Global Chemicals & Materials News (November 10–November 16, 2025)

Asia-Pacific

Lotte Chemical — Sale of Pakistan PTA Business

Date: November 12, 2025

Event: Lotte Chemical completed the sale of its purified terephthalic acid (PTA) business in Pakistan to UAE-based PTA Global Holding.

Impact Pathway: Reduces Lotte’s exposure in South Asia while transferring operational and market responsibilities to the buyer. Supports company’s portfolio rationalization and focus on core markets.

Financials: Transaction provides capital inflow for Lotte; divestment may impact near-term regional revenue but expected to optimize long-term portfolio profitability.

Operations: Business handover completed; buyer assumes local production, sales, and supply chain responsibilities.

Beneficiaries: Buyer (PTA Global Holding) gains access to established Pakistan PTA market and facilities.

Pressured: Lotte’s regional competitors may face adjusted supply and pricing dynamics; local customers may evaluate alternative suppliers.

Watchpoints: Buyer’s operational integration and product pricing vs regional PTA market trends; potential impact on downstream polyester producers.

Indorama Ventures (IVL) — Joint Venture with Jiaren Chemical Recycling (China)

Date: November 13, 2025

Event: Thai company Indorama Ventures established a joint venture with China’s Jiaren Chemical Recycling to develop rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) production.

Impact Pathway: Expands rPET availability in China, supporting circular economy initiatives and sustainable packaging trends. Potentially reduces reliance on virgin PET imports.

Financials: JV investment costs shared between partners; long-term revenue potential from growing recycled PET market.

Operations: Plant construction and ramp-up phases planned; production expected to scale progressively through 2026.

Beneficiaries: Beverage, packaging, and textile manufacturers in China and APAC using recycled PET; governments promoting sustainable materials.

Pressured: Virgin PET producers facing increased competition; importers of recycled materials may face pricing adjustments.

Watchpoints: JV ramp-up speed, feedstock availability, and compliance with China’s recycled materials regulations.

China — Temporary Export Control Adjustments

Date: November 10–16, 2025

Event: Chinese authorities announced a temporary pause on the implementation of certain export controls for strategic chemicals, rare-earth materials, and dual-use chemicals affecting specific countries/regions.

Impact Pathway: Maintains current export flows while regulatory frameworks are reviewed, reducing immediate disruption to downstream industries overseas.

Financials: Short-term revenue continuity for affected exporters; potential medium-term impact depends on final regulatory adjustments.

Operations: Export licensing temporarily maintained under existing rules; monitoring ongoing.

Beneficiaries: Exporters to affected regions, downstream converters reliant on Chinese feedstocks.

Pressured: Companies anticipating stricter controls; competitors in other countries that expected supply restrictions.

Watchpoints: Timing of final regulatory enforcement, potential geopolitical implications, and trade compliance requirements.

Europe

Ifo Institute — German Chemical Industry Sentiment Plunge

Date: November 10, 2025

Event: Ifo Institute reported a sharp decline in Germany’s chemical industry sentiment for October, with business climate index dropping from –12.0 to –19.4 and economic expectations from –3.7 to –13.3.

Impact Pathway: Weak orders and intensified competition signal near-term slowdown in production and investment; potential downstream effects on European chemical supply chains.

Financials: Short-term revenue and margin pressure on mid- and large-sized chemical producers; potential cost optimization measures anticipated.

Operations: Reduced utilization rates and cautious investment plans in affected German chemical companies.

Beneficiaries: Competitors in lower-cost regions may gain market share; firms supplying niche specialty chemicals could maintain stable demand.

Pressured: German chemical producers with high fixed costs; downstream converters exposed to pricing volatility.

Watchpoints: Monitoring German chemical production volumes, export performance, and European downstream demand trends.

Clariant — European Production Shift

Date: November 12, 2025

Event: Clariant management warned that high European energy and labor costs may drive more production capacity to China, with Chinese sales share rising from ~10% to 14%.

Impact Pathway: Potential reduction in European chemical output and employment; increases competitive pressures on remaining local producers.

Financials: Long-term efficiency and profitability gains for Clariant from relocation; short-term restructuring costs expected.

