Sinopec

Delray Beach, Fla. – September 21, 2026 -- The global rubber process oil (RPO) market is set to expand from $3.30 billion in 2026 to $3.94 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.6%, according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets.

Tire manufacturing drives largest share of oil demand

The tires application segment is projected to register the highest growth at 4.7% CAGR and remains the largest consumer of RPO by value. Manufacturers rely on process oils to balance flexibility, durability, and processing efficiency across passenger, commercial, and specialty tire production. Rising replacement-tire demand and evolving fuel-efficiency standards are reinforcing this consumption base.

London – September 17, 2026 -- BASF retook the top spot in the ICIS Top 100 Chemical Companies ranking with $70.0 billion in 2025 sales, even as sector-wide net profits collapsed 81.9% year-on-year.

BASF overtakes Sinopec to lead global chemical rankings

The Germany-based producer displaced China's Sinopec, which posted $66.3 billion in sales for second place. US-based ExxonMobil ranked third at $53.4 billion, followed by PetroChina at $42.1 billion and Dow at $40.0 billion, according to the annual ICIS Chemical Business ranking, which converts figures to US dollars using year-end 2025 exchange rates.

Astana – September 09, 2026 -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec, HKG: 0386) has co-launched a Low-Carbon Energy Development Cooperation Initiative with Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry, Nazarbayev University's Institute for New Materials and Energy Technologies, and the International Organization for Technological Innovation Cooperation on CCUS (ICTO), aiming to deepen coordination on carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies and standards.

Astana – September 09, 2026 -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, "Sinopec") joined Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy, the International Cooperation Organization for Technological Innovation in CCUS (ICTO), and the Institute of New Materials and Energy Technologies at Nazarbayev University to launch a Low-Carbon Energy Development Cooperation Initiative at the 2026 International CCUS Technology Conference in Astana on September 1-2.

Initiative targets closer coordination on CCUS technology and standards