Petrochemical industry
The latest news relating to the petrochemicals industry, including regulation, litigation, business news and relevant industrial and academic research, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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OpinionWidening impact of conflict in Iran
Deyond hydrocarbons, helium and sulfur – byproducts of petroleum extraction – have also been critically affected by Iran’s blockade of Gulf exports
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OpinionHydrogen bubble’s squeaky pop
Were cancelled hydrogen production projects overly optimistic or commitments of convenience?
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BusinessIran conflict cuts off gulf oil and chemicals trade
Effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has stranded exports from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar
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BusinessClean hydrogen project cancellations point to narrower future
Plants actually being built tend to use hydrogen as feedstock, not fuel
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BusinessEU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol
Imports from China, US and Saudi Arabia will see tariffs of 52–143%
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OpinionCarbon border taxes may do more harm than good
Industry argues UK proposals are flawed and will not promote decarbonisation
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BusinessSabic offloads petrochemicals and plastics plants in Europe and Americas
German private equity firms Aequita and Mutares aim to return struggling plants to profitability
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BusinessFunding boost for Grangemouth whisky waste-to-chemicals firms
Governments hope £9 million in grants will help MiAlgae and Celtic Renewables replace oil-refining jobs
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OpinionPlastic recycling’s perfect storm
Pending policies that demand more recycling cannot offset problems of high costs and competition from cheap virgin polymers
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BusinessPlastic recycling is contracting when it needs to grow
High costs, oversupply of virgin polymers and complex political environment are challenging industry
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OpinionReprieve for Grangemouth ethylene
UK government agrees £150 million deal to support the country’s last ethylene production plant
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BusinessChemicals industry roundup 2025
Europe hit hard by China’s independence push, but India is growing
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OpinionChanging the rules of global chemicals trade
Chemical dumping claims reflect US and China’s focus on national interests ahead of global markets
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BusinessIneos asks EU to intervene over ‘unfair’ chemical imports
Group says 10 key chemicals are being dumped cheaply, harming domestic industry
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OpinionWe’ll always have Paris… won’t we?
A decade on from Cop21, the Paris agreement has delivered change, but keeping it on track is getting harder
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BusinessSouth African Lawsuit challenges Sasol’s ethylene monopoly
Plastics producer Safripol says high prices mean it can’t compete with imported materials
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BusinessBASF begins building huge industrial heat pump for low-carbon steam
When powered by renewable electricity, BASF says system will cut carbon emissions by up to 98%
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OpinionA global petrochemical shift
China’s rapid capacity expansion fuels global oversupply, leading plant closures in Europe and elsewhere
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BusinessFatal incidents at chemical plants in the US, India and Norway
Hydrogen and acid explosions, a fluorochemicals plant gas leak and a heavy lifting incident claimed at least four lives
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OpinionUK biofuels burning out
With UK plants facing closure, what are the options and issues around different renewable fuels?