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Ban Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics
View article: Ban Biodegradable and Compostable PlasticsSoil biodegradable mulch films must be banned
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China Opens Anti-Dumping Probe Into EU Chemical Exports
View article: China Opens Anti-Dumping Probe Into EU Chemical ExportsChina launches an anti-dumping probe into EU p-nitrotoluene imports, adding chemicals to the growing list of EU–China trade disputes.
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Aramco: Global Oil Inventories Could Take 2 Years to Recover
View article: Aramco: Global Oil Inventories Could Take 2 Years to RecoverAramco warns global crude and fuel inventories could take two years to recover as supply disruptions continue tightening energy markets.
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The Most-Read Article of the Last 30 Days
View article: The Most-Read Article of the Last 30 DaysBioAmber remains the most-read page on Bioplastics News over the last 30 days, years after the company’s bankruptcy.
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A Small Personal Favor to the Republic of Cyprus
View article: A Small Personal Favor to the Republic of CyprusI have a small personal favor to ask the Republic of Cyprus.
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Can Cyprus Play a Role in a US-Russia Oil Partnership?
View article: Can Cyprus Play a Role in a US-Russia Oil Partnership?A possible US-Russia Lukoil deal could create new strategic opportunities for Cyprus and Greece within the Eastern Mediterranean energy landscape.
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Trump: Ukraine Is Responsible for Expensive U.S. Fuel
View article: Trump: Ukraine Is Responsible for Expensive U.S. FuelTrump points the finger at Ukraine, blaming refinery attacks on Russia for pushing up fuel prices and inflation across energy markets.
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A Warning to Giorgia Meloni on Compostable Plastics
View article: A Warning to Giorgia Meloni on Compostable PlasticsA warning to Giorgia Meloni about Italy’s growing reliance on compostable plastics, potential microplastic risks to food, and the political responsibility surrounding Eni, Versalis and Novamont.
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Italy’s Compostable Plastics Gamble Could Benefit Greece
View article: Italy’s Compostable Plastics Gamble Could Benefit GreeceGreece could benefit from a future Italian microplastic crisis by restricting compostable plastics early and positioning Greek food as cleaner, safer and lower in plastic contamination.
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EU and Ukraine undermine efforts to normalise oil market
View article: EU and Ukraine undermine efforts to normalise oil marketUkraine says its strikes have affected facilities representing 51% of Russian refining capacity, disrupting operations and increasing pressure on fuel supplies.
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EU faces gas shortages
View article: EU faces gas shortagesGazprom warns Europe faces a difficult autumn-winter season as gas supply risks, storage levels and geopolitical uncertainty continue to weigh.
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Saudi Aramco Cuts Oil Prices
View article: Saudi Aramco Cuts Oil PricesSaudi Aramco cuts Asian crude prices to a six-year low as regional oil flows recover and supply conditions improve.
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Middle East Oil Exports Are Returning to Normal
View article: Middle East Oil Exports Are Returning to NormalMiddle East oil exports are returning toward normal levels despite tanker attacks, shipping risks and persistently high logistics costs.
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Microplastic Warning Labels Survive Court Challenge in India
View article: Microplastic Warning Labels Survive Court Challenge in IndiaIndia’s microplastic warning ruling exposes an EU contradiction: demanding food safety while promoting compostable plastics that may contaminate agricultural soils.
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Update on Belgium’s Political Situation
View article: Update on Belgium’s Political SituationBelgium’s political system is under pressure as De Wever struggles to deliver tax reform, reduce government spending and restore confidence in meaningful change.
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A Satirical Message to Vladimir Putin
View article: A Satirical Message to Vladimir PutinSatirical message to Vladimir Putin
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Macron Links EU Competitiveness Loss to Russian Gas
View article: Macron Links EU Competitiveness Loss to Russian GasMacron links Europe’s competitiveness decline to the loss of cheap Russian gas and growing competitive pressure from China
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Türkiye Bets Big on Petrochemicals
View article: Türkiye Bets Big on PetrochemicalsPetkim launches engineering work for major new ethylene, polyethylene and polypropylene plants aimed at more than doubling polymer production.
