Basic Chemicals

Recent developments

Demand, pricing, risk

Following stronger Q2, BASF raised its 2026 EBITDA outlook. Elkem reported Q2 results, while PCC SE guided revenue and EBITDA higher; INEOS’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe warned of European plant closures amid Chinese overcapacity and high energy costs.

Deals and consolidation

Regulatory progress continued as the planned Olin–Huntsman merger cleared an effective S‑4. Yara agreed to buy Gulf Coast Ammonia’s Texas City plant and will not proceed with acquiring the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex. Ecovyst completed the acquisition of the Calabrian sulfur dioxide business, and ICIG is building a two‑site European alkoxide platform.

Capacity and feedstocks

OXEA took Final Investment Decision to expand Bay City oxo intermediates, backed by Air Liquide’s new POX‑based syngas unit with CO₂ recycling. Evonik commissioned the Lülsdorf–Wesseling methanol pipeline; OMV Petrom started a new aromatics unit at Petrobrazi, and Zhenhai’s 400,000 t/yr acrylonitrile unit completed one‑year stable operation.

Low‑carbon molecules

Topsoe will supply SynCOR Ammonia technology for a 500 STPD blue‑ammonia plant in Nebraska, while Japan certified a seven‑company price‑gap scheme for importing low‑carbon ammonia. Jordan Green Ammonia secured a 1,000‑ha lease at Aqaba and Petrobras will restart UFN‑III; Mitsubishi Gas Chemical signed a 100,000 t/y green methanol offtake with ACME Group.

Circularity and materials

INEOS and Recuro plan an advanced pyrolysis recycling plant at Bamble integrated with the Rafnes cracker, and Aurubis opened the Complex Recycling Hamburg plant. Eni took a 25% stake in EnergyX’s Black Giant lithium project, while Nobian launched the LiSA pilot and began assessing AirBattery compressed‑air storage in a Danish salt cavern.