Hope and Hardship in Europe’s Chemicals Sector
Europe’s chemical industry is facing a mixed outlook, marked by cautious optimism from some producers and deep concern from others. Lanxess CEO Matthias Zachert expects the sector to begin a gradual recovery in 2026, supported largely by Germany’s substantial new fiscal measures. A €500 billion infrastructure fund and €46 billion in tax relief are anticipated […]
Critical Chemicals Alliance Aims to Bolster EU Chemicals Sector
The European Commission has launched the Critical Chemicals Alliance, a key part of its 2025 Chemicals Action Plan, to boost the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of Europe’s chemical industry. The alliance aims to address core challenges such as the risk of plant closures, trade disruptions, and lack of investment in vital chemical production. Its initial […]
EU Targets Anti Dumping to Protect Industry
European chemical producers are increasingly turning to anti-dumping cases as a central strategy to protect domestic manufacturing from a surge of low-priced imports. A recent EU investigation into imports of adipic acid from China highlights this trend. European producers have argued that sharply underpriced Chinese material is harming local manufacturers by forcing prices to unsustainable […]
Plan Now for January: Why Supply Chain Preparation Can’t Wait
As the year winds down, many businesses are focused on closing Q4 strong—but failing to plan for January can lead to costly setbacks. Supply chain leaders should act now to prepare for a tight and unpredictable start to the new year. Low year-end inventories are a major concern. Many companies have kept stock lean throughout […]
Fed’s Bowman Signals Two More Rate Cuts in 2025 — What It Means for Chemicals
Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman announced she expects two additional rate cuts before year‑end, reaffirming her support for easing policy following September’s 25 bps cut (to 4.00 %–4.25 %) Reuters. She emphasized that if the labor market and other economic data evolve as expected, the Fed should continue lowering the federal funds rate. For the chemical industry, this shift […]