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Lukoil Deal Signals a New US Russia Relationship
View article: Lukoil Deal Signals a New US Russia RelationshipU.S.–Russia talks reportedly include a multibillion-dollar Lukoil deal, linking oil assets and energy interests to broader Ukraine negotiations.
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Saudi Energy Security Under Fire Again
View article: Saudi Energy Security Under Fire AgainHouthis claim missile and drone attack on Saudi Aramco facility in Riyadh, renewing concerns over Middle Eastern energy infrastructure security.
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Brussels Targets Romania’s Offshore Oil
View article: Brussels Targets Romania’s Offshore OilThe European Commission tells Romania to tighten offshore safety legislation as Black Sea oil and gas development gains strategic importance.
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G7 Opens the Emergency Oil Tap
View article: G7 Opens the Emergency Oil TapG7 countries agree to release 100 million barrels from emergency reserves, targeting diesel shortages and broader instability in global energy markets.
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BP Bets on Namibia’s Oil
View article: BP Bets on Namibia’s OilBP expands offshore Namibia, taking operating stakes in three exploration licences as international oil companies deepen interest in Africa’s emerging frontier.
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Brazil Strikes Oil Again
View article: Brazil Strikes Oil AgainPetrobras announces a new ultra-deepwater oil discovery off Amapá, strengthening Brazil’s Equatorial Margin as an emerging exploration frontier.
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Europe Bows to Trump Pressure on Oil Reserves
View article: Europe Bows to Trump Pressure on Oil ReservesEurope considers releasing strategic oil and diesel reserves after U.S. pressure, highlighting growing concern over winter fuel security and supply risks.
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Bioplastics News Breaks a New Record
View article: Bioplastics News Breaks a New RecordBioplastics News breaks a traffic record as thousands flock to read its coverage of the increasingly controversial UN Plastic Treaty.
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EU’s New Energy Policy: Dress Like a Tree
View article: EU’s New Energy Policy: Dress Like a TreeEuropean Commission Issues Winter Survival Guide – A satirical look at Europe’s energy insecurity and the growing pressure households could face during a difficult winter.
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EU’s Inflation Nightmare Is Back
View article: EU’s Inflation Nightmare Is BackEurozone inflation hit a three-year high in September as energy prices surged, increasing pressure on the ECB to raise interest rates.
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Supreme Court Could Shut Down Climate Lawsuits Against Big Oil
View article: Supreme Court Could Shut Down Climate Lawsuits Against Big OilThe U.S. Supreme Court could reshape climate litigation by deciding whether state courts can hear claims against major oil companies.
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UN Says Global Fuel Subsidies Could Top $1 Trillion
View article: UN Says Global Fuel Subsidies Could Top $1 TrillionGlobal fuel subsidies could exceed $1 trillion in 2026 as governments shield consumers from high energy prices and supply disruptions.
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EU dumps member states on energy
View article: EU dumps member states on energyEU seem to have a clear message to EU Member States: Figure it out yourselves. You’re on your own now, guys 😂
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Canada Rediscovers Crude Oil Overnight
View article: Canada Rediscovers Crude Oil OvernightCanada fast-tracks a major oil pipeline as Ottawa seeks new export markets, greater energy security and reduced dependence on the United States.
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Trump Puts France and Germany Under Pressure Over Diesel
View article: Trump Puts France and Germany Under Pressure Over DieselTrump pressures France and Germany over diesel reserves, exposing Europe’s energy vulnerability and the declining leverage of its biggest economies.
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Trump Lands Massive Korean Energy Investment in Texas
View article: Trump Lands Massive Korean Energy Investment in TexasSouth Korea backs a $22.3 billion Texas energy megaproject, highlighting America’s aggressive push for investment, power generation and AI infrastructure.
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Message to Xi Jinping: How to Deal with the European Commission
View article: Message to Xi Jinping: How to Deal with the European CommissionA satirical SOS to Xi Jinping, offering tongue-in-cheek advice on navigating Brussels, bureaucracy, regulation and Europe’s frustrated middle class today.
