Naphtha Prices Surge 60% — Half of Japan's Ethylene Plants Already Cutting Output – Industry & Global Market News Digest, 19 Mar 2026

Pharma & Public Health

West Asia War Puts India's Antibiotics and Insulin Supply at Risk

MSME Drug Makers Could Shut Down Within Weeks as Petrochemical Supplies Dry Up

Energy & Regulation

India Makes Real-Time Oil and Gas Reporting Mandatory for All Energy Players

Government Names PPAC as Watchdog Over Every Barrel and Pipeline

Plastics & Manufacturing

Middle East War Set to Push Up Prices of Toys, Bottles and Everyday Plastic Goods

Maharashtra to Prosecute Wedding Halls Over Plastic Flowers

Cupid Launches India's First Dual-Polymer Condom Plant to Break Global Monopoly

Road & Industrial Safety

Tanker Driver Killed as Chemical Spill Triggers 200-Metre Highway Inferno

Global Petrochemicals & Supply Crisis

Korea's Petrochemical Plants Face Shutdown with Just 15 Days of Naphtha Left

Naphtha Prices Surge 60% — Half of Japan's Ethylene Plants Already Cutting Output

Idemitsu's Production Cuts Signal a Systemic Naphtha Crisis Across Japan

Iran's South Pars Oil Facilities Hit — Damage Unknown

European Chemical Industry Braces for New Blow as Middle East War Escalates

Corporate & Strategy

KBR Wins 7-Year Saudi Maintenance Deal at SATORP's Jubail Complex

BASF Coatings Develops 1,300 Colour Concepts a Year — Here's How

Incheon Launches $1.1 Million Fund to Close Pay Gap Between Contractors

Hanwha Ocean and Greece's ONEX Team Up for Submarines and Mediterranean Contracts

Korea Zinc Cracks Rare Earth Recycling and Eyes 320,000-Ton Sulfuric Acid Capacity

LANXESS Cuts 550 Jobs and Warns Recovery Won't Come Before Late 2026

Wanhua Crosses RMB 200 Billion Revenue But Profits Stay Stuck in the Cycle

Yulong's 100,000-Ton MMA Plant Goes Live — Bold Bet or Overcapacity Risk?