Chemical news · Three minutes a day
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Lead Story
Ithaca may halt Britain investment without Rosebank approval, FT reportsIthaca Energy warns it may halt UK investment unless the Rosebank oilfield is approved. The $3.8 billion project stalled due to activist opposition, leading the firm to consider Canadian assets instead.
Silgan Holdings and American Industrial Partners will acquire Trivium Packaging for $3.4 billion, with American Industrial investing $1 billion for a 40% stake. The deal values the European recyclable packaging maker and drove Silgan shares up 6%.
Commodity Pricing and Analysis Ltd published premiums for sustainable copper and aluminium, while major producers like Alcoa and Rio Tinto showcased low-CO2 products utilizing renewable energy and recycling technologies.
Lindt & Sprüngli appointed former CEO Dieter Weisskopf as interim chief following Adalbert Lechner's departure, aiming to appoint a permanent CEO by Q2 2027 amidst a 25% stock decline.
Danantara Investment Management and INA finalized investment in Chandra Asri's world-scale chlor-alkali plant in Indonesia, currently 80% complete with commercial operations targeted for 2027. The project aims to boost domestic production of key raw materials, reducing import reliance for downstream industries.
Indian tax authorities investigate Pernod Ricard and Diageo over potential tariff misclassification of bulk Scotch imports under the India-UK trade deal. Both companies confirm cooperation with regulators amid broader scrutiny in the region.
German drugmaker Merck KGaA agreed to acquire Silence Therapeutics for $1.3 billion to enhance its gene silencing capabilities. The all-cash deal values shares at $20 each and is scheduled to close in Q1 2027.
Hong Kong-listed Metis TechBio signed a collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly worth up to $1.1 billion for the R&D of tissue-specific drug delivery technologies.
India has abandoned plans to mandate coal imports for power plants due to high seaborne prices, opting instead to boost domestic output from Coal India amid rising electricity demand and low fuel stockpiles.
Siemens executive Cedrik Neike announced plans to raise factory automation levels to 70%-80% using AI and digital twins, investing €500 million in the Erlangen plant to enhance productivity.
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