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How EU Regulated Itself Into Decline
View article: How EU Regulated Itself Into DeclineHow Europe Regulated Its Way Into Its Own Downfall
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Chemical Recycling & Pyrolysis at the Brink of Collapse?
View article: Chemical Recycling & Pyrolysis at the Brink of Collapse?Plastic pyrolysis plants are closing as technical problems, poor economics and low utilization rates challenge chemical recycling’s industrial viability.
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Plastic Recycling Lawsuit Against Industry Dismissed
View article: Plastic Recycling Lawsuit Against Industry DismissedFederal judge dismisses Kansas plastic recycling lawsuit, finding plaintiffs failed to connect industry claims to their alleged injuries and damages.
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EU Energy Security Depends on US and Nigeria
View article: EU Energy Security Depends on US and NigeriaEurope’s winter energy vulnerability exposes how replacing Russian dependence with new suppliers may have diversified risk rather than eliminated dependency.
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OPEC+ Freezes November Oil Targets
View article: OPEC+ Freezes November Oil TargetsOPEC+ is expected to freeze November production targets, pausing further increases while actual Gulf output remains constrained below pre-war levels.
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India buys Cheap Iraqi Crude
View article: India buys Cheap Iraqi CrudeIndia secures deeply discounted Iraqi crude as regional disruptions reshape oil flows and create unusually attractive buying opportunities for Asian refiners.
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China Suspends Fuel Exports
View article: China Suspends Fuel ExportsChina halts most October fuel exports, prioritising domestic supply as Middle Eastern and Russian disruptions tighten regional markets and boost margins.
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The Challenges of Pyrolysis Oil
View article: The Challenges of Pyrolysis OilPyrolysis oil promises circular plastics, but significant technical and economic challenges remain. Expensive purification, hydrogen consumption, variable feedstocks, limited yields, cracker risks and continued dependence on fossil naphtha complicate its large-scale adoption.
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Wanhua Settles US Antitrust Lawsuit
View article: Wanhua Settles US Antitrust LawsuitWanhua Chemical agrees to a $7.75 million settlement in a US antitrust case involving alleged MDI and TDI price fixing.
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Newsom Killed California’s Plastic Recycling Crackdown
View article: Newsom Killed California’s Plastic Recycling CrackdownGovernor Newsom vetoed California’s major recycling bill, handing the powerful petrochemical industry a massive corporate victory over advanced plastic regulations.
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Thai Chemical Leaders Move Toward Mega-Merger
View article: Thai Chemical Leaders Move Toward Mega-MergerThai petrochemical giants PTT GC and SCGC advance a massive joint venture, aiming to finalize the mega-merger terms by October.
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More Pesticides, Less Red Tape: EU New Food Safety Gamble
View article: More Pesticides, Less Red Tape: EU New Food Safety GambleEU member states back longer pesticide approvals and simpler procedures, prompting warnings that weaker safeguards could increase food-chain risks Europe-wide.
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Biofuels Are Cannibalizing Bioplastics
View article: Biofuels Are Cannibalizing BioplasticsEU biofuel mandates are driving up renewable feedstock prices, squeezing bioplastics producers and intensifying competition for scarce bio-based raw materials.
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Trinseo is undergoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring
View article: Trinseo is undergoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuringTrinseo’s Chapter 11 restructuring has hit delays as disputes between lender groups move into mediation. The plastics and specialty materials producer filed for bankruptcy protection in May, aiming to eliminate about $2 billion of debt and cut annual interest costs by roughly $140 million. A Texas bankruptcy court appointed mediator Robert D. Drain on September…
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Plastics are toxic study
View article: Plastics are toxic studyNew report warns that chemicals in everyday plastics may threaten human health, with most assessed substances high-risk while regulation lags.
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Global Plastic Limits Could Come at a Price
View article: Global Plastic Limits Could Come at a PriceGlobal Plastic Production Limits Could Raise Consumer Prices While Recycling Delivers Better Results, New Chemical Industry Study Claims Worldwide Today
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EU Targets Chinese PVC Imports After INEOS Complaint
View article: EU Targets Chinese PVC Imports After INEOS ComplaintINEOS welcomes European Commission investigation into unfair PVC imports and calls for urgent reform of EU trade defence.
