--- title: "Shell's US Chemical Assets Attract Bids Up to $8 Billion" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/shells-us-chemical-assets-attract-bids-up-to-8-billion" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/shells-us-chemical-assets-attract-bids-up-to-8-billion" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/shells-us-chemical-assets-attract-bids-up-to-8-billion.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/shells-us-chemical-assets-attract-bids-up-to-8-billion" category: "Business & Economy" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-24T13:45:44.747Z" source_reported: "2026-08-24T09:09:17.000Z" updated: "2026-08-24T15:15:15.233Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-24T15:15:15.209819+00:00" --- # Shell's US Chemical Assets Attract Bids Up to $8 Billion *ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell, and Apollo are among potential buyers for the assets.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to Financial Times, with multiple outlets citing it and naming specific bidders. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is clear and holds together, with specific details on bidders and locations provided. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are factual and do not overstate the content of the reports. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Shell is looking to sell its U.S. chemical assets, which include plants in Louisiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania. - The assets could fetch up to $8 billion, according to reports. - ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell, private equity firm Apollo Global Management, and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation have expressed interest. - Potential buyers submitted non-binding offers last month, with bids for the entire business or parts of it. Oil major Shell has attracted interest from several potential buyers for its U.S. chemical assets, which could be valued at up to $8 billion. Companies including ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell, along with private equity firm Apollo Global Management and the chemicals arm of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, have expressed interest. Shell aims to divest underperforming chemical plants as part of its strategy to focus on higher-return activities. The U.S. chemical business comprises plants at four sites across Louisiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Potential buyers submitted non-binding offers last month. These offers range from proposals to acquire the entire business to bids for specific parts of it. The Financial Times reported that the potential sale price represents a significant discount compared to the capital Shell has invested in these facilities. ## Disagreement on bid details While multiple reports state that potential buyers submitted non-binding offers last month, the Financial Times, as reported by The Times of India and The Economic Times, noted that these bids ranged from proposals for the entire business to parts of it. Other digests did not specify this detail. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre or right-rated reports mentioned that Shell agreed to sell its onshore renewables power business in Europe to TotalEnergies earlier this month, a detail included in the full reports from The Times of India and The Economic Times. Furthermore, no left-rated outlet ran this story at all. ## Who covered it Shares of the 9 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 56% (5) - Right: 44% (4) 4 of 13 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-24T15:15:15.209819+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-24T15:30:12.568Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports led with the potential sale of Shell's U.S. chemical assets and the estimated value of up to $8 billion. They named ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell as potential bidders, citing the Financial Times. These reports also mentioned Apollo Global Management and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation's interest, and that Shell is divesting underperforming plants. The locations of the plants in Louisiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania were also included. ### Right - Right-rated reports highlighted that several parties are interested in acquiring Shell's U.S. chemical operations, with the Financial Times cited as the source. They named ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell, and investment firm Apollo as expressing interest. Some reports also mentioned the potential value of up to $8 billion and that Shell seeks to divest underperforming plants. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 4 - unknown: 5 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/legal/litigation/shell-draws-interest-bidders-including-exxon-8-billion-us-chemical-assets-ft-2026-08-24) — Exxon, Lyondell among suitors for Shell's US chemical assets, could fetch $8 billion, FT reports - [NL Times](https://nltimes.nl/2026/08/24/shell-sell-us-chemicals-division-8-billion-refocuses-oil-gas) — Shell could sell U.S. chemicals division for $8 billion as it refocuses on oil and gas - [Sapo](https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/shell-atrai-varios-potenciais-compradores-para-ativos-quimicos-nos-eua) — Shell Attracts Several Potential Buyers for Chemical Assets in the U.S. Economic Journal - [BIC Magazine](https://bicmagazine.com/industry/refining-petrochem/exxon-lyondell-among-suitors-for-shells-us-chemical-assets-could-fetch-8-billion) — Exxon, Lyondell among suitors for Shell's US chemical assets, could fetch $8 billion, FT reports - [Oil Price](https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Exxon-Eyes-Shells-8-Billion-US-Chemicals-Business.html) — Exxon Eyes Shell’s $8 Billion U.S. Chemicals Business - [Bioplastics News](https://bioplasticsnews.com/2026/08/24/shell-sells-us-chemical-business) — Shell sells US chemical business - [Le Singulier](https://lesinguliersete.fr/la-chimie-americaine-de-shell-attire-les-gros-poissons-du-secteur) — Shell's American Chemistry Attracts Large Fish From the Sector - [The Edge Markets](http://theedgemarkets.com/node/815594) — Exxon, Lyondell among suitors for Shell's US chemical assets, could fetch US$8 bil, FT reports - [BNR Nieuwsradio](https://bnr.nl/nieuws/economie/10608774/interesse-in-overname-amerikaanse-chemie-activiteiten-shell) — ‘Interest in Acquiring Shell’s US Chemical Operations’ - [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://rd.nl/a/1160196-ft-interesse-in-overname-amerikaanse-chemie-activiteiten-shell) — FT: Interest in Acquiring Shell's US Chemical Operations - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/e6ed1a012322942c) — Exxon, Apollo Among Suitors for Shell US Chemicals Unit, FT Says - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/exxon-lyondell-among-suitors-for-shells-us-chemical-assets-could-fetch-8-billion-ft-reports/articleshow/133451703.cms) — Exxon, Lyondell among suitors for Shell's US chemical assets, could fetch $8 billion, FT reports - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/business/exxon-lyondell-among-suitors-for-shells-us-chemical-assets-could-fetch-8-billion-ft-reports/articleshow/133451703.cms) — Exxon, Lyondell among suitors for Shell's US chemical assets, could fetch $8 billion, FT reports ## Questions **What U.S. chemical assets is Shell looking to sell?** Shell is considering selling its chemical plants located at four sites in Louisiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania. These facilities produce chemicals used in plastics, detergents, and pharmaceuticals. **Who has expressed interest in buying Shell's U.S. chemical assets?** Potential buyers include major companies such as ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell, as well as private equity firm Apollo Global Management and the chemicals division of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. **What is the estimated value of Shell's U.S. chemical assets?** Reports suggest that Shell's U.S. chemical assets could fetch up to $8 billion. This reported price is considered a steep discount to the capital Shell has invested in these facilities. **When did potential buyers submit their offers?** Potential buyers submitted non-binding offers last month. These bids varied, with some proposing to purchase the entire business and others focusing on acquiring specific parts of it. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/shells-us-chemical-assets-attract-bids-up-to-8-billion. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Shell's US Chemical Assets Attract Bids Up to $8 Billion", https://mediabias.news/business/shells-us-chemical-assets-attract-bids-up-to-8-billion