends: North America fell 2.22% to USD 500/MT, APAC rose 2.26% to USD 587.67/MT, and Europe dropped 2.51% to USD 556.33/MT, driven by crude and demand.

North American chemical market saw modest 2025 gains, with US production up ~2%. Low-cost feedstock boosted olefins (4% growth) and chlor-alkali (4-6% CAGR). Bio-materials had a breakthrough year, while polyurethanes remained subdued.