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Restructuring at Aramco
View article: Restructuring at AramcoAramco weighs a major gas restructuring and possible Arlanxeo sale as it reshapes its energy, chemicals and downstream portfolio.
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Dangote Kenya Refinery on Appropriated Land?
View article: Dangote Kenya Refinery on Appropriated Land?A Kenyan court land dispute raises questions over Dangote’s planned 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery as local residents claim ancestral ownership of the site.
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Evonik rejects BASF offer
View article: Evonik rejects BASF offerBASF approaches Evonik with a €10.3 billion takeover offer, but the German chemicals group rejects the proposal as too low.
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LG Chem and Volkswagen Join Forces on Recycled Automotive Plastics
View article: LG Chem and Volkswagen Join Forces on Recycled Automotive PlasticsLG Chem and Volkswagen partner to develop next-generation automotive plastics with more recycled content, targeting lightweighting and future electric vehicle applications.
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Vietnam Turns to ExxonMobil to Diversify Crude Oil Supply
View article: Vietnam Turns to ExxonMobil to Diversify Crude Oil SupplyVietnam’s BSR partners with ExxonMobil Asia Pacific to diversify crude supplies, strengthen energy security and increase flexibility at the Dung Quat refinery.
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TotalEnergies Strike Threatens French Fuel Supply
View article: TotalEnergies Strike Threatens French Fuel SupplyCGT calls an October strike across TotalEnergies sites, raising concerns over refinery disruption and possible pressure on French fuel supplies.
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The Challenges of Plastic Waste Management
View article: The Challenges of Plastic Waste ManagementThe article examines the real trade-offs of plastic waste management, from recycling and reuse to exports, bioplastics and incineration, questioning whether full circularity is technically, environmentally and economically realistic.
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Middle East Tensions Boost European Chemical Distributors
View article: Middle East Tensions Boost European Chemical DistributorsMiddle East tensions are lifting European chemical distributors’ margins as customers pay premiums for reliable supply amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
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Did Bio-On’s Technology Really Exist?
View article: Did Bio-On’s Technology Really Exist?Bio-on’s rise and collapse remains one of Italy’s most controversial bioplastics stories, raising questions about technology, finance and industrial destruction.
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How China Replaced EU as a World Power
View article: How China Replaced EU as a World PowerChina’s long-term rise in science, technology, industry and geopolitics contrasts with Europe’s declining influence, competitiveness and global strategic weight.
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US Diesel Ban Could Hit Europe Hard
View article: US Diesel Ban Could Hit Europe HardA possible U.S. diesel export ban could strengthen Trump’s leverage over Europe by turning fuel supplies into a bargaining tool.
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EU Namibian Hydrogen Dream Collides With Oil
View article: EU Namibian Hydrogen Dream Collides With OilEU-backed green hydrogen ambitions in Namibia collide with major oil discoveries, increasingly shifting attention toward lucrative offshore petroleum development.
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US Outplays the EU in the Balkans
View article: US Outplays the EU in the BalkansWhile Brussels pursues ambitious climate goals, Washington pushes American gas into the Balkans, turning energy geopolitics into commercial opportunity.
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EU Hires Vatican AI Guru to Lead EU AI Policy
View article: EU Hires Vatican AI Guru to Lead EU AI PolicyBrussels discovers its ideal AI expert: a Vatican guru who reportedly never uses AI, making him perfectly qualified for EU policymaking.
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TotalEnergies Board Backs CEO for Another Mandate
View article: TotalEnergies Board Backs CEO for Another MandateTotalEnergies’ board backs Patrick Pouyanné for another mandate as Les Echos highlights five achievements that shaped his leadership.
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French Documentary: Inside France’s Waste Mafia
View article: French Documentary: Inside France’s Waste MafiaA French documentary investigates the country’s waste mafia, exposing illegal trafficking networks through the testimony of former waste trafficker.
