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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.


KPX Chemical & Chinyang Polyurethane Co., Ltd. Enter Flexible Polyurethane Recycling Business
KPX Chemical Co., Ltd., a leading polyurethane specialist, is entering the flexible polyurethane recycling business. The company has secured exclusive rights to use patented recycling technology from Germany-based H&S Anlagentechnik (H&S) in Korea and is establishing a recycled polyol production system to take a leading position in the sustainable materials market.
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2 days ago2 min read


Allnex Expands APAC Manufacturing with New SCA Production Facility in Thailand
allnex Expands APAC Manufacturing with New SCA Production Facility in Thailand
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2 days ago2 min read


Indian Government Extends Full Customs Duty Exemption on Critical Petrochemical Products in View of Ongoing Conflict in West Asia till 15th July 2026
Indian Government extends full customs duty exemption on critical petrochemical products in view of ongoing conflict in West Asia till 15th July 2026
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4 days ago1 min read


India's Consumption Boom vs Middle East's Feedstock Advantage: The Future of Polyurethane Markets
As global polyurethane production shifts towards emerging economies, India and the Middle East have emerged as two of the fastest-growing markets, although their growth is underpinned by some different market dynamics. Both regions are benefiting from the growing domestic demand; although India's growth is largely consumption led, the Middle East combines expanding regional demand with integrated petrochemical production and downstream manufacturing investments.
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4 days ago5 min read


Givaudan Opens New Indonesia Production Facility to Expand Flavour Manufacturing in Southeast Asia
Givaudan has officially inaugurated its new state-of-the-art Taste & Wellbeing production facility in Cikarang, Indonesia, marking a major milestone in the company's expansion strategy across Southeast Asia.
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7 days ago1 min read


Covestro has announced plans to expand its MDI production capacity in China and also undertaking a feasibility assessment for a potential project in the UAE.
Covestro plans to invest in new world-scale MDI train in China and starts UAE feasibility study
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Jul 21 min read


L’Oréal is set to acquire a majority ownership in Innovist, a prominent Indian personal care company known for its digital-first portfolio of brands.
In June 2026, L’Oréal, the global leader in beauty, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Innovist, a prominent house of personal care brands in India. This strategic development represents a significant milestone in L’Oréal’s expansion within India’s rapidly growing beauty market, while also strengthening its portfolio with locally developed brands tailored to Indian consumers. Established in 2019, Innovist has become one of India’s f
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Jun 301 min read


Polyurethanes Chemicals and Products in Asia Pacific (APAC) - 14th Edition
Publication: June 2026 IAL Consultants has updated its in-depth market report on Polyurethane Chemicals and Products in APAC. The data are also available in database format for subscribers, enabling the manipulation and output of data. Geographical coverage • Australia • Bangladesh • Pakistan • Philippines • China • Singapore • India • Indonesia • South Korea • Sri Lanka • Japan • Taiwan • Malaysia • Thailand • New Zealand • Vietnam • Rest of Asia Raw Material Coverage • Acry
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Jun 292 min read


Wacoal and BASF Extend ‘Melooop’ Technology into Automotive Interiors with TPU-Based Armrest Concept
Wacoal and BASF have expanded their long-standing collaboration beyond apparel applications by introducing an innovative automotive interior armrest concept based on Wacoal’s proprietary ‘Melooop’ technology and BASF’s Elastollan® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
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Jun 221 min read


Polyurethane Sustainability: Natural-Oil Polyols Derived from Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL) Production
Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL) is one of the most promising non-food renewable feedstocks for producing bio-based polyols used in polyurethane foams, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers.
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Jun 123 min read


Henkel Achieves Carbon-Neutral Production at India and Türkiye Adhesives Sites
Henkel has reached a significant sustainability milestone by achieving carbon-neutral production at its flagship Adhesive Technologies manufacturing facilities in Kurkumbh, India, and Gebkim, Türkiye, marking a major step towards its goal of decarbonising global operations by 2030.
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Jun 111 min read


BASF has shut down its expandable polystyrene production at the Ulsan Plastics facility in South Korea
BASF has decided to shut down its expandable polystyrene (EPS) production facilities at the Ulsan Plastics site in South Korea, with operations expected to cease by mid‑June 2026. This move forms part of a wider strategic review aimed at optimising its global styrenics production network and strengthening competitiveness in response to changing market conditions. Bir Darbar Mehta, Senior Vice President of Petrochemicals Asia Pacific at BASF, stated that "the company is focuse
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Jun 91 min read


Clariant Scales Up Daya Bay Operations for E-Mobility Growth
Clariant has completed its CHF 100 million investment in its Daya Bay facility, with the second production line becoming fully operational in November.
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Jun 91 min read


BASF Collaborates with Wacoal for a Slimmer, Durable, and Pleasant Bra Cup Solution using Elastollan® TPU
BASF collaborates with Wacoal for a slimmer, durable, and pleasant bra cup solution using Elastollan® TPU
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Jun 71 min read


Covestro and Genofort Join Forces to Accelerate TPU-Based Haptic Technologies for Intelligent Vehicle Interiors
Covestro has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jiangsu Genofort to jointly develop and commercialise ultra-flexible haptic interaction systems for next-generation automotive interiors, with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films playing a central role in the technology platform.
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Jun 31 min read


New India fragrance hub to strengthen Unilever’s global capabilities
New India fragrance hub to strengthen Unilever’s global capabilities
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Jun 23 min read


Covestro Strengthens Asia-Pacific TPU Innovation Network with New Guangzhou Development Centre
Covestro has officially opened a new Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Application Development Centre in Guangzhou, China, reinforcing the company’s strategy of bringing innovation and technical collaboration closer to customers across the Asia-Pacific region.
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May 251 min read


Hyosung TNC Commits US$1 Billion to Expand Sustainable Bio-Based Materials Business
Hyosung TNC has announced plans to invest US$1 billion in its future bio-based materials business, marking a major step in the company’s long-term sustainability strategy. The investment will support the construction of multiple Bio-BDO production plants in Vietnam with a combined annual capacity of 200,000 tonnes.
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May 211 min read


Jayant Agro-Organics to Acquire Additional Stake in Vithal Castor Polyols
Jayant Agro-Organics has announced the acquisition of additional equity and preference shares in Vithal Castor Polyols Private Limited (VCPL), strengthening its position in the bio-polyols segment.
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May 151 min read


Low-VOC Polyurethane Coatings: Regulatory Drivers in Asia-Pacific Markets
Low-VOC polyurethane coatings are gaining momentum across Asia-Pacific region, propelled by tightening environmental regulations and evolving market structures.
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May 132 min read
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