Recent developments
Electronics supply expansion
Semiconductor inputs saw targeted capacity moves. BASF is building an Electronic Grade Ammonium Hydroxide plant in Ludwigshafen to support wafer cleaning and etching for advanced nodes from 2027. Industrial gases and on-site units advanced with Air Liquide investments, including the 200 MW ELYgator electrolyzer and new capacity in Dresden to serve energy transition and electronics customers. Corporate focus sharpened as DuPont completed the separation of its electronics business into Qnity Electronics, creating an independently traded platform focused on electronics.
Coatings and optics advances
Functional coatings for optics and displays expanded. SDC Technologies is relocating its headquarters to California to consolidate R&D and manufacturing for abrasion‑resistant, anti‑fog, and photochromic lens coatings and lab equipment serving optical, automotive, and medical uses. In automotive HMIs, AGC's Reflective Blade, using a p‑polarized coating, earned CES recognition for projecting driver‑assistance information via a thin glass module. For wearables and flexible electronics, Elkem introduced SILBIONE LSR Select EC 70, a biocompatible, conductive LSR for injection molding.
Mobility and energy storage
Lightweighting and power density featured prominently. Hyundai Motor Group and Toray Industries signed an agreement spanning R&D to commercialization of carbon‑fiber composites for high-performance and special‑purpose mobility. In batteries, Asahi Kasei and EAS Batteries licensed acetonitrile‑containing electrolyte technology for an ultra‑high‑power cylindrical LFP cell scheduled by March 2026, targeting marine, rail, and construction equipment. Upstream to downstream coordination continued as Mitsui Chemicals and Polyplastics agreed on marketing operations for ARLEN and AURUM engineering plastics starting January 2026.
Feedstocks and regional scale
Regional resin and olefin availability shifted with new capacity. LOTTE Chemical completed a $3.95 billion petrochemical complex in Cilegon, designed to produce ethylene, propylene, polypropylene, butadiene, and BTX, integrate with adjacent PE operations, process up to 50% LPG, and apply AIM-enabled smart plant maintenance. Macroeconomic headwinds tempered specialty performance: Arkema Q3 2025 results showed lower sales and EBITDA amid weak U.S./Europe demand, acrylic cycle softness, and legacy refrigerant price pressure, alongside cost controls and a green bond.
AI-enabled R&D programs
Digital techniques entered upstream molecule discovery workflows. FRONTEO and UBE agreed to combine an AI platform to surface disease–target relationships with compound generation and optimization expertise, aiming to out‑license candidates to pharma; target selection is due by December 2025 with research starting January 2026.