Market Flash

UK-based oil and gas giant Shell said on the 25th that it is seeking to improve the performance of its chemical asset base by exploring strategic partnerships in the U.S. and closing plants in Europe.

• Shell

India imposed anti-dumping duties on five Chinese products this month, including soft ferrite cores, vacuum insulated bottles, aluminum foil, trichloroisocyanuric acid and polyvinyl chloride paste resin.

• India
• China
• Tariffs

Gulbrandsen, a global leader in the production of specialty polyethylene waxes and polymers, has announced plans to increase polyethylene wax production capacity and build a new functional polymer plant at its facility in Dahej, India.

• Gulbrandsen
• polyethylene waxes
• polymers
• India

China Western Power Industrial Co., Ltd. has signed a landmark $1.45 billion agreement with Laos’ Xekong Thermal Power Plant Co., Ltd to advance clean energy infrastructure in Laos. The deal was announced in a stock exchange filing on March 24.

• China Western Power
• Laos
• clean energy

OMV has announced a major milestone for the chemical industry after 15 years of groundbreaking research and development.

• OMV
• ReOil
• plastic recycling plant

Easpring Finland New Materials Oy plans to start construction work on the plant in April 2025 in the Keltakallio industrial area in Kotka.

• Easpring
• Finland

Ecovyst has entered into an agreement to acquire the sulfuric acid production assets of Cornerstone Chemical Company, located in Wagman, Louisiana.

• Ecovyst
• Cornerstone

Piramal Critical Care, part of Piramal Pharma, along with BrePco Biopharma from Ireland, announced that they have received marketing approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for Neoatricon.

“Technical Specification for Risk Classification Control of Hazardous Chemicals Safety Production” (GB/T45420-2025), drafted by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, will officially implement on September 1 this year

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently reaffirmed its previous conclusion that silica (E551), also known as synthetic amorphous silica (SAS), is safe as a food additive under the reported usage levels and methods.

OQ Chemicals will start dedicated production of heptanoic acid in Oberhausen, Germany, in June 2025.

• OQ Chemicals
• heptanoic acid

Plastic Recycling Europe (PRE) warns that the European plastic recycling industry is facing severe challenges as plant closures on the continent continue to escalate.

• Plastic Recycling Europe
• PRE

Kemira will invest millions of Euros to expand several strength chemical production lines for paper, board and tissue at its Wellgrow mill in Thailand. The expansion project will start in 2026.

• Kemira
• paper
• board
• pulp
• Thailand

Sumitomo Chemical has accelerated the global registration process for its innovative herbicide, Rapidicil (active ingredient: Epyrifenacil).

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has announced the abandonment of its global diversity targets due to concerns over recent U.S. executive orders.

The pharmaceutical industry is on high alert as the ongoing US-EU tariff spat could potentially target best-selling drugs, raising concerns about increased prices and reduced patient access.

On March 18, 2025, multiple companies in the barium sulfate production sector announced a price adjustment of 200 yuan per ton due to escalating production costs driven by raw material shortages.

Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE: TROX), a leading manufacturer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment, announced the decision to permanently shut down its titanium dioxide plant located in Botlek, Netherlands, which has an annual capacity of 90,000 tons.

Samsung SDI, the South Korean battery manufacturer, announced a significant stock issuance plan aimed at raising approximately 2 trillion KRW (around $13.8 billion) to enhance its global battery production capabilities.

Flint Group, a supplier of inks and coatings to the printing and packaging industries, has expanded its support for Canadian label and narrow web customers with the opening of a new distribution centre in Montreal, Quebec.

• Flint Group
• distribution Center