Chemicals
Overview
From wellhead to warehouse, the global chemical industry is a complex chain stretching across the world. It involves chemical producers, converters, transporters and plastic goods manufacturers, to name just a few. To navigate this often opaque industry, you need access to the latest market intelligence.
Our industry-recognised experts provide in-depth pricing data, news and analysis on the markets that matter most to you. And they’re located across the world’s principal commodity trading and production centres.
Our coverage connects feedstock markets with aromatics, methanol, olefins, polymer and oleochemical markets. We help you to mitigate risk by truly understanding your market, from the wellhead to the end product.
Chemicals - Our market coverage
Latest chemicals news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global chemicals industry.
UK chemicals power use falls more slowly than output
UK chemicals power use falls more slowly than output
London, 19 March (Argus) — UK chemicals-sector electricity demand is falling more slowly than output and gas use, and could in future be supported by new hydrogen electrolysis load even without a recovery in traditional production. UK chemicals-sector electricity consumption was 14.7TWh in 2024, down by 7pc from 15.8TWh in 2019 before the pandemic, according to the latest data from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz), having fallen slowly but steadily over the period. The production for manufacture of chemicals and chemical products index fell by 27.2pc over the same period, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This means output has fallen almost four times faster than electricity consumption, suggesting the remaining industrial base is more power-intensive ( see consumption and output graph ). Natural gas consumption in the chemicals sector has aligned more closely to the fall in output, with gas demand falling by 41pc between 2019 and 2024, to 12.3TWh. That divergence between the decline in gas and electricity consumption is consistent with natural gas often functioning as both feedstock and fuel in bulk chemicals. In ammonia production, gas typically accounts for most of the production cost, leaving domestic output vulnerable when UK costs rise above import parity. Recent closures and curtailments in some of the UK's most gas-intensive segments, including ammonia and ethylene, have resulted from higher gas prices. UK industrial natural gas prices excluding taxes rose from £20.50/MWh in 2019 to £52.30/MWh in 2024, around 20pc above the IEA median and higher than in France and Germany ( see industrial gas price graph ). Remaining base more resilient The operations that remain are the most electricity-intensive parts of the sector, with some better able to sustain power demand. Chlor-alkali production is highly power-intensive, with rising electricity costs reducing UK output to a negligible share of European capacity. And much of that capacity is currently off line, with Ineos Inovyn at Runcorn being the sole major UK chlorine producer. Other electricity-intensive activities that remain in the sector are tied to more diversified end markets than bulk chemicals. German firm Linde's subsidiary BOC operates seven air separation units across the UK and Ireland, serving customers in healthcare, food processing, metals and electronics — end markets broad enough to buffer sector-specific demand shocks. "The primary factor is their ability to pass through additional cost because of the cruciality of certain industrial gases for manufacturing processes," industry association the Energy Intensive Users Group director Arjan Geveke said. "Also, the trade intensity of certain industrial gases is low," he said. Unlike ammonia or ethylene, cryogenic gases such as oxygen and argon are not widely traded internationally, limiting the import competition that has hit commodity chemical producers. High electricity costs still weigh on the sector UK government support schemes have so far done little to change the sector's broader cost disadvantage. The pressure on producers reflects both structurally high input costs and weak demand. "For some chemical companies energy, as a proportion of their cost base, [is] 50, 60, 70pc," Chemical Industry Association (CIA) chief executive Stephen Elliott told Argus . Among CIA members, electricity accounted for a greater share of total energy spend than gas in 2024, despite members consuming roughly four times more gas, Elliott said. Schemes such as the British Industry Supercharger — a UK government initiative launched in 2023 to support the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries — had provided temporary relief for some sites. But under the recently proposed British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme aimed at cutting electricity costs for manufacturers in key growth sectors, "the relief will be far outweighed by the incoming increase in policy and network costs", Elliott said. And unless the full chemicals sector is covered, costs will be redistributed to non-eligible sites. Some companies benefiting from network-charge relief under existing arrangements will mean that "it's the rest of industry that pays for the relief", he added. Hydrogen may add some future demand New electrolysis projects could add some load later this decade, although the effect on chemicals demand is likely to be limited. Based on the nine active projects in the first hydrogen allocation round (HAR1), renewable hydrogen output could reach around 15,700 t/yr by the end of the decade, implying about 880 GWh/yr of electricity demand assuming electrolyser consumption of 56 kWh/kg ( see HAR1 projects table ). The build-out is expected to be gradual, with one active project from HAR1 due to enter service by 2027, four by 2028 and a further four by 2029. Not all of that new load would sit within chemicals, since some projects are aimed at a broader industrial base and some at users outside chemicals altogether. MorGen Energy's 20MW Milford Haven project is intended to supply customers in the industrial, chemical and port sectors, while beyond the first allocation round, Meld Energy's proposed 100MW Saltend Green Hydrogen Hub would supply users at Saltend Chemicals Park, and EdF Hynamics' planned 120MW Fawley project is intended to supply ExxonMobil's refinery and petrochemical complex. By Timothy Santonastaso