Dow and Adient collaborate on seating foam with bio-circular content. August 05, 2026 02:00 PM GMT+1 Michigan, US - Dow and Adient have teamed up to create a polyurethane seating foam with renewable content. Specflex REN includes bio-circular attributed feedstocks under the mass balance approach, and is certified by ISCC Plus. The companies said the foam maintains the comfort and resilience performance standards of fossil-based automotive seating foam, while having a lower carbon footprint. The latest edition of Urethanes Technology International is now available

Aether Industries and Dow India launch joint silicone technology research programme. Published: 05 Aug 2026 In August 2026, Aether Industries Ltd. and Dow Chemical International Pvt. Ltd. (Dow India) entered into a strategic research partnership to develop advanced silicone manufacturing technologies in India. The collaboration aims to strengthen indigenous innovation, enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities, and support the country's growing demand for high-performance silicone materials. Under the partnership, Aether Industries and Dow India will jointly develop next-generation manufacturing technologies for silicones. The initiative is also expected to reduce India's dependence on imported technologies while also helping in creating a strong foundation for future commercial production within the country. By combining their technical expertise, the two companies aim to accelerate innovation and contribute to the growth of India's specialty chemicals and advanced materials sector. The joint research program will be carried out at Aether Industries' research and pilot facilities in Surat, Gujarat. Initially, both companies will focus on research and development, process optimization, and pilot-scale testing. Subsequently, they will evaluate opportunities to scale up the technologies for commercial manufacturing. Impact on the chemical market. Silicones are high-performance materials widely used across industries such as construction, transportation, electronics, healthcare, and personal care. By developing advanced silicone manufacturing technologies within India, the collaboration is expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain, encourage technological self-reliance, and support the expansion of India's specialty chemicals industry. The partnership also aligns with the country's broader vision of promoting innovation-driven manufacturing and building globally competitive capabilities in advanced materials Beyond research, the agreement also establishes the framework for a long-term strategic collaboration between Aether Industries and Dow India. The partnership also opens the door for the commercialization and industrial-scale production of the silicone manufacturing technologies developed under the program, subject to successful research outcomes. Impact on the silicone market. The silicone market size is calculated at USD 19.55 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 20.92 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 37.70 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 6.79% from 2026 to 2035. According to Precedence Research, the demand for silicone-based products is rising in industries like automotive, construction, electronics, and healthcare due to their adaptability and distinctive qualities, which contribute to market expansion. The increasing demand for silicone in the automotive industry boosts the growth of the market. Silicone polymers are extensively used as a greasing material for lubricating brakes, insulating material at the electric joints to prevent sparks, and in the manufacturing of automotive engines. With the growing production of medical devices and implants, the demand for silicone is increasing in the healthcare industry. Since silicones are biocompatible and safe, they are widely used in manufacturing medical devices. The rising usage of silicone polymers as sealants, coatings, and adhesives in the construction industry further propels the growth of the market. Silicone-based construction materials enhance the efficiency and longevity of construction work. Key players are also collaborating to deliver silicone materials across diverse geographical locations, especially in emerging economies like the Asia-Pacific and Africa. This is helping major players to fulfill local demands, strengthening their global position, and creating their brand value. The startup ecosystem is also maturing, driven by advances in semiconductor, quantum computing, and edge AI technologies. Emerging startups are developing and leveraging 3D printing technologies for manufacturing silicone. Impact on the silicon tetrachloride market. The global silicon tetrachloride market size is calculated at USD 2.64 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 2.73 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 3.68 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 3.45% from 2025 to 2035. According to Precedence Research, rising consumption of silicon tetrachloride for polysilicon manufacturing is the primary driver of the silicon tetrachloride market. Hence, burgeoning demand for polysilicon is ultimately propelling the growth of the silicon tetrachloride market. Solar technology is among the fastest-growing segments in the energy and power industry. More than 90% of the solar cells are manufactured from polysilicon. Growing energy demand, environmental concerns regarding fossil fuels, rapidly declining cost of photovoltaic cells, and increasing awareness regarding green energy are some of the factors likely to boost the demand for polysilicon. The silicon tetrachloride market is experiencing global expansion, as growing demand for high-purity silicon in solar cells, semiconductors, and optical fibers, along with its applications in creating fumed silica for coatings and adhesives. North America is dominant in the market due to the increasing renewable energy industry and progress. The major players and investors in the silicon tetrachloride market are leading worldwide chemical, materials, and technology organizations. Expert opinion. Dr. Aman Desai, Co-Founder and Director (Research and Operations), Aether Industries, said that the company is delighted to partner with Dow India as its exclusive research collaborator for the program. He noted that Aether's strong capabilities in chemistry, process development, and manufacturing technology, combined with Dow's global expertise in silicone materials and applications, will help develop innovative manufacturing technologies tailored to India's growing market requirements.

