International Developments - India Transmission Watch – 13 Aug 2026

Profit gains face a durability test

KH Neochem lifts first-half operating profit 25% despite a 9% sales fall, but temporary price effects cloud the run-rate

China Sunsine lifts rubber-chemical volume 9% to a half-year record, but profit grows only 5% as forex loss and R&D absorb the gain

Hankook Tire lifts Q2 core operating profit 40% on premium mix, but oil and freight threaten the second-half spread

Price hikes await market acceptance

Wanhua and Chinese peers raise acrylic-emulsion prices 5-15%, but announced increases do not yet prove downstream acceptance

BASF raises European NPG and HDO prices by up to about Rs 32,929 a tonne, but the notice gives no volume or acceptance evidence

Projects remain on the drawing board

Topsoe's Texas ammonia loop promises 10-100% ramping in 30 minutes, but finance and 2029 operation remain unproven

KBR starts work on Morocco's 560,000-tonne ammonia plan, but the project remains before FEED and final investment decision

Regulation and technology under watch

UK opens PVC dumping probe against China, Mexico and Korea, but duties still depend on injury and economic-interest tests

Valmet targets corrugated-board warp with closed-loop moisture control, but order value and savings remain undisclosed