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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