Net profit surged 132.7% year-on-year! Dow's Q2 performance sees a major turnaround. 2026-07-27 09:08:05 Source:ChemNet 中文 On July 23, Dow released its complete financial report for the first half of 2026. The company achieved a significant performance turnaround, moving from loss to profit. In the second quarter, revenue rose across all segments and regions simultaneously. Coupled with the new CEO's implementation of a multi-billion dollar cost reduction and capacity optimization transformation plan, the company's profitability improved significantly. I. Overall Financial Data Released: Successful Turnaround in H1, Explosive Growth in Q2 Revenue and Profit 1. Core Performance in H1 In the first half of 2026, Dow achieved net sales of $21.886 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.6%. Net income was $357 million. Compared to the net loss of $1.091 billion in the same period last year, this represents a year-on-year increase of 132.7%, indicating a significant warming up of the overall operating conditions. 2. Outstanding Performance in Q2 Net sales for the second quarter alone were $12.1 billion, a surge of 20% year-on-year, with revenue growing simultaneously across all business segments and major global regions. Pricing became the core support: The average product price increased by 20% year-on-year. The price increase for Packaging and Specialty Plastics led the market, and global polyethylene quotes rose across the board. Volume faced slight pressure, declining 1% year-on-year. While sales volumes for Performance Materials and Coatings achieved growth, the production reduction due to maintenance in the Packaging & Plastics segment completely offset the gains. Improvement in profitability was prominent: Q2 GAAP net income was $802 million, compared to a loss of $801 million in the same period last year, a year-on-year increase of 200%. Operating EBIT reached $1.6 billion, an increase of $1.7 billion year-on-year, compared to a loss of $21 million in the same period last year. Product price increases and company-wide cost reduction and efficiency enhancement were the two core drivers of profit restoration. II. Management Change Implemented, Two Major Cost Reduction and Transformation Plans Advance Steadily Effective July 1, 2026, Karen S. Carter officially assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of Dow and detailed the company's cost optimization and long-term transformation plans during the earnings call. $1 Billion Cost Savings Plan Nearing Completion Announced in January 2025, the remaining optimization work for this plan is now basically implemented. Cost reduction channels are divided into two categories: directly cutting $500 to $700 million in costs, focusing on outsourced services and compression of third-party labor; and reducing the global workforce by about 1,500 positions to lower labor expenses. At this stage, the layoff plan is 55% complete, and the transformation and renovation of the six core production bases have all been implemented. "Transform to Outperform" Transformation Plan Steadily Implemented The project is expected to generate $700 million in earnings in 2026, with a long-term goal to achieve an EBITDA increase of at least $2 billion. The plan includes the optimization of 4,500 job cuts, while relying on artificial intelligence and automation equipment to improve production efficiency, achieving a leapfrog upgrade in capacity and productivity. III. Breakdown of Q2 Operations for Three Major Business Segments, Showing Clear Divergence (I) Packaging and Specialty Plastics Segment: Price Increases Drive Gross Margin, Maintenance Drags Down Sales Volume Segment sales for the second quarter were $6.