China’s April PDH Operating Rates Drop Amid Feedstock Shortages
Chinese propane dehydrogenation (PDH) units have seen average operating rates plummet to 55% this April, a sharp decline from the 64% levels maintained in February and March. The downturn stems directly from a tightening feedstock environment as a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports disrupts the flow of LPG to its primary buyer. With April and May imports projected to fall significantly below the 1 million mt monthly average seen last year, several major facilities—including Fujian Meide and Qingdao Jinneng—have been forced into unscheduled shutdowns, leaving the physical trading window devoid of bids or deals for consecutive sessions. Read More
Middle East Conflict Winners and Losers: Polyolefins
The Middle East region suffered significant physical damages that potentially include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plants and upstream facilities. Regional supply remains heavily curtailed due to feedstock shortages and inventory constraints, resulting in force majeure announcements and even forced some assets to shut down. Read More
Europe’s Chemical Industry Faces Fight for Survival
The Cefic Chemical Trends Report published at the start of March underscores the perilous state of Europe's chemical industry and its fight for its survival, indicating urgent action is needed for the chemical sector to survive and support European industry as it has for much of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century. Read More
Europe April Ethylene Contract Settles Up 39% at €1,595/mt on Conflict Disruption
The European ethylene monthly contract price for April delivery jumped 39% month on month to settle at €1,595 ($1,837)/metric ton Tuesday amid supply disruptions, according to producers and Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) by OPIS, a Dow Jones company. Read More
Europe March Propylene Contract Settles up €35/mt on Month at €1,000/mt
The European propylene monthly contract price for March delivery has settled at €1,000 ($1,180)/metric ton, according to producer and consumer sources and Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) by OPIS, a Dow Jones company. Read More
ExxonMobil’s UK Plant Closure Stokes Ethylene Demand, Widens US-Europe Arbitrage
The sudden closure of ExxonMobil's 770,000 metric tons/year ethylene plant at Fife, Scotland, has fanned demand and widened the arbitrage between the U.S. and Europe, a trading source told OPIS this week. Read More
US-Europe Ethylene Arbitrage Opens with 20,000 mt Heading for Europe
A tightening of ethylene supply in Europe has opened an arbitrage window into the region from the U.S., enabling traders to ship cargoes into the European pipeline system, sources have told OPIS. Read More
Dow Chemical Says it Will Begin Production at Canadian Polyethylene Expansion Project in 2029
Dow Chemical on Thursday said it expects to begin production in late 2029 from the first phase of its Path2Zero ethylene and polyethylene expansion project in Fort Saskatchewan, Canada. Read More
US August Ethylene Exports Recede, Propylene Exports Rise From July: Census
U.S. ethylene exports slipped in August while propylene shipments climbed sharply, reflecting diverging trends across key olefins. Updated Census Bureau data highlights shifting trade flows, major destinations, and year-to-date movements. Read More
European Chemical Demand Set to Stay Flat at 2025 Levels
A slew of second quarter 2025 earnings statements from several chemical majors highlights just how parlous the European chemical industry is and how far off any significant recovery appears. Read More
Ethylene Cracker Capacity in Europe Set to Lose 505,000 mt/year by 2027
Net reduction in European ethylene cracker capacity is set to reach 505,000 metric tons/year by 2027, according to Chemical Market Analytics data, following the almost 2 million mt/year of closure announcements in the year to date, according to Chemical Market Analytics data. Read More
Falling River Rhine Levels in Europe Impact Plant, Terminal Operations
The river Rhine flowing from its source in Lake Constance, Switzerland, to the sea in the Amsterdam Rotterdam Antwerp (ARA) trading complex is one of Europe’s key transport arteries for all goods, but especially for petroleum products and chemicals. Read More
INEOS Faces $31 Million Penalty Despite Reducing Carbon Emissions by 75%
INEOS Acetyls has said it faces a £23 million ($31 million) penalty in withheld carbon credits despite slashing emissions by 75% at its site based in Hull, in the north of England. Read More
No Sign of Recovery for Europe Chemical Industry Amid High Energy Prices, Tax
The overall message from the recent European Petrochemical Luncheon in Munich, Germany, in mid-June suggests that demand for most sectors of the petrochemical industry remains soft and there is no real sign of any recovery until 2026. Read More
Ethylene Exports Surge, Propylene Trade Tempers in April: Census
U.S. Gulf Coast April ethylene exports surged 117% from March levels, while April propylene exports and imports saw decreases of over 20% from March levels, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Read More