Chemicals News Today

Despite India's $112 billion trade deficit with China and a manufacturing push, critical sectors like electronics, industrial machinery, and chemicals remain heavily dependent on Chinese raw materials and components.

The European Commission launched an investigation into surging imports affecting the EU's PET chemicals industry, weighing safeguard measures and provisional actions within 200 days to 11 months to protect domestic producers.

India's trade watchdog proposed a two-year soda ash import cap of 15,47,732 metric tonnes to protect local manufacturers like Tata Chemicals and Nirma from a surge, potentially raising input costs for downstream industries.

PI Industries plans to launch two new proprietary agrochemical molecules over the next five years, following its breakthrough development of India's first indigenously discovered insecticide, Pioxaniliprole, boosting R&D-led growth.

LG Chem is investing $1.9 billion to shift production from commodity chemicals to semiconductor-grade isopropyl alcohol, creating high-purity supply opportunities for chipmakers and inspiring domestic development in emerging manufacturing sectors.

India's food bleaching agent demand is projected to grow through 2035, driven by edible oil refining and a shift toward clean-label enzymatic alternatives, creating specialty chemical opportunities.

India's specialty chemical manufacturers face new opportunities through 2035 as rising demand for bio-based solvents like methyl decanoate and fragrance ingredients drives sustainable industrial growth despite feedstock volatility.

India must shift from generic finishing to complex molecules like oral GLP-1s, oligonucleotides, ADCs, and radiopharmaceuticals to reduce import dependence, unlock export-ready growth, and capture high-value specialty chemical markets.

Crude-linked feedstocks like naphtha dropped up to 10.4%, while PTA fell 7% between November 3 and 5, squeezing polyester staple fibre value chains amid slow-moving yarn quote corrections.

Global ammonia prices rose across all benchmarks between October 22 and 30, driven by tight supply and seasonal demand. Caribbean cargoes surged 6.7% to $0.540/kg, while India saw a restrained 1.0% increase.