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SHANGHAI (ICIS)—Asia’s 1,4-butanediol (BDO) market continues to be pressured by oversupply amid slowing demand. With the first peak season in March to April ending, demand in some sectors has started to slow. In this chemical podcast, ICIS Markets Reporter Corey Chew reports from China on market expectations before Enmore’s 14 th BDO and downstream derivatives forum.
SINGAPORE (ICIS) – Asia's olefins brace for headwinds amid sustained weak demand in May, although some support is expected from curtailed supply in China. Lengthening supply from South Korea could continue to weigh on the market's outlook as it navigates upstream volatility amid tensions in the Middle East. Asia's olefins market to see increasing supply from South Korea in May Relatively low PDH run rates could lend support to NE Asia C3 Poor demand weighing on Asia C2 amid multiple supply optio...
ORLANDO (ICIS)--NPE2024 is underway in Orlando, Florida, after a 6 year hiatus, and Senior Market Editor Emily Friedman and Senior Marketing Executive Natalie Stephens break down the key topics among discussions and presentations at the show: Sustainability is a pillar of the industry, one which companies should prioritize to future-proof their business Risk management remains paramount, following several years of instability and unprecedented highs and lows Technology and data have never been m...
A more optimistic outlook for the global economy and chemicals could be jeopardized by rising geopolitical instability. - Current downturn reminiscent of 1970’s oil shock - Global GDP growth could start to recover from 2025 - Geo-political risks are rising and could jeopardise economy - Chemicals CEOs slightly more upbeat - PMIs show China manufacturing now expanding - But China challenged by debt, property bubble, youth unemployment, demographics - Expect 2-3%/year China GDP growth in 2030s as ...
Market players expressed bearish views on consumption throughout value chains at the recently concluded polyurethanes exhibition and conference UTECH Europe held between 23-25 April 2024 in Maastricht, the Netherlands. ICIS isocyanates (toluene diisocyanate -TDI and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate-MDI) and polyols, European market editor, Zubair Adam and ICIS senior analyst for isocyanates and polyols, Umberto Torresan who attended the event share their engagements and discuss future development...
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--ICIS analyst Sijia Li, Yvonne Shi, Zhