Market Flash

Evonik has officially inaugurated its new alkoxylates production facility on Jurong Island, Singapore, with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year.

Germany’s chemical industry endured another tough quarter in Q2 2025, with production, sales, and prices all declining, according to the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), which described the overall performance as “disappointing.”

DKSH’s Business Unit Consumer Goods, a partner for companies seeking to expand their consumer goods business in Asia and beyond, has entered into an agreement with Point Grey Vietnam to distribute the full range of baby and personal care products.

• DKSH
• Point Grey

The recent uptick in propylene oxide (PO) prices is likely to be fleeting, according to industry analysts. PO, a key intermediate for polyurethane foams and solvents, saw its market price rebound modestly in early August after a prolonged slump.

The global coil coatings industry – which provides pre-painted finishes for metal sheets used in construction, appliances, and autos – is poised for steady expansion.

Regulators in Europe and Asia are ratcheting up trade defenses in the chemicals sector.

China’s titanium dioxide (TiO₂) imports have dropped sharply even as domestic suppliers raise prices.

China’s chemical manufacturing industry posted a total profit of ¥2133.9 billion (approximately ¥213.39 billion) for the first seven months of 2025 .

China’s Ministry of Commerce has decided to continue imposing anti-dumping tariffs on imported phenol originating from the United States, European Union, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand .

China’s polystyrene (PS) producers have seen a stunning reversal of fortunes.

The ABS resin market is reeling from a steep downturn even before the usual autumn demand surge.

China’s polycarbonate (PC) sector is grappling with massive new capacity and low-end product oversupply, pressuring profits.

August saw PVC prices under persistent downward pressure, with the market oscillating weakly .

On August 28, 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a public consultation (No. PC-1582) proposing to approve triacylglycerol lipase for use as a food additive .

EFSA’s experts have evaluated a food enzyme called bacillolysin produced by a non-GM strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (strain AGS 430) and found no safety concerns for its wider use .

EFSA has completed a peer review of the pesticide risk assessment for prothioconazole, an active fungicide ingredient .

European authorities issued rapid alerts regarding two Chinese food exports that failed to meet standards.

On August 4, 2025, EFSA’s Panel on Additives and Products in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) released a scientific opinion on a lavender flower tincture used as a sensory feed additive for all animal species.

The U.S. FDA approved Sanofi’s BTK inhibitor Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) to treat adult persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who failed prior therapies—a milestone from Sanofi’s $3.7B Principia acquisition.

With the successful startup of its 15 kt Forane 1233zd production unit in Calvert City, Kentucky, Arkema continues to develop its low-global warming potential (GWP) fluorospecialties to meet the growing demand for more sustainable solutions.

• Arkema