Iran war sends polypropylene up 60% » India’s syringes now cost more – Global News Digest, 30 Mar 2026

Geopolitics & Conflict

Iran strike at Tabriz plant » No chemicals leaked but markets rattled

Iran war sends polypropylene up 60% » India’s syringes now cost more

Petrochem surge hits every product » India’s Goldilocks economy is over

South Korea » First Russian naphtha deal emerges as a post-Iran war lifeline

Vietnam » Binh Son turns to Russia, Africa and US as diversification begins

Sustainability & Recycling

EU » Moves to ban forever chemicals with targeted exceptions

Mitsui Chemicals » ISCC PLUS certification secured for sustainable ACTCOL line

TotalEnergies » Opens France’s first advanced recycling plant with 15,000 MT capacity

UK » 38,000-tonne Corby recycling plant signals reversal of Europe’s closures

Innovation & Technology

Air Liquide » Opens Taiwan chip materials plant as AI supply chain strengthens

Titanium Dioxide » Prices rise RMB 2,000 in three rounds as sulfur costs bite

India on the Global Map

PCBL » Adds 30,000 MT carbon black capacity as Tamil Nadu plant goes live

JP Nadda » Chairs chemical sector meet focused on new parks and lower import dependence

India Rubber Expo 2026 » 400 exhibitors, 45,000 visitors and a strong industry turnout

UPM » Opens Delhi slitting terminal to accelerate north India label supply

LPG quota » Raised to 70% for textiles, chemicals and plastics

Delhi » 86% of locations still using banned plastics three years after prohibition

Aarti Pharmalabs » Receives one FDA observation for Tarapur unit

Corporate Moves — International

EPL and Indovida » Merge to create a $2 billion packaging giant

GRP » Marketing president to retire on 31 March after a long innings

Fire, Safety & Disruption

Karad » Factory explosion razes facility but no deaths reported

Bawana » Plastic factory fire draws three tenders with no injuries reported

Markets & Pricing

BASF » Raises amines prices by 30%

LANXESS » Pigments prices up 20% as Europe’s cost wall rises

Brazil » Slashes chemical taxes by 60% as India’s crop protection sector warns of 25% cost spike

Trade & Industry Announcements

CHEMEXCIL » Postpones US trade webinar; new date to be announced soon