European methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) reporter; Gabrielle Jordan and methanol senior editor; Eashani Chavda discusses the supply and demand dynamics of each market as both face atypical, subdued demand in Q3, due to a subpar summer driving season. Topics discussed include: Supply and demand dynamics Increasing import reliance Potential US tariffs and their effects Podcast by Gabrielle Jordan and Eashani Chavda...
Aug 14, 2025•9 min•Ep. 1374
As a completely new chemical industry landscape unfolds before us, leaders should harness AI, innovation and consolidation opportunities in high cost regions. Industry faces structural—not cyclical—challenges Overcapacity and competition squeeze Europe Demand decouples from GDP, shrinking market size AI can boost efficiency and forecasting accuracy. Specialties and low-carbon products need careful thinking Global chemical companies withdraw from Europe Local chemical companies can gain market sh...
Aug 12, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1373
In this podcast, join the ICIS global base oils team as they discuss the key drivers impacting the market in H2. Weaker crude complex to weigh on costs Group II supply poised for length Demand weakness persists
Aug 08, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1372
Rising overcapacity, AI and protectionism may drive a swift transition in chemical production and markets in the next 5-10 years. - Commodity chemicals may be produced mainly by large state-owned enterprises - Smaller, privately-owned companies may switch to high value composites, specialties, low-carbon chemicals - High-cost regions such as Europe could protect their essential commodity chemicals production - Protective measures need to be taken in next 3-6 months to rescue EU commodity chemica...
Aug 08, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1371
Join John Richardson , ICIS senior executive, business solutions group, in Episode 4 of Sustainably Speaking along with Mark Victory and Matt Tudball , senior editors for recycling Europe, and Helen McGeough , global analyst team lead for plastic recycling as they discuss the European Commission's proposals to allow mass balance for chemical recycling using a fuel-exempt accounting approach under the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), and what this means for the wider recycling world. Plus, h...
Jul 30, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1370
From four-year lows for European polypropylene (PP) prices, Dow announcing the closure of its Bohlen cracker, ping-ponging crude oil prices, a key US and EU tariff deal, and some fresh anti-dumping duties in India – June and July have been action packed for PP and polyethylene (PE). ICIS senior editor manager Vicky Ellis and senior editor Ben Lake compare notes with ICIS market specialist Aswin Kondapally on how Europe and Indian markets match up in July, and what to expect in August....
Jul 30, 2025•35 min•Ep. 1369
HOUSTON (ICIS)—US ethylene glycol (EG) markets reporter Melissa Wheeler discusses global market dynamics and factors on the EG markets with Judith Wang, Asia EG Senior Editor, and Nicole Simpson, Europe EG Markets Editor. Market factors discussed include: News regarding China’s economic policies boosted market sentiment short-term Global lack of downstream PET demand pulling MEG demand lower US EG supply disruptions due to tariffs Upcoming outages at Shell’s North America sites and BASF’s Belgiu...
Jul 29, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1368
The permanent closure of Sabic’s cracker and other facilities at Wilton, UK, shows how tough conditions are in Europe with recyclers also feeling the pinch. - Closure of UK polymer recycling facilities has been a shock to the industry - European recyclers find it hard to compete against imports, more support for local recycling needed - Regulations are helping recycling sector, but more action needed - Outlook for Europe recycling more positive than for base chemicals - Chemical plant closures r...
Jul 29, 2025•40 min•Ep. 1367
Europe's oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets remain structurally weak, with some players beginning to feel effects of the summer slowdown. Ongoing economic weakness and geopolitical uncertainty continue to dampen sentiment, with activity expected to slow further from late July into August as summer holidays begin. Oxo-alcohols and their derivative markets are not expected to experience significant demand changes in H2 2025. Oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate reporter Marion Boakye joins acrylate es...
Jul 23, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1366
Slowing demand growth and a battle for market share between Saudi Arabia and the US could see crude oil prices drop significantly by the end of the year. - High oil prices stimulate more production, low prices less - Saudi Arabia and the US battle for market share - Global demand for oil is around 100 million barrels/day - Electric vehicles (EVs) have destroyed 2 million barrel/day of oil demand - Globally around 20% of vehicle sales are EVs - Oil prices could fall to $40-$45/barrel by the end o...
