Chinese chemical majors post a strong first half – Global Corporate News Digest, 16 Jul 2026

EARNINGS & INDUSTRY RECOVERY

Chinese chemical majors post a strong first half

M&A & STRATEGIC MOVES

Olin and Huntsman clear a US regulatory gate

Aquatech buys a Gulf water-chemicals firm

Mitsubishi completes its US shale-gas acquisition

POLICY, TECHNOLOGY & TRANSITION

China's new carbon plan tightens the screws on coal chemicals

Japan weighs reviving naphtha stockpiles

DuPont launches a direct-lithium-extraction toolkit

PureCycle targets recycled polypropylene for Japan — weak India link

CAPACITY & SUPPLY WATCH

Canfor to shut a major softwood-pulp mill

A styrene tank incident hits a Brazilian producer