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Latest News from IAL and the Global Chemicals Industry
Stay informed regarding IAL's latest publications and industry news covering the markets for Polyurethanes, Flavours & Fragrances and Thermal Insulation.


Surge in TDI Prices in Asia Driven by Rising Operational and Regulatory Costs
BASF’s announcement of a USD 200 per metric tonne increase for Lupranate® TDI across ASEAN and South Asia reflects the broader upward pressure on TDI pricing in the region, driven primarily by escalating transportation and energy costs.
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Dec 21 min read


Longhua New Materials Expands Polyether Polyol Capacity to 1.29 Million Tons
Longhua New Materials has completed construction and successfully commenced production at its 330,000-ton-per-year polyether polyol expansion project, representing an investment of 150 million yuan and lifting the company’s total polyether capacity to 1.29 million tons annually, reinforcing its scale advantage in China’s domestic market. The new capacity focuses on high-activity soft foam polyether polyols and CASE-grade polyether polyols, widely used in automotive interiors,
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Nov 241 min read


MDI Prices Rise in South Asia
BASF has announced a US$200/tonne price increase for MDI products in South Asia, coinciding with a steady upward trend in China’s domestic pure MDI market. Prices have risen in a clear stepwise pattern, driven by tight supply and reduced imports. In Shanghai, pure MDI has climbed from 18,400 yuan/tonne at the start of the month to around 19,500 yuan/tonne, supported by higher factory guidance prices. Shanghai’s November listing price rose by 500 yuan/tonne to 24,000 yuan/tonn
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Nov 241 min read


Monument Launches the First US Production of Renewable-Carbon Polyols
Monument has commenced the first US-based production of polyols derived from renewable carbon at its Brandenburg, Kentucky facility, marking a significant milestone for the polyurethane industry.
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Nov 191 min read


INEOS Styrolution to Close Polystyrene Production in Wingles, France
INEOS Styrolution has announced its decision to permanently close its polystyrene (PS) production operations in Wingles, France, as part of a wider strategy to align its European footprint with evolving market conditions and strengthen long-term competitiveness. The company will consolidate polystyrene production for its European customer base at its advanced Antwerp site in Belgium, which offers a strong strategic location near major suppliers and customers, as well as enhan
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Nov 181 min read


BASF Restructures Asian PolyTHF Business
BASF announced that it will address structural changes in the global chemical fiber market, marked by significant overcapacity, by consolidating its Asian polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®) business at its Caojing site in China.
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Nov 141 min read


Dow’s Freeport Isocyanates Facility Achieves ISCC PLUS Certification
Dow has announced that its isocyanates manufacturing facility in Freeport, Texas has earned ISCC PLUS certification, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainable production and transparent supply chains across North America.
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Nov 141 min read


SumiSaujana Signs Agreement with MPOB to Produce Palm Oil Polyols
Malaysian specialty chemicals company SumiSaujana Group Bhd has signed a licensing and commercialisation agreement with the Malaysian...
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May 232 min read


Manali Petrochemicals Expands with New Systems House in Gujarat, India
Manali Petrochemicals is investing in a new systems house in Gujarat, India, while also boosting its glycol production capacity at its...
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Apr 291 min read


Wanhua Chemical Acquires Vencorex’s Isocyanate Business
On April 10, 2025, Wanhua Chemical announced its successful acquisition of Vencorex’s specialty isocyanate business, marking a...
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Apr 171 min read


Kingspan Breaks Ground on €280m Campus in Ukraine
Kingspan Group has received its first building permit to start construction on a state-of-the-art Building Technology Manufacturing...
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Apr 31 min read


Honeywell to Spin Off Advanced Materials Division
Honeywell has decided to spin off its Advanced Materials business, which will be named Solstice Advanced Materials after its tax-free...
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Mar 271 min read


Covestro Completes Modernisation of Dormagen TDI Plant
Covestro has successfully completed the modernisation of its Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) plant in Dormagen, significantly enhancing...
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Mar 202 min read


Econic and Romania's Chimcomplex Sign MoU for CO2-Based Polyols Production
Chimcomplex, a leading chemical industry player in Romania, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Econic Technologies, a...
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Oct 24, 20241 min read


Shielding Local Industries: Antidumping Duties on Polyurethane Raw Materials
Introduction Antidumping duties are trade protection measures imposed by a country to shield its domestic industry from foreign companies...
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Jul 18, 20243 min read


How the Red Sea Crisis is Reshaping the Global Polyurethane Trade and Raw Material Supply
The ongoing crisis in the Red Sea has had a substantial impact on the global polyurethane market and its raw material supply. The...
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Jul 5, 20242 min read


IKEA, NABU, and The Mattress Association Unite for Recycling Mattresses
It is important that mattresses are capable of being recycled. NABU, in collaboration with the mattress association and IKEA Germany, is...
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Jun 12, 20242 min read


Kimpur Expands Capacity with Ravago Petrokimya Partnership
Ravago Petrokimya A.Åž., a leading global company in the distribution and recycling of plastic and rubber materials, has formed a highly...
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May 30, 20242 min read


India Proposes Anti-dumping Duty on Polyols Form China and Thailand
The Indian Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) proposes anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Thai flexible slabstock polyol...
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May 29, 20241 min read


BASF Expands Production, Opens Polyurethane Tech Center in India
In May, the Polyurethane Technical Development Center India would be established to facilitate the market development of polyurethane...
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May 23, 20242 min read
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