Jul 22, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1365
As the existing global trading system crumbles, and overcapacity keeps growing, Europe’s chemical industry must move back to a more national or regional business model. - Trade war shows global trading system is breaking down - Chemical industry could move back to a national or regional business model - Would be a return to pre-1990s industry structure - Europe has smaller chemical plants, ideal for regional markets - EU must now act fast to protect chemical and industrial value chains - China c...
Jul 18, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1364
With H1 2025 already in the rear-view mirror, and the summer heatwave upon us once again, the acetone and phenol, and derivative markets, continue to be blighted by difficulties. Demand, pretty much across the board in this value chain as well as for many other products, remains stubbornly weak. Supply is ample in most cases as well, leading to stagnant markets, sluggish spot activity, and contracts doing the majority of the heavy lifting in the markets. In this podcast, Europe ICIS editors Jane...
Jul 17, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1363
SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- Trade tensions have been in focus for the wider petrochemical markets since US Liberation Day tariffs were announced. In this podcast, propylene editor Julia Tan speaks with ethylene editor Josh Quah to examine how recent tariff developments have impacted the Asian olefins market. Ethylene support collapses with ethane resolution, new downstream demand to cushion drops US tariff impact to trickle up from end use sectors Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange announces propylene futures...
Jul 10, 2025•9 min•Ep. 1362
SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- Asian methanol prices have experienced a lot of volatility over the last few weeks, due to geopolitical concerns in the Middle East. While most production returned to normal in early July, some questions still remain around demand, both in India and the rest of Asia. Production in Iran, southeast Asia returns to normal US tariffs, seasonal factors to affect demand from downstream applications MTO run rates in China may be adjusted in July, margins may narrow In this chemical ...
Jul 09, 2025•6 min•Ep. 1361
European politicians must decide if they want to save the region’s chemical industry as the wave of energy-intensive closures continues. - Dow to close cracker at Bohlen, Germany plus two other sites with loss of 800 jobs - More than 5 million tonnes/year of ethylene capacity now under threat in Europe - Industry still faces high energy costs, regulatory burdens, unfair competition - China will continue to add capacity at least to 2030 - China chemical plants running at higher-than-expected oper...
Jul 08, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1360
LONDON (ICIS)--As geopolitical tensions have cooled, the chemicals industry did not have time to react to the spike in oil prices, and the seasonal demand drop in Europe could be more severe than the traditional summer lull. China polypropylene flooding global market, outpacing domestic demand Chemicals industry as leading indicator warns of wider economic ill health Shutdown of plants in Europe is massive crisis Vietnam 20% tariff from US will weigh on both economies Risks of US cutting social ...
Jul 04, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1359
In this podcast, market editors Zubair Adam (MX) and Miguel Rodriguez Fernandez (PX, OX) showcase the low levels of consumption in Europe.
Jul 04, 2025•7 min•Ep. 1358
China's expansion of its carbon market and the EU's implementation of CBAM are reshaping the landscape for high-emission industries. Steel, aluminum and cement are under increasing pressure to decarbonize, and hydrogen is emerging as a strategic solution. In this podcast, ICIS analysts Patricia Tao and Lewis Unstead compare China and Europe’s approaches to decarbonizing heavy industry, and discuss the role of hydrogen in this transformation.
Jun 30, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1357
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets continue to be blighted weak downstream demand in June with key end-use segments, including automotive, construction and paints and coatings remaining sluggish. Acrylate esters editor Mat Jolin-Beech talks with glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch and oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye about conditions in these markets and expectations for the near future.
Jun 24, 2025•10 min•Ep. 1356
Europe’s chemical distribution sector is bracing for the impact of multiple geopolitical and economic challenges, including the Israel/Iran conflict. - All Iran’s mono ethylene glycol (MEG), urea, ammonia and methanol facilities have been shut down - For methanol this represents more than 9% of global capacity, for MEG it is 3% - Brent crude spiked from $65 to almost $75/bbl, reports of attacks on gas fields and oil infrastructure - If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz this will severely disrupt ...
Jun 17, 2025•36 min•Ep. 1355
The worst chemicals downturn in living memory is forcing ratings agencies to downgrade more companies and raising fears of bankruptcies. - Chemical company earnings have been bottom-of-cycle since 2023 - Leverage (borrowing) is high compared to historical levels - Low earnings increase pressure on leverage, raises risk of default - Fitch has downgraded more chemical companies over last 12-18 months - Extended trough in chemicals may lead to bankruptcies - Operating rates have not recovered as th...