Operations: Phased expansion of Chinese production; gradual scaling down of selected European units.

Beneficiaries: Chinese downstream converters; Clariant’s global clients benefiting from cost-competitive supply.

Pressured: European chemical manufacturers and labor force in affected sites.

Watchpoints: Speed of capacity migration, European regulatory response, and product pricing trends.

Evonik — German Infrastructure Fund Response

Date: November 4, 2025

Event: Evonik welcomed Germany’s proposed infrastructure fund, which could stimulate demand for chemical intermediates and specialty products, but requested clarification on certain fund details.

Impact Pathway: Potential increase in domestic demand for polymers, construction chemicals, and specialty intermediates; may support medium-term revenue growth.

Financials: Projected long-term benefit for select product lines; near-term impact dependent on fund rollout.

Operations: Engagement with government agencies to clarify fund mechanisms; readiness to supply downstream sectors.

Beneficiaries: German construction and chemical converters; downstream specialty chemical users.

Pressured: Export-oriented traders and suppliers of competing imports; European competitors without local presence.

Watchpoints: Government fund approval timeline, sector allocation, and downstream demand realization.

Lanxess — 2026 Chemical Industry Outlook

Date: November 6, 2025

Event: Lanxess CEO indicated that the German and European chemical industry is expected to gradually recover in 2026, supported by infrastructure investments and market stabilization.

Impact Pathway: Anticipated recovery may improve production rates, order volumes, and financial performance for specialty chemical producers.

Financials: Potential revenue and margin improvement starting in 2026; short-term volatility remains.

Operations: Maintenance of current production while preparing for demand ramp-up.

Beneficiaries: European chemical producers with diversified product portfolios; downstream converters benefiting from improved raw material availability.

Pressured: Companies heavily dependent on exports or highly cyclical markets may experience slower recovery.

Watchpoints: Monitor European economic indicators, infrastructure fund deployment, and raw material price spreads.

North America

Ineos — EU Anti-Dumping Cases

Date: November 12, 2025

Event: Ineos filed 10 anti-dumping cases with the EU targeting cheap plastic imports, aiming to protect domestic production competitiveness.

Impact Pathway: Potential reduction in low-cost import volumes into the EU; may improve pricing and market conditions for Ineos and other European producers.

Financials: Legal and administrative costs for Ineos; potential revenue protection if cases succeed.

Operations: Monitoring EU regulatory and legal processes; adjustments to supply chain planning as cases progress.

Beneficiaries: European chemical producers, including Ineos, supplying plastics and intermediates.

Pressured: Importers relying on lower-cost imports; competing foreign producers affected by tariffs or duties.

Watchpoints: EU trade authority rulings, product-specific pricing effects, and timing of enforcement measures.

PyroGenesis — Q3 Financial Report

Date: November 13, 2025

Event: PyroGenesis released its Q3 2025 financial results, reporting progress on fumed silica trial units and operational improvements.

Impact Pathway: Demonstrates incremental capacity expansion and technological readiness; potential support for specialty chemical applications.

Financials: Revenue from ongoing projects; near-term capex incurred for trial unit operations.

Operations: Stepwise start-up of trial units; full-scale deployment contingent on trial success.

Beneficiaries: End-users of fumed silica, specialty chemicals clients in North America.

Pressured: Competitors with less advanced trial capacity; importers dependent on alternative supply sources.

Watchpoints: Scale-up success, pricing relative to competitors, and operational efficiency of new units.

China — Temporary Export Control Adjustments Affecting North American Buyers

Date: November 10–16, 2025

Event: Chinese authorities temporarily paused implementation of certain export controls on strategic chemicals and dual-use materials impacting North American importers.

Impact Pathway: Maintains current supply for US and Canada-based chemical users while regulatory review is conducted.

Financials: Short-term revenue continuity for exporters; potential medium-term impact depends on final policy enforcement.

Operations: Export licensing temporarily under existing rules; monitoring ongoing.

Beneficiaries: North American converters and manufacturers dependent on Chinese feedstocks.

Pressured: Companies expecting stricter export controls; suppliers outside China may face adjusted competition.

Watchpoints: Timing of final policy enforcement, compliance obligations, and feedstock availability.