HAR1 projects summary Project name Developer H2 output (MW HHV) Implied H2 output (t/yr) Implied electrical consumption (GWh/yr) Long stop date Active projects 106.15 15,721 878 Barrow Green Hydrogen Carlton Power & Schroders Greencoat 21.02 2,557 143 31 Mar 2029 Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen Hygen Energy & N-Gen Energy 24.49 4,202 235 31 Dec 2028 Green Hydrogen 3 (Northfleet Green Hydrogen) Hyro (Octopus Energy Generation) 9.00 1,203 67 01 Dec 2028 HyBont Bridgend Green Hydrogen Hygen Energy 5.20 687 38 29 Jun 2029 HyMarnham Power GeoPura & JG Pears 9.30 1,774 99 26 May 2027 Langage Green Hydrogen Carlton Power & Schroders Greencoat 7.01 850 48 31 Mar 2029 Tees Green Hydrogen Hynamics (EdF) 5.51 1,059 59 31 Dec 2028 Trafford Green Hydrogen Carlton Power & Schroders Greencoat 10.52 1,524 85 31 Mar 2029 West Wales Hydrogen MorGen Energy (Trafigura) 14.10 1,865 104 31 Dec 2028 Paused projects 17.70 3,551 199 Cromarty Green Hydrogen ScottishPower & Storegga 10.60 2,131 119 26 Dec 2028 Whitelee Green Hydrogen ScottishPower 7.10 1,420 80 29 Dec 2028 — Low Carbon Contracts Company, Argus UK chemicals sector, output, electricity and gas consumption Indexed 2019=100 Industrial gas prices, excluding tax £/MWh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil’s central bank cuts target rate to 14.75pc
Brazil’s central bank cuts target rate to 14.75pc
Sao Paulo, 18 March (Argus) — Brazil's central bank lowered its target rate to 14.75pc in its second meeting of 2026, in a bid to smooth out fluctuations in economic activity and boost jobs even amid the backdrop of rising global tensions. The decision to lower the rate, announced on Wednesday, follows a string of decisions to keep it unchanged at 15pc from June 2025 until now. Domestically, economic activity appears to be moderating while the labor market is showing signs of resilience, the central bank's monetary committee said. Headline and underlying inflation measures continue to soften, but still remain above the inflation target. Inflation risks are higher than usual after the US-Israeli war on Iran broke out, the committee, known as the Copom, said. In the US, Fed policymakers Wednesday, kept the target rate unchanged for a second meeting this year. The lower rate in Brazil may be the start of a cutting cycle for the year, former Copom member Sergio Goldenstein said last week. It is not a one-time adjustment despite the lack of predictability due to rising global conflicts since the start of 2026, he said. Brazil's headline inflation decelerated to an annual 3.81pc in February. Still, inflation expectations, as calculated by the bank's Focus survey, remain above target, at 4.1pc and 3.8pc for 2026 and 2027. For full-year 2025, GDP growth slowed to 2.3pc from 3.4pc in 2024 and 3.2pc in 2023, IBGE data show. By João Curi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Iran war to push up PE, PP prices: LyondellBasell
Iran war to push up PE, PP prices: LyondellBasell
Houston, 17 March (Argus) — US chemicals company LyondellBasell expects to be able to push North American polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) prices higher due to global polymer supply and feedstock disruptions caused by the Iran war, chief financial officer Agustin Izquierdo said today during the JP Morgan Industrials Conference in Washington, DC. The company has announced a 10¢/lb increase for March PE contracts and another 10¢/lb increase for April PE contracts. So far, the proposed price increases have not had a negative impact on order books, Izquierdo said. "10¢/lb is not scaring anybody," he said. "Still, we see a healthy number of orders in the books." Prior to the start of the war, North American PE inventories were already at lower levels of around 37 days of inventory, Izquierdo said, adding that the market is usually balanced at around 45 days of inventory. The lower inventory levels, combined with rising demand and higher prices for PE exports out of the US, should provide enough support for higher margins, he said. "We have demand everywhere," Izquierdo said, adding that there is healthy demand for US product out of Europe, Latin America and Africa due to supply disruptions in the Middle East. LyondellBasell is also seeking a margin increase of 10¢/lb for US/Canada April PP contracts, which Izquierdo said will be supported by increases in global propane costs and lower operating rates in Asia. "We have an opportunity to start exporting out of North America," he said. "That is very leveraging for us." For every $100/metric tonne (t) increase in integrated PE margins, the company said it sees a potential earnings increase before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) of approximately $320mn for North America and $280mn for Europe. For every $100/t PP margin increase over propylene, the company said it sees a potential ebitda increase of approximately $440mn for both regions. By Michelle Klump Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s Shin-Etsu reduces domestic PVC production
Japan’s Shin-Etsu reduces domestic PVC production
Tokyo, 17 March (Argus) — Japanese chemical company Shin-Etsu Chemical has reduced domestic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production and decided to raise domestic sales prices, because of limited supplies of feedstock ethylene. Shin-Etsu will raise domestic sales prices for PVC by more than ¥30/kg ($0.18/kg) starting with deliveries on 1 April, the company said on 16 March. This equates to an increase of approximately 20pc in sales prices, it added. Shin-Etsu has a production capacity of 550,000 t/yr for PVC at its Kashima plant in Ibaraki prefecture, where it receives supplies of feedstock ethylene from petrochemical producer Mitsubishi Chemical's Ibaraki plant. Mitsubishi Chemical has already cut operating rates at its 485,000 t/yr naphtha-fed cracker at the Ibaraki plant because of concerns over naphtha supplies due to the US-Israel war with Iran. Ethylene prices have spiked, and Mitsubishi Chemical has started limiting supply volumes of ethylene, which has forced Shin-Etsu to reduce its PVC production, review sales prices and limit supply volumes, Shin-Etsu said. The company's other products have not been affected by the limited ethylene deliveries, it added. By Kohei Yamamoto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Explore our chemicals products
Related events
No Results Found