Jun 13, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1354
HOUSTON (ICIS)—US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Markets Reporter Melissa Wheeler, Vice President of the North America PET/Polyester Chain, Antulio Borneo, Senior Recycled Plastics Editor, Emily Friedman, Latin America PET Senior Markets Editor, Daniel Lopes discuss the implications to the virgin PET and recycled PET (R-PET) markets as a result of tariffs and anti-dumping duties. PET and R-PET market factors discussed include: US PET, R-PET demand outlook for peak summer season Canada’s anti-d...
Jun 10, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1353
Recent revisions of recycled content targets from major brands have led to questions about just how committed companies are to reducing their consumption of virgin plastic - but what are the underlying issues behind such decision? In this third episode of Sustainably Speaking, ICIS' Senior Executive, Business Solutions Group John Richardson is joined by Mark Victory and Matt Tudball , Senior Editors for Recycling Europe, and Helen McGeough , Global Analyst Team Lead for Plastic Recycling at ICIS...
Jun 10, 2025•44 min•Ep. 1352
As chemical producers gain access to more renewable energy, and portfolios evolve, distributors and downstream customers can look forward to more availability of low carbon, low fossil content products. - Distributors can help communicate sustainability data up and down industrial value chains - Full lifecycle analysis is required to truly measure a product’s environmental footprint - Vital to have standard measurements for carbon footprint - Chemical industry has a 25-year innovation cycle, mor...
Jun 03, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1351
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets continue to face blighted downstream sentiment in May tied to ongoing US trade developments and wider domestic economic malaise pertaining to principle end user segments including automotive, constriction and wider paints & coatings business. Better availability has facilitated further price pressure in May with few signs of a let up in the short term. Supply changes remain critical for price discovery. Glycol ethers editor Cameron B...
May 30, 2025•9 min•Ep. 1350
As the 12 June deadline for entries to the ICIS Innovation Awards approaches, a judge and a 2024 winner describe why this topic is so important for the future of the chemical industry and society. - Innovation breaks down silos, encourages collaboration - Enables industrial value chains to decarbonise - Chemical industry provides essential raw materials - Awards are a chance to get external recognition for your innovations - Deadline is 12 June, entry is free and quick - click here for full deta...
May 30, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1349
Participants at the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (APIC) expect chronic oversupply conditions hurting the chemical sector will start to rebalance by 2028-2030. - China overcapacity, trade war is causing an unprecedented crisis - Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), paraxylene (PX) in structural oversupply - Hopes for rebalancing by 2028-2030 as plants shut down, capacity build slows - Demand is flat but India is the exception – a beacon of growth for the region - Taiwan, Thailand stru...
May 22, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1348
Cease fires on both business and war fronts are the focus of this month’s European polyethylene (PE) & polypropylene (PP) podcast, from the US and China de-escalating their eye-watering tariffs battle for 90 days, to the India-Pakistan ceasefire. Senior editors Vicky Ellis and Ben Lake look at May’s price trends, how US-China trade relations are influencing sentiment in Europe, and are joined by senior editor Nadim Salamoun to discuss Trump's announcement regarding lifting sanctions on Syria...
May 21, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1347
LONDON (ICIS)--Relatively stable demand and evolving global supply dynamics are expected in European ammonia and acrylonitrile (ACN) markets in 2025. In this latest podcast, global ammonia editor Sylvia Tranganida and Europe ACN editor Nazif Nazmul share the latest developments and expectations for what lies ahead. Ammonia players are expecting European demand from the nitrates market to pick up soon Availability is due to tighten with scheduled turnarounds in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia Ammonia ...
May 20, 2025•10 min•Ep. 1346
BANGKOK (ICIS) -- Asia benzene prices saw an uptrend early week. However, this gain was wiped out by a drop in crude prices by Friday. Market gets boost from US-China trade breakthrough Early week increases of over $50/tonne eroded by crude drop at week's close Market cautious about sustainability of uptrend amid incoming European cargoes In this chemical podcast, Asia benzene editor Angeline Soh discusses the situation in the market and some insights from the Asia Petrochemical Industry Confere...
May 16, 2025•3 min•Ep. 1345
