Paint & Coating News

When a listed company downgrades the scale and timeline of the same fundraising project twice within a year, it’s no longer a mere “prudent adjustment”—it’s a loud alarm bell.

Industry titan AkzoNobel officially announced the completion of its sale of AkzoNobel India Limited (ANIL)—its liquid decorative coatings business in India—to JSW Group, one of India’s leading diversified conglomerates, for €1.4 billion.

On December 10, 2025, global chemical history took a dramatic turn—Abu Dhabi–based investment giant XRG P.J.S.C. (formerly ADNOC International Limited) officially completed its voluntary public takeover of Covestro AG.

On December 15, BASF said that its main plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany, will not carry out compulsory layoffs for at least the next three years and pledged to invest €1.5–2.0 billion annually in the modernization of the site.

• BASF

Japan’s Kuraray Co. has announced a restructuring of its global polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) business and will transfer all shares of its wholly owned subsidiary, Kuraray Methacrylate (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd., to Jiangsu Shuangxiang Group Co., Ltd.

• Kuraray

In a decisive move to sharpen its competitive edge, Asahi Kasei Corporation has announced it will cease production of hexamethylenediamine (HMD)—a key chemical intermediate—by April 2027.

French specialty chemicals leader Arkema has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with China’s ENNEX (Yunnan Energy New Material Co., Ltd.)—the world’s leading lithium-ion battery separator manufacturer—to accelerate innovation and globalize nex

Received an official notice from the Fengzhen Municipal People’s Government in Inner Mongolia ordering the immediate and complete shutdown of its entire production site for “comprehensive rectification.”

AkzoNobel has completed the sale of AkzoNobel India Limited (ANIL) to JSW Group, one of India’s leading diversified conglomerates. The transaction marks a significant milestone in the strategic portfolio review announced by AkzoNobel in October 2024.

• AkzoNobel
• JSW

Indian government announced the formal revocation of mandatory Quality Control Orders (QCOs) on seven critical petrochemicals—paraxylene (PX), toluene, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), dichloroethane, and vinyl chloride monome

Wanhua Chemical, BASF, Huntsman, and other major MDI producers all announced significant price increases across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Turkey.

SK Chemicals announced that it will establish a joint venture with Chinese plastic recycling company Kelinle to build a waste-plastic processing plant in Shaanxi Province.

• SK Chemicals
• Kelinle

Merck has opened a new semiconductor operations base in Taiwan, reinforcing the resilience of its global supply chain and strengthening its position within the semiconductor ecosystem.

• Merck

Dow Europe Limited dropped two “price bombs” on the EMEAI (Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India) market: a €150/ton increase across all polyether polyols and a simultaneous €100/ton hike on all polyurethane systems.

Clariant has appointed Marcelo Lu as President-Designate of its Care Chemicals & Americas business, effective January 2026.

On December 1, 2025, the company confirmed that its polyurethane plant in Rotterdam, Netherlands, is grappling with an unplanned shutdown of its larger MDI production line—a 280,000-ton-per-year unit that went offline around November 21 due to an unexpect

Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has announced the acquisition of exclusive, full trademark rights for the iconic Dunlop brand across Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei—covering tires, inner tubes, and tire repair patches.

Saudi Arabia has officially brought online the first phase of the Jafurah gas field—the largest unconventional shale gas project outside the United States.

Indian government has revoked mandatory quality certification requirements for seven critical petrochemicals, including key aromatics like para-xylene (PX) and toluene.

Australian-American battery materials leader Novonix is transforming industrial relics into high-tech powerhouses—right in the heart of Tennessee.