News

Recently, many visitors from Shanghai were struck during their travels in Turkey: In cities such as Istanbul and Ankara, the cost of daily life was surprisingly higher than in Shanghai, with expensive transportation and occasional supply fluctuations. These observations reveal the broader economic context affecting businesses—especially in the chemical and materials sector. What tourists notice in daily life often reflects the real challenges faced by local enterprises.  High

Why This Matters The EU officially launched the Critical Chemicals Alliance , marking a significant shift in Europe’s strategic approach to the chemical industry. For the first time, specific chemicals are being elevated to the level of industrial security and strategic sovereignty , affecting not only the chemical sector itself but also energy, raw materials, and technology supply chains. The real challenge for companies is not “whether they know about this policy,” but how

1. European Union — Launch of the Critical Chemicals Alliance Date:  January 13, 2026 Event: The European Union formally convened the first General Assembly of the Critical Chemicals Alliance , a new policy and industry coordination platform aimed at strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of Europe’s chemical sector. The initiative brings together EU institutions, member states, and industry stakeholders to address supply chain risks and declining domestic productio

Introduction: When Travel Becomes an Industrial Stress Test Global chemical and materials companies are accelerating supply chain reconfiguration. Cost models, wage comparisons, tax incentives, and ESG narratives dominate boardroom discussions. Yet a simple question is often ignored: How does a country actually function—day by day, hour by hour—when systems are under real pressure? A recent travel experience across Vietnam—Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, and Hanoi—offers a re

1. Event Overview On January 7, 2026 , China’s Ministry of Commerce initiated an anti-dumping investigation into dichlorosilane imports from Japan .Dichlorosilane is a critical precursor  for semiconductor-grade silicon materials and is widely used in chemical vapor deposition (CVD)  and other thin-film processes. This marks one of the few trade investigations targeting highly specialized electronic chemicals , rather than bulk petrochemicals. 2. Strategic Context Behind the

1.China — Anti-Dumping Probe into Dichlorosilane Imports from Japan Date:  January 7, 2026 Event:  China’s Ministry of Commerce launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of dichlorosilane from Japan. Dichlorosilane is a critical precursor for semiconductor-grade silicon materials and thin-film deposition processes. Impact Pathway:  Trade restrictions may disrupt cross-border supply of electronic chemicals, potentially tightening availability for semiconductor manufa

Publication Date:  January 5, 2026 1. Event Overview On December 29, 2025, Belgium-based chemical group DOMO Chemicals  announced that three of its German subsidiaries — DOMO Chemicals GmbH , DOMO Caproleuna GmbH , and DOMO Engineering Plastics GmbH  — officially filed for insolvency. The main drivers behind this development include prolonged weak demand in the European chemical sector, high energy costs, and intensified competition from imported polyamide and engineering pla

China — Wanhua Chemical and Global MDI Producers Announce Price Increase Date:  January 2, 2026 Event:  Wanhua Chemical, along with other global MDI producers including BASF and Huntsman, announced price increases for MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate) citing rising raw material costs and tighter supply conditions. Wanhua Chemical is also accelerating capacity expansion projects to reinforce its global leadership position. Impact Pathway:  Higher MDI prices affect downstre

Date:  December 23, 2025 Executive Summary The European Union’s decision to introduce stricter controls on imported plastics —aimed at preventing market distortion and protecting the struggling recycling industry—represents one of the most consequential developments  for the global chemicals and materials industry in recent months. This is not a company-specific news item, nor a marginal regulatory adjustment. It is a structural policy intervention  affecting: polymer produce

1. European Union — Proposes Stricter Controls on Imported Plastics to Support Recycling Industry Date:  December 23, 2025   Event: The European Union announced plans to introduce stricter controls on imported plastics  and enhanced scrutiny to support its struggling recycling sector, which has seen significant capacity losses due to cheap imports and plant closures. Measures include new customs codes, stricter documentation requirements, audits of recycled plastic claims, an

