Chemicals News Today

India diversifies LNG sourcing from US, Canada, Australia to offset West Asia conflict disruptions. With 90% LPG and 47% LNG imports from Middle East affected, gas is now available for captive power plants via PSUs.

IFFCO’s nano NPK approval aims to cut fertiliser use, boost yields, and lower costs. While nano urea/DAP adoption is slow (36-40 million bottles sold vs. 289.5 million capacity), it promises efficiency and sustainability.

A US Intel report identifies India, like China, as a primary source for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals. Both nations are increasing counternarcotics efforts to combat tens of thousands of annual US fentanyl deaths.

Polymer prices surge due to Iran conflict, pushing PE/PP above $1,500/tonne and PVC above $1,200/tonne for India. Weakening INR (beyond 93.25) and tightening supply may cause acute shortages by mid-April, prompting domestic price hikes.

India’s fertiliser and chemical sectors are facing rising risks due to tightening ammonia supply and ongoing LNG disruptions. With imported ammonia prices surging sharply—from around $320/tonne in March 2025 to nearly $571/tonne currently—availability has become extremely tight. The shortage is impacting key downstream segments, including fertilisers, solvents, and amines. Domestic production of chemicals like acetonitrile is becoming increasingly challenging due to ammonia constraints, a critical raw material. Additionally, ammonia plant operations are under pressure as LNG supply curtailments make production economically and operationally difficult. Industry participants are also flagging risks to amines production, further highlighting the cascading impact across chemical value chains. In this scenario, experts suggest exploring alternatives such as green ammonia to reduce dependency and mitigate supply-side vulnerabilities.

India's pharma sector faces shutdown risk for 200 units in 7-10 days due to a propane shortage from West Asia tensions, threatening essential medicine production and raising energy costs.

India faces fertilizer supply risks due to 70% import dependence and West Asia conflict. Five top suppliers from the region contribute 30% of imports, threatening MOP, DAP, and urea. This could raise food costs and government subsidies.

Indian real estate faces rising costs and supply disruptions from the Gulf conflict, impacting steel, PVC, and glass prices. This threatens project timelines, affordability, and urban development, especially for affordable housing, potentially slowing the market.

South Korea's petrochemical industry faces severe difficulties: production disruptions, delivery delays, and profitability issues. Naphtha prices doubled from $600 to over $1,100/ton due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade, impacting 70% of volume.

Indian Emulsifiers Limited entered the USA market via Polaris Specialty Chemicals Inc., targeting a $3.1 billion emulsifiers market in 2025, projected to reach $6.2 billion by 2035. This strategic expansion leverages IEL's 12,000 MTPA capacity and diverse product portfolio.