Recent developments
Demand signals
Flavor and functional ingredients demand remained mixed. Symrise reported Q1 2026 organic sales roughly flat with Taste, Nutrition & Health slightly up and Scent & Care down, while guidance was reaffirmed. Croda Q1 2026 sales met guidance; Consumer Care growth in Beauty Actives and Fragrances & Flavours offset Life Sciences weakness, notably Crop Protection.
Aroma capacity shifts
Upstream aroma chemicals expanded materially as BASF commissioned three world-scale plants for menthol, linalool, and citral, enhancing European integration and China supply. On solvents for edible oils, Vega Ploieşti started producing 60%-purity hexane, targeting higher extraction rates and shorter cycle times.
Oxidants for packaging
In China, a specialty hydrogen peroxide plant in Leshan entered trial operations, with first commercial volumes expected in Q2 2026, serving semiconductors, food packaging, and cosmetics.
Food-contact materials
Packaging migrated further from legacy chemistries. PPG NUTRISHIELD MAX PPG7590 launched as the first U.S. PVC‑NI one‑component coil coating for aluminum pet food cans, formulated without PVC, PFAS, or bisphenols. At Chinaplas, Clariant's AddWorks PPA line offered PFAS‑free processing aids; rice‑bran wax additives gained multi‑region food‑contact approvals, and titanium catalysts advanced antimony‑free polyester processing.
Regional initiatives
At Shanghai’s Chinaplas, Arkema at Chinaplas 2026 highlighted polymer additives and new regional capacities, including transparent polyamides and PVDF expansion plans. Upstream in agriculture, BASF will invest €40 million to modernize seed processing at its Nunhem site, expanding precision QA and renewable-powered operations. On governance, Linde was again listed on Ethisphere’s World's Most Ethical Companies list.