Date of policy milestone:  July 1, 2026 Authority:  Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (MEE) 1. Overview of the policy China has announced that from July 1, 2026 , the polyurethane foam industry will be prohibited from producing products using HCFC-141b as a blowing agent .This move is part of China’s obligations under: the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer the national plan to ph

For more than two decades, China has served as the central engine of the global base chemicals and materials market—both as the world’s largest demand center and its most important supply hub. As the industry moves into 2025–2026, however, this structure is undergoing a structural rather than cyclical transformation . Across the industry, a clear contrast is emerging: China appears increasingly cautious, inward-looking, and difficult to commit to, while Vietnam and parts of S

1. Event Overview 1.1 Ford Cancels LGES Battery Deal Date : Mid-December 2025 Details : Ford announced the cancellation of its $6.5 billion  EV battery supply contract with South Korea’s LG Energy Solution (LGES), initially scheduled for 2026–27. Additionally, Ford terminated a $11.4 billion  joint venture with SK On. Implications : This move reflects automakers’ strategic reassessment of EV production lines and investment scale. It creates short-term pressure on battery manu

1. South Korea — LG Chem Submits Petrochemical Restructuring Plan Date:  December 19, 2025 Event: LG Chem formally submitted a petrochemical restructuring plan to the South Korean government in response to industry-wide overcapacity, margin compression, and policy-driven consolidation requirements. While specific asset actions were not disclosed, the filing aligns with government guidance encouraging capacity rationalization across ethylene, propylene, and downstream derivati

Based on the latest developments of the Thailand–Cambodia border conflict last week, the potential impact on the chemicals and materials industry can be analyzed across four dimensions: supply chain, pricing, investment, and regional strategy. 1. Supply Chain Impact (1) Logistics and Transportation Disruptions Border closures and port restrictions : Thailand has blocked some border crossings and restricted port transport of fuel and other logistics, directly affecting cross-b

1. Event Overview The Chinese government announced that, starting January 1, 2026 , certain lithium sulfuryl chloride (Li-SO2Cl2) batteries  will no longer be classified under controlled chemical or dual-use regulations, provided they meet specific conditions. Declaration of sulfuryl chloride content remains mandatory. Li-SO2Cl2 batteries are high-energy-density, long-cycle-life primary batteries  used in: Industrial and military applications Specialized IoT and remote device

1. China — Relaxation of Lithium Thionyl Chloride Battery Trade Controls Date:  December 12, 2025 Event: China announced it will ease import and export controls on certain lithium thionyl chloride batteries from January 1, 2026. Products below specified thresholds will no longer be regulated as controlled chemicals or dual-use items, although accurate declaration of sulfuryl chloride content remains mandatory. The move reduces regulatory friction across industrial, IoT, and s

Introduction In China today, a small domestic brand lipstick can retail at RMB 139  in Watsons or SEPHORA, while a relatively unknown shampoo can sell for as much as RMB 1,290 . At the same time, e-commerce platforms are flooded with low-priced products of dubious authenticity, leaving consumers confused and distrustful. This is not an isolated phenomenon; it reflects a structural disruption in China’s beauty and personal care market —a market that is at once chaotic and full

As the year draws to a close, executives in the chemicals and materials industry face a critical question: how can they review the past year’s performance while providing a sound basis for strategic decisions over the next five to ten years? With heightened raw material price volatility, supply chain restructuring, rapidly evolving downstream demand, and the continuous emergence of new materials and technologies, relying solely on fragmented market information can cause compa

ExxonMobil — Permanent Shutdown of Jurong Steam Cracker Date:  December 4, 2025 Event:  ExxonMobil confirmed it will permanently shut down one of its older ethylene steam crackers on Jurong Island, Singapore , beginning in March 2026 and completing the full closure by June 2026.The decision reflects global ethylene/polyolefin overcapacity, sustained margin pressure, and structurally lower utilization of naphtha-based crackers in Asia. Impact Pathway: Accelerates restructuring