Downstream news updates

The Middle East is poised to dominate global methanol capacity additions by 2030, driven primarily by its access to abundant and cheap natural gas, which is a primary feedstock for methanol production, GlobalData has reported.

Increased segmentation in Europe’s recycled low density polyethylene market has prompted ICIS to introduce a new flexible natural transparent rLDPE pellet price as part of its existing recycled polyethylene pricing service.

For the week ending 17 July 2026, commercial crude oil inventories (excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased 2.0 million barrels to 411.7 million barrels, 6% below the previous five-year (2021 - 2025) average, the US EIA has reported.

Emerson has announced a new flameproof model for the Rosemount™ 965 Flame Detector, adding hazardous-location certification for applications where reliable hydrocarbon flame detection is required.

MSA outlines the critical role that gas and flame detection plays across the LNG value chain.

The Saudi Basic Industries Corp. have announced the signing of a Project Development Agreement with Rongsheng Petrochemical Co. Ltd. to jointly advance the development of the Jintang New Materials Project in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China.

Fluor Corp. has announced that it has been selected by Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. to execute the front-end engineering and design for a new aromatics facility located in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Catalyxx has announced that Sines, Portugal, has been selected as the location for Catalyxx Ibérica, the company's first commercial-scale plant.

Celtic Renewables has partnered with Evonik to supply bio-based chemicals for use in cosmetics formulations.

AB KN Energies has announced an additional invitation to submit requests for the allocation of 2027 Klaipeda LNG terminal capacities, Lithuania.

In a recent blog, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) explains why the US imports crude oil despite being the world’s largest crude oil producer.

OXEA Corp. has awarded Kent detailed engineering services for a major specialty chemicals project at its Bay City facility in Texas, US.

In the first half of 2026, Adriatic LNG was Italy’s third-largest source of natural gas imports, after the pipelines transporting gas from Algeria and Azerbaijan.

Johnson Matthey has completed the sale of its Catalyst Technologies business to Honeywell Technologies for an enterprise value of £1.325 billion on a cash and debt-free basis.

Asian LNG demand is heading for a second consecutive year of decline, reports Wood Mackenzie.

Valmet has received an order to deliver a Valmet DNAe Distributed Control System (DCS) for a CO2 liquefaction plant at Auris Energia’s biogas plant in Mäntsälä, Finland,

Crude oil inventories held at storage facilities in Cushing, Oklahoma, US, fell below 20 million bbl during the week ending 19 June until the week ending 10 July, according to EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report.

The transaction is expected to further strengthen ABB’s focus on electrification and automation and expand its offering for large and complex infrastructure and industries.

Kent has announced the signing of Long-Term Agreements and Project Management Consultancy agreements with Aramco, further establishing the company’s presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Shell Bahamas Power Company Inc. has taken a final investment decision on an LNG regasification terminal in the Bahamas.

Emerson has introduced software that automates two of refining’s most time-intensive and margin-critical processes: crude scheduling and product blending.

RapiCure has announced that it has been selected by Chevron Technology Ventures for its Catalyst Program™ aimed at accelerating technology innovation within the energy sector.

Axens has announced the launch of the ERA project, France’s first industrial-scale SAF production unit based on advanced bioethanol.

Petroleum markets in 2Q26 were characterised by continued disruptions to international crude oil and petroleum product flows through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to higher and more volatile crude oil prices through most of the quarter, the EIA has reported.