German speciality chemicals manufacturer Evonik has declined to enter formal negotiations over BASF’s improved takeover offer, highlighting continued uncertainty around a potential major consolidation in the European chemical industry. On 30 October 2026, Evonik confirmed that its Executive Board had reviewed BASF’s proposal but remained focused on developing the company as an independent business. BASF’s revised offer values Evonik at approximately €11.18 billion, equivalent

Dutch circular chemistry technology developer BioBTX has secured a €20.8 million grant from the European Union Innovation Fund for its PETRA project.

dsm-firmenich has announced Noviwest™ and Panavora™ as the names of two standalone companies planned to emerge from the divestment of its Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH) business to CVC Capital Partners.

Summary: Global SPF production declined by 2.1% in 2025, while demand increased by 1.6%. OCF production grew by 1.4%, driven by Eastern Europe. Western Europe's SPF production and consumption declined by 1.4% and 0.3%, respectively. Central and Eastern Europe recorded growth, supported by construction activity and infrastructure investment. EPBD and building renovation programmes will support future demand. Middle Easterns SPF and OCF markets expanded, driven by strong constr

Flexible polyurethane foam that is over 90% bio-based has been developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability (LBF) in Germany. Fraunhofer notes that the foam was produced by the OrganoFoam project using bio-based polyols and bio-based isocyanates, which are typically employed in coatings. The outcome maintained its colour for an extended period of time under ultraviolet light and was comparable to petroleum-based foa

Symrise has commissioned a new cooking line and spray-drying tower at its Food & Beverage production site in Berric, France, following a €27.5 million investment announced on 22 October 2026.

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) announced on 13 October 2026 that existing trade duties on mattress imports from Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam will remain in place following five-year sunset reviews.

Hungarian building materials manufacturer Masterplast has achieved a significant milestone in extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation production, reaching an output of 100,000 m³ in 2026. Announced on 16 September 2026, the achievement reflects improvements in manufacturing technology, production processes and quality control.

Penta Fine Ingredients has completed the acquisition of ICS Georgia, Inc., operating as Synerzine, strengthening its position in the global flavour and fragrance ingredients market.

In 2025, global TPU production grew by 9.1% to approximately 1.16 million tonnes, driven primarily by APAC, which recorded growth of 10.9%.

Akyildiz made the announcement following a meeting with Piyush Goyal, India’s Union Minister of Commerce and Industry.

BASF has partnered with Tongji University, one of Shanghai's leading research institutions, and Shanghai Yida Resource Recycling Technology Co., Ltd., a specialist in circular economy solutions, to develop a pillow recycling initiative focused on recovering polyurethane foam from discarded pillows.

DSM-Firmenich officially opened its new Fine Fragrance flagship in Chelsea, New York City, on 14 October 2026, marking a significant development in its North American fragrance operations.

Garware Hi-Tech Films Ltd (GHFL), a manufacturer of speciality films, and Lubrizol, a speciality chemicals company, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development and manufacturing of Lubrizol's thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) technology in India. The partnership is a significant milestone in GHFL's strategy to establish a technology-led TPU product platform for new speciality applications. It also facilitates backward integration into TPU films

Symrise is expanding Globalide® production in India to strengthen its global supply capacity for the fragrance ingredient.

Lallemand broadens its cultural offerings with the acquisition of IFF's Meat Cultures Portfolio

Across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important priority. High energy costs, ageing building stock and stricter EU energy performance requirements are encouraging governments and property owners to invest in renovation.

Symrise's new training centre in Holzminden provides ample opportunities for learning, skill development, and professional progression. On October 19, the company opens a contemporary learning centre at its headquarters for apprentices in five technical professions, with a capacity of around 30 trainees in each field.

Sika will acquire the adhesives business of Resonac Corporation, a chemical company headquartered in Japan. The acquired business primarily serves automotive customers in Asia by developing, manufacturing, and selling a wide variety of adhesive technologies.

Arkema has inaugurated the expansion of its R&D Centre in Shanghai, China, strengthening its role as a key innovation hub for the Group’s businesses. The expanded centre will promote collaboration among research teams and support joint development projects with customers across China and Asia.

Puren GmbH has expanded its Purenit production facility in Obermarchtal, Germany, with an investment of approximately €50 million, commissioning a third manufacturing line that triples production capacity at the site and is expected to create up to 40 additional jobs.

ORVIA, a global automotive technology supplier, and ANAND Group, an Indian mobility solutions provider, have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement to strengthen their presence in India’s growing automotive seating market.

Evonik, Toyotsu Chemiplas Corporation and Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd. have launched a collaboration to advance polyurethane (PU) recycling in Japan. The initiative aims to develop a practical and commercially viable solution for recovering valuable materials from polyurethane waste.

BASF India has launched a new polyurethane (PU) waste recycling facility in Manjeri, Malappuram district, Kerala. The project is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative developed in partnership with Green Worms (Serve Rural) and the Indian Polyurethane Association (IPUA).