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Global Chemicals & Materials& Energy News (July 21–27, 2025)

  • zhang Claire
  • Jul 27
  • 2 min read

 I. Core Industry News

1. Global Petrochemical Industry Restructuring Accelerates

  • Major chemical players like Dow, LyondellBasell, Shell, TotalEnergies, SABIC, BP, Eni are shutting down or selling European assets due to high energy costs and overcapacity.

  • Investment is shifting toward Asia and the Middle East, with India and Saudi Arabia emerging as new production hubs.

  • Basic chemicals such as olefins, aromatics, and polymers are undergoing a major supply chain reallocation.

2. EU Announces Competitiveness Plan for Chemicals Industry

  • The European Commission unveiled a strategy to strengthen the EU chemical sector, including:

    • Launching a Critical Chemicals Alliance

    • Offering decarbonization incentives

    • Improving investment conditions and innovation support

3. US–EU Reach Trade and Energy Deal, Avoid Trade War

  • On July 27, the US and EU agreed to:

    • Cap tariffs at 15% on most bilateral goods

    • Increase EU imports of US LNG, fertilizers, and chemicals

    • Enable smoother energy and chemical trade across the Atlantic

4. US Delays EPA Chemical Emission Rule Enforcement

  • The US administration granted Dow and 24 other chemical plants a two-year exemption from stricter emissions rules due to "economic and national security concerns."

  • Environmental groups condemned the move, citing potential harm to public health.

5. New SVHC Additions & PFAS Delay in EU

  • ECHA added three substances to the candidate list for Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) in July 2025.

  • Implementation of PFAS bans in consumer goods was delayed, though long-term restrictions remain in place.

6. Roman Volcanic Ash Technology May Transform Green Cement

  • Scientists revisited ancient Roman concrete made from volcanic ash, offering low-carbon, ultra-durable cement solutions.

  • The technology is gaining global attention as an alternative in sustainable construction.

7. Plastics Lobby Criticized for Disrupting Global Treaty Talks

  • Investigative reporting revealed heavy lobbying by plastic producers at recent global treaty discussions on plastic waste.

  • Industry groups reportedly derailed stronger global commitments to ban single-use plastics.

II. Key Trends

Trend

Highlights

Impacted Segments

Industry Relocation

EU asset closures; Asia, India, and Middle East rise as production centers

Olefins, aromatics, base chemicals

Green Tech Shift

Ancient Roman cement tech, CO₂ capture, new SVHC & PFAS limits

Construction materials, solvents

Trade Realignment

US-EU deal supports LNG & chemical flows; reduces tariff tensions

Fertilizers, LNG, plastics

Regulatory Backlash

US delays EPA rule; EU tightens chemical oversight

Chemical manufacturing, ESG policy

III. Price Movements

Crude Oil

  • Brent crude remained stable at $68.7–$69.3/bbl

  • Key factors:

    • Stable OPEC+ output

    • US–EU trade agreement easing uncertainty

Natural Gas

  • Henry Hub price surged to $3.43/MMBtu, driven by:

    • Summer heatwaves boosting air conditioning demand

    • Supply issues from pipeline maintenance

    • LNG exports to Europe increasing

Key Chemicals

  • TDI, Polyether Polyols: Spiked 8–12% due to production outage at Covestro in Germany (force majeure status).

  • Acrylonitrile, DMF: Saw short-term upward movement due to unplanned US outages.

  • PE, PP: Remained mostly stable due to weak downstream orders.

IV. Downstream Market Trends

  • Construction: EU construction output remains weak, hurting demand for adhesives, PU foam, and PVC.

  • Automotive: EV production growth slows across Europe, delaying orders for engineering plastics.

  • Buyer Behavior: Shift toward short-term, regional sourcing over long-term global contracts due to price volatility and supply uncertainty.

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