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 27%. Local product prices surged by 30%, with global polyethylene price increases being the core driver, and exchange rates contributed an additional 1% to revenue. Sales volume declined by 4% year-on-year due to concentrated maintenance of oil and gas-related facilities reducing external sales. Segment EBIT was $1.3 billion, an increase of $1.2 billion year-on-year. The widening of integrated polyethylene spreads combined with cost reduction dividends supported profits, with only additional costs from maintenance slightly eroding earnings. Oil & Gas energy business breakdown: Olefin price increases offset the decline in sales volume. US Gulf Coast units were shut down, and Europe/Africa/Middle East cracking units were shut down last year but have restarted and resumed production this June. (II) Industrial Intermediates and Infrastructure Segment: Loss-Making Assets Idle, Profit Significantly Improved Quarterly sales were $3.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 14%. Average product prices increased by 15%, with synchronous price increases across all global regions and sub-segments, and exchange rates added 1% to revenue. Sales volume declined by 2% year-on-year, as geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East suppressed demand for polyurethanes and construction chemicals, with only Industrial Solutions partially offsetting the decline. Segment EBIT was $246 million, an improvement of $431 million year-on-year. Multiple positive factors resonated: rising gross margins, implemented cost reductions, reduced maintenance, and the suspension of provisioning for losses from the idle Sadara joint venture. The long-term idling of Sadara assets is also an important reason for the weakness in segment sales volume. Divergence in sub-segment trends: Polyurethanes and construction chemicals relied on price increases to stabilize revenue; Industrial Solutions saw both volume and price rise, driven by new alkoxylation capacity and data center demand, but the decline in Middle East market demand acted as a drag. (III) Performance Materials and Coatings Segment: Sales Volume Grows Against the Trend, Costs Drag Down Profits Segment sales were $2.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 11%. Average product prices increased slightly by 4%, mainly driven by price increases in coatings and functional monomers, with exchange rates adding 1% to revenue. Sales volume increased by 6% year-on-year, with both sub-segments seeing simultaneous volume expansion, and downstream silicone demand showing outstanding growth. Segment EBIT was $133 million, a slight year-on-year decrease of $19 million. Although the company continued cost reductions, major overhauls of units and the phased shutdown of the upstream silicone factory in Barry, UK, led to increased fixed costs, offsetting the benefits of cost reductions. All sub-segments trended positively: Consumer Solutions benefited from hot silicone sales, with robust demand in consumer, electronics, and home care; Coatings and Functional Monomers drove revenue growth through increases in both volume and price of acrylic monomers and construction coatings. [Copyright Notice] In the spirit of openness and inclusiveness of the Internet, ChemNet welcomes all media and institutions to reprint and quote its original content. If reprinted, please mark the source ChemNet. If you find any copyright issues with articles on this website, please contact Chemnet at [email protected]. Important information. Commodity price chart. | Product name | Price (yuan/ton) | Price Limit | | Crude oil | 100.69 | +19.54% | | Crude oil | 92.19 | +17.77% | | LPG | 6375.00 | +15.23% | | Formic acid | 1900.00 | -13.64% | | MTBE | 7312.50 | +12.50% | | Diesel | 7464.43 | +10.84% | | Maleic anhydride | 8750.00 | +9.38% | | Methyl acetate | 3933.33 | -9.06% | | PA | 9216.67 | +8.86% | | Antimony | 91750.00 | -8.48% | | MEK | 8566.67 | +8.44% | | Dimethyl carbonate | 4183.33 | +8.19% | | Xylene | 6766.67 | +7.98% | | Ethylene oxide | 7000.00 | +7.69% | | Benzene | 8403.33 | +7.23% | Scan to access the mobile version View the latest and hottest chemical news content