2026: A View from the Middle of the Chemical Industry |
Watch these four shifts to prepare for the transitions ahead, not just respond to them.
BY FRED ELABED, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF LAB ALLEY @LAB_ALLEY
[Photo: Getty Images]
Last year taught the chemical industry some hard lessons about speed and preparedness. At Lab Alley, we sit between manufacturers and end users, which means we often see shifts before they become obvious across the industry.
The nearly 50 percent tariffs on Indian chemicals hit suddenly. Companies weren’t prepared. Customers had to either absorb significant cost increases or delay orders. The lesson wasn’t about tariffs specifically. It was about how fast government policy can restructure your supply chain economics without warning.
Then the EPA classified dichloromethane as toxic and restricted residential use to licensed manufacturers. No transition period. Companies with alternatives ready maintained their customer relationships. Those without them scrambled.
But the most telling shift was customer behavior. Customers stopped accepting internal documentation as sufficient proof of quality. Standard SDS and Certificates of Analysis weren’t enough. They started requiring third-party certifications, sustainability credentials, and verified sourcing. We kept hearing: “We need to show our stakeholders.”
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Four shifts converging in 2026
From our position in the supply chain, we’re tracking four major forces arriving........