NEWS & INSIGHTS
Price updates, market trends, industry analysis, and expert commentary from the California Chemical team — delivered as it happens.
INDUSTRY NEWSContainer freight rates are sending mixed signals, while chemical tanker costs are rising on several routes. Here’s what the late October update means for chemical buyers reviewing shipping options, delivery timelines and total delivered costs.
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INDUSTRY NEWSA new Section 301 duty layer took effect July 24, 2026 across 60 country and economy designations. Most summaries describe two tiers at 10% and 12.5%. The Federal Register action has four, and two of them add points on top of MFN with no cap. On a 6.5% MFN chemical that spread runs from 10% to 19% depending on origin. Here is how the tiers actually calculate, which exclusions are narrower than they look, and why this framework may outlast the measures it replaced.
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PRICE UPDATEIndorama Ventures has announced a $0.05/lb price increase on Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Triethylene Glycol (TEG), effective July 1, 2026, or as contracts allow.
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INDUSTRY NEWSA US-Iran memorandum of understanding calls for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen on June 19, but analysts caution that relief will not be immediate. With 51 containerships and roughly 300,000 TEU stranded in the Persian Gulf and freight rates at their highest since July 2025, buyers of polyethylene, polypropylene, and titanium dioxide should plan for a two-to-three-month recovery and continued cost pressure into Q3.
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INDUSTRY NEWSThe U.S. has proposed new Section 301 tariffs of 10–12.5% on imports from the EU and 59 other countries, tied to forced labor enforcement. With a likely effective date of July 24, stackable duties, and Brazil facing up to 37.5%, chemical producers and importers need to act now. Here's the full breakdown.
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INDUSTRY NEWSContainer freight rates from China to the US surged this week, with some indices rising up to 16% in a single week. Strait of Hormuz disruption and early peak season demand are hitting simultaneously. Here is what specialty chemical buyers need to know and what to do before rates climb further.
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PRICE UPDATEEastman Chemical Company is increasing prices on n-Butyl Acetate, n-Propyl Acetate, and PM Acetate effective June 1, 2026. All three products will see an increase of $0.15/lb ($0.33/kg) across NAR and LAR regions. California Chemical is monitoring these shifts to support your supply needs.
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