Recent developments
Ammonia capacity shifts
OCI advanced North American ammonia capacity as the Beaumont New Ammonia (BNA) facility began production, with handover to Woodside Energy in early 2026. The OCI Global Q3 2025 update cited a total project cost near USD 1.7 billion and expected 2025 startup, and agreed to sell its ammonia distribution and terminal business to AGROFERT and merge with Orascom Construction.
Trade and supply
Supply strategies shifted as Brenntag secured an exclusive distribution agreement with Henan Yongchang Nitro Fertilizer for nitric acid in Australia and New Zealand, adding nitrate derivatives and potential Southeast Asia expansion. Concurrently, INEOS' Jim Ratcliffe warned that Chinese overcapacity, low-priced imports, and European energy costs threaten the region’s chemical asset base, citing widespread plant closures and calling for tariff and carbon policy adjustments.
Cable circular feedstocks
Circular feedstock development progressed: Hoop technology at the Mantua plant will convert Prysmian cable scrap into pyrolysis oil for new polymers, with a pilot planned for 2H 2026 and an expectation to repurpose about 60% of XLPE scrap, enabling chemical recycling of cross-linked cables and all polymeric layers.
Dutch decarbonization agenda
In the Netherlands, industry and clusters published a bid book to the new Dutch cabinet urging faster permitting, lower power costs, and hydrogen infrastructure to keep production onshore. Nobian’s Delfzijl and Rotterdam assets, including 140 MW electrolysis, were cited as anchors for basic chemical supply, renewable hydrogen, and decarbonization of adjacent heavy industry.