Chemical news · Three minutes a day
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Lead Story
EnergyX signs binding $2 billion lithium supply deal with TrafiguraEnergyX secured a $2 billion binding agreement with Trafigura to supply 100,000 metric tons of lithium over ten years via direct extraction technology. Production begins in 2028 in Chile and 2029 in Texas to meet battery storage demand.
A cyberattack forced French supermarket refrigerators to overheat, causing fires and massive food waste. The breach exploited a vulnerability in Danfoss refrigeration software, impacting retailers like Intermarche and raising concerns about cold chain security in Europe.
BASF has indicated it will maintain Evonik's German employment guarantees until 2032 in any potential takeover agreement. This commitment addresses political and union concerns following Evonik's rejection of an initial €10.3 billion offer.
President Zelenskiy accused Russia of breaching a US-brokered energy ceasefire after strikes on Kharkiv's thermal power plant, while the EU approved new sanctions targeting Russia's military-industrial complex amid rising global fuel price concerns.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced continued long-range strikes against Russian energy infrastructure following alleged violations of an energy ceasefire. State energy firm Naftogaz confirmed damage to critical gas production facilities in the Kharkiv region.
Shanghai International Port Group is negotiating to acquire H&M Metal Warehousing, an LME-approved firm, to gain insights into global metal flows. This move aims to strengthen China's presence in industrial metals trading infrastructure.
At the EPCA annual meeting, BASF and Borealis CEOs warned that European chemical firms face a decade of consolidation due to cost pressures and overcapacity. They urged industry restructuring to maintain global competitiveness amidst shrinking markets.
Trump pushes for an energy ceasefire and Russian diesel deal to lower fuel prices, clashing with Zelenskyy over refinery strikes. Tensions risk cutting US intelligence and military aid while impacting global energy supply chains.
Indonesian energy firm Medco Energi agreed to acquire a 10% interest in four Eni-operated oil and gas blocks in East Kalimantan, including the Geliga gas field. The deal expands Medco's presence in the established LNG value chain.
Surging octane demand is restructuring the US Gulf aromatics market, diverting ethylbenzene and cumene to gasoline blending while elevating benzene and styrene prices through 2026 amid shifting global trade flows.
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