Chemical news · Three minutes a day
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Lead Story
Apple commits up to $100 million for US titanium in domestic manufacturing pushApple commits $100 million over three years to purchase titanium from Perryman Company for its US manufacturing expansion. The deal includes titanium with 80% recycled content for devices like the iPhone Duo.
Panasonic plans to begin large-scale production of glass-based perovskite solar cells in April 2029, one year ahead of schedule, to boost Japan's renewable energy deployment through power-generating windows.
Oil majors anticipate record third-quarter profits driven by Iran war-induced energy price spikes, prompting investor scrutiny on capital allocation strategies like debt reduction versus buybacks. Major firms including Shell, BP, and Exxon plan earnings releases late October amidst high refining margins.
Amid soaring diesel prices linked to global conflicts, the US Energy Department is partnering with refiners to increase throughput while the IEA coordinates emergency stockpile releases totaling 50 million barrels.
CATL unveiled its Tianxing II battery platform and plans to build 900 heavy-truck swapping stations by year-end to accelerate electrification. The company aims to reduce costs by 15% using standardized swap blocks to address charging limitations for long-haul freight.
Telenor ASA and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners joined the Nordic Compass alliance to boost regional competitiveness. The group explores energy initiatives and considers adding a workstream on critical raw materials processing for European industry.
ABB reported third-quarter orders surged 40% to $12.1 billion, exceeding estimates due to demand for electric components in data centers and utilities. It advanced acquisitions, including a Mitsubishi joint venture, capitalizing on the AI infrastructure boom.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits India to finalize a trade deal while waiving tariffs on Russian crude oil imports. The move impacts major refiners like Reliance Industries as New Delhi balances energy security with geopolitical pressures.
TotalEnergies declared force majeure on toluene supplies from its Normandy refinery due to strikes disrupting production and logistics. The strike affects xylene and toluene chains, halting deliveries from the 50,000 mt/year capacity facility.
HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery stated that resilient alternative logistics routes could render the Strait of Hormuz redundant within five years, citing investments to recover from the impact of the Iran conflict in the Gulf region.
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