Industry: Chemicals & Plastics

On June 27, 2025, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in Cactus Water Services, LLC v. COG Operating, LLC. It declared that produced water is oil & gas waste and therefore belongs to the hydrocarbon lessee i.e. oil & gas operator typically. This landmark decision clarifies that the right to produce oil & gas inherently includes […]

The plastics processing industry is undergoing a profound transformation. As global markets demand more sustainable, efficient, and digitally integrated manufacturing, the machinery that powers this sector is evolving rapidly. From injection molding to 3D printing, each technology is being reshaped by innovation, regulation, and shifting customer expectations. Exhibit 1. Plastic machinery companies and strategic initiatives […]

The European chemical industry is in the midst of a significant transformation, driven by a perfect storm of weak demand, persistently high energy costs, lingering overcapacity, and the disruptive impact of geopolitical factors like new tariffs. These challenging conditions are forcing major players to make tough decisions, resulting in a wave of strategic divestitures and painful plant closures across the […]

Europe’s chemical industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, marked by a surge in divestitures and plant closures. This challenging environment, driven by weak demand, persistently high energy costs, lingering overcapacity, and geopolitical pressures, highlights the sector’s declining competitiveness. Indeed, a recent Cefic study revealed that in 2023 and 2024 alone, chemical companies announced the closure of over […]

Last week, I attended the 2025 Reuters Downstream USA conference, where a central theme resonated deeply across discussions: the critical importance of reliability in the refining and chemicals sectors. While chemical engineers often define reliability as a system’s probability of functioning without failure for a set time under given conditions, its broader, transformative impact on […]

The oil & gas and chemical industries are at an inflection point. For years, growth was a given, but a new era, one characterized by a structural decline in capital and operational spending, is starting to take shape. Recent trends of slowing oil demand growth, oversupplied markets, and shrinking chemical margins as shown in exhibit […]

Hydrogen is key to decarbonizing, and countries worldwide unequivocally recognize this, as seen from the widespread policies supporting hydrogen market development displayed in exhibit 1. Most European countries have developed hydrogen strategies and roadmaps, with targets for green H2 production capacity by 2030, including 5.0 GW in the UK, 10.0 GW in Germany, and 6.5 […]

The United States has become a top player in global energy, especially in ethane exports. This position comes from its large domestic supply, good prices, and significant investments in export facilities, all supported by long-term contracts with international buyers. U.S. upstream and midstream players currently export about 0.5 million barrels per day (MMBPD) of ethane, which is […]

Traditionally, hydrogen has been produced predominantly via steam methane reforming (SMR), a process in which methane in natural gas reacts with steam at high temperature, producing hydrogen, and carbon dioxide (CO2) as byproduct. Hydrogen produced via this method is commonly referred to as grey hydrogen. Although this method is cost-effective, it contributes significantly to greenhouse […]

In the May 2025 edition of the ADI chemicals newsletter, we spotlight LyondellBasell’s dual-track investments in mechanical and chemical recycling, as shared at the 2025 ADI Forum. This issue also features key project assessments—ranging from catalyst markets to oilfield chemicals—alongside major plant announcements, closures, M&A moves, and feedstock supply contracts shaping the global chemicals landscape. […]

In the April 2025 edition of the ADI chemicals newsletter, we discussed how the chemical industry is prioritizing sustainability, exploring seven renewable electricity options. Globally, there was a mix of plant expansions and closures from ExxonMobil, Dow, and Mitsubishi Chemicals. M&A activity included KPS Capital acquiring INEOS resins, Shell selling its Singapore park, and Hexpol […]

In the March 2025 edition of the ADI chemicals newsletter, we covered how the plastics industry faced challenges in accurately measuring GHG emissions. This is crucial for effective sustainability efforts. Recent industry activities included plant expansions by Mangalore Refinery and Idemitsu Kosan, strategic mergers and acquisitions, and feedstock supply agreements ensuring material availability. However, plant […]