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Belgian Waste Processor Burns Down in Major Industrial Fire
View article: Belgian Waste Processor Burns Down in Major Industrial FireA major fire burned through a Belgian waste-processing site in Roeselare, raising questions about safety, waste handling and investigation.
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BASF Should Buy Evonik: Europe Needs a Chemical Champion
View article: BASF Should Buy Evonik: Europe Needs a Chemical ChampionBASF confirms exploratory talks regarding potential takeover of Evonik
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France Guards Saudi Oil, Turns to Nigeria
View article: France Guards Saudi Oil, Turns to NigeriaFrance deploys military assets to protect Saudi oil infrastructure while increasingly turning to African suppliers as Europe reshapes its energy dependencies.
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China Tightens Chemical Exports to Help US Fight Fentanyl
View article: China Tightens Chemical Exports to Help US Fight FentanylChina tightens chemical export controls on fentanyl precursors, linking industrial chemical trade with the wider fight against drugs and organised crime.
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Italy Defies Brussels on Compostable Plastics
View article: Italy Defies Brussels on Compostable PlasticsItaly’s compostable-plastics exemption raises questions over actual composting capacity, market interests, and the potential long-term consequences for Italian food production.
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Chemical Recycling Comes to Town, Residents Push Back
View article: Chemical Recycling Comes to Town, Residents Push BackResidents near W.R. Grace’s Maryland site are pushing back against chemical recycling, citing emissions, odors, safety risks and transparency concerns.
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EU Commission Stops Regulating Europe for One Year
View article: EU Commission Stops Regulating Europe for One YearThe European Commission announces a one-year freeze on new legislation and regulation, using the pause to review existing rules, administrative burdens and their impact on European businesses and citizens.
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Oil, Chemicals and Plastics on the Trump–Xi Agenda
View article: Oil, Chemicals and Plastics on the Trump–Xi AgendaTrump–Xi talks could reshape oil, chemicals and plastics through tariffs, Iranian crude, industrial overcapacity, critical minerals and supply-chain restrictions.
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Brussels Makes Packaging Complicated
View article: Brussels Makes Packaging ComplicatedPPWR turns ordinary plastic packaging into a technical compliance burden, pushing more documentation, proof and red tape onto European businesses.
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TotalEnergies Lifts Force Majeure on Polypropylene Supplies
View article: TotalEnergies Lifts Force Majeure on Polypropylene SuppliesTotalEnergies has lifted force majeure on polypropylene supplies, easing disruption and improving availability for customers across the polymer market.
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Trade Unions: Italian Government Backed ENI’s Chemical Shutdown
View article: Trade Unions: Italian Government Backed ENI’s Chemical ShutdownItalian trade unions accuse the government of backing ENI’s retreat from basic chemicals, warning that plant closures could hit workers, suppliers and downstream industry.
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Eni Priolo Pyrolysis Plant: A Risk Analysis
View article: Eni Priolo Pyrolysis Plant: A Risk AnalysisEni plans a 40,000-tonne pyrolysis plant in Sicily. We examine the technology, scale-up challenges, feedstock quality, purification needs, economics and the real plastic-to-plastic recycling yield.
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Inside Eni’s Offshore Holdings and Fiscal Construction
View article: Inside Eni’s Offshore Holdings and Fiscal ConstructionEni’s foreign holding structures raise questions about why Libyan assets flow through Dutch entities, taxation, transparency and where profits ultimately land.
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Saudi Arabia Turns Away From Europe
View article: Saudi Arabia Turns Away From EuropeSaudi Arabia redirects more crude toward Asia, while Europe faces tighter supplies, higher costs and growing pressure on its struggling industry.
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The World Is Running Out of Oil Tankers
View article: The World Is Running Out of Oil TankersA global shortage of supertankers is driving freight costs higher, making long-distance crude shipments more expensive and squeezing refinery margins worldwide.
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Energy, Iran Conflict, Oil & Petrochemicals, Price, Inflation, Shortages.& Tariffs, Reports & Studies, TrendsMcKinsey Report: Energy Security
View article: McKinsey Report: Energy SecurityA short summary of the McKinsey report on the Hormuz crisis and its impact on global energy security.
