Recent developments
UAE supply integration
In the UAE, TA’ZIZ signed long‑term offtake and feedstock agreements across methanol, PVC chain, caustic soda, salt and gas to secure 4.7 mtpa output by 2028. ADNOC introduced an Industrial Resilience Program to prioritize local supply of process chemicals and equipment through enhanced ICV mechanisms and long‑term demand visibility.
Nitrogen and ammonia dynamics
Fertilizers and ammonia saw capacity and trade shifts. Petrobras resumed urea at Ansa and approved the UFN III project targeting 3,600 t/d urea by 2029. Yara reported higher margins amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions to urea and ammonia flows. thyssenkrupp Uhde won FEED to expand Brunei Fertilizer Industries’ ammonia export infrastructure.
Low‑carbon molecules advance
INEOS Acetyls and Sandpiper plan a 1.1 mtpa Texas City plant using natural gas with CCS (97% process CO2 capture). Perpetual Next named JPB Logistics for storage and outbound at the planned Delfzijl biomethanol facility. Guangdong Liquid Sunshine chose Johnson Matthey methanol synthesis for a Guangxi biomethanol plant with a potential e‑methanol phase. Nobian secured RFNBO certification for up to 6 kt/y green hydrogen in Frankfurt.
Market and portfolio updates
BASF reported resilient volumes and advanced a heat‑pump project for 500 kt/y CO2‑free steam at Ludwigshafen. OMV’s chemicals earnings improved, while Dow cited weaker merchant olefins after cracker idling. INEOS Inovyn will sell Italian chlor‑alkali sites to Esseco; Vega Ploieşti launched 60%‑purity hexane for extraction markets.