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Dangote Plans Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Kenya
View article: Dangote Plans Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in KenyaDangote plans a huge Kenyan refinery and petrochemical complex, with Engineers India winning a $450 million engineering and management contract.
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Braskem Ownership Changes Hands
View article: Braskem Ownership Changes HandsBraskem’s ownership is changing as IG4 takes over Novonor’s stake, while Petrobras remains a major shareholder amid financial pressure.
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The Price of Oil Is Hitting India Hard
View article: The Price of Oil Is Hitting India HardIndia’s oil import bill jumped 48% despite lower volumes, as higher crude prices, tighter supplies and soaring freight costs hit hard.
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OPEC’s 2026 Oil Growth Forecast Is Evaporating
View article: OPEC’s 2026 Oil Growth Forecast Is EvaporatingOPEC has slashed its 2026 oil demand growth forecast by 73%, raising questions about whether global demand could soon decline.
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(Bio-) PET, Chemical & Advanced Recycling, Price, Inflation, Shortages.& Tariffs, Production Capacity, TrendsLotte Stops South Korea PET Recycling Project
View article: Lotte Stops South Korea PET Recycling ProjectLotte cancels its planned PET chemical recycling plant, raising questions over whether industry confidence in advanced recycling is beginning to fade.
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Ineos Stops Production in the UK
View article: Ineos Stops Production in the UKIneos halts UK production as soaring gas costs deepen Europe’s industrial crisis, prompting a satirical swipe at government economic policy.
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Belgium’s Gas Supply Falls
View article: Belgium’s Gas Supply FallsBelgium enters winter with lower gas arrivals as Ukraine continues disrupting the energy infrastructure Europe once relied on.
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The Oil Shock Is Becoming a Plastics Shock
View article: The Oil Shock Is Becoming a Plastics ShockOil disruption is spilling into plastics, driving up feedstock, production and shipping costs across the global petrochemical and polymer industries.
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Libya Oil Pipeline Shut by Armed Group
View article: Libya Oil Pipeline Shut by Armed GroupAn armed group shut Libya’s Sharara pipeline, cutting oil production by around 200,000 barrels per day and disrupting exports.
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Roman Abramovich: The Last Soviet Golden Boy
View article: Roman Abramovich: The Last Soviet Golden BoyRoman Abramovich’s journey from Soviet-era entrepreneur to global tycoon traces the rise of Russian capitalism, Chelsea’s transformation, Putin’s Russia and the return of Cold War tensions.
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Is Europe’s Chemical Recycling Model a Fraud?
View article: Is Europe’s Chemical Recycling Model a Fraud?A European investigation raises serious questions over chemical recycling, as pyrolysis oil is sometimes burned as fuel instead of becoming plastic.
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Europe Faces Major Jet Fuel Shortage
View article: Europe Faces Major Jet Fuel ShortageEurope faces a major jet fuel shortage as Middle East disruptions tighten supply, drain inventories and increase dependence on Asian imports.
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TF1 Exposes Italy’s Toxic Waste Problem
View article: TF1 Exposes Italy’s Toxic Waste ProblemTF1 investigates decades of illegal toxic waste dumping in Italy, exposing the devastating environmental and health consequences for local communities.
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Iran Conflict, Oil & Petrochemicals, Price, Inflation, Shortages.& Tariffs, Production Capacity, Trends
Saudi Arabia’s Biggest Oil Pipeline Hit
View article: Saudi Arabia’s Biggest Oil Pipeline HitSaudi Arabia’s largest oil pipeline was reportedly damaged by a drone attack, disrupting Red Sea exports and pressuring global oil markets.
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Eni Versalis at the Berlaymont Cafeteria
View article: Eni Versalis at the Berlaymont Cafeteria“Mr Versalis, what is the most successful dish at the Berlaymont cafeteria?”
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PepsiCo and the Great Plastic Puzzle
View article: PepsiCo and the Great Plastic PuzzlePepsiCo explores Aduro’s advanced recycling technology as a potential route to turn difficult plastic waste into valuable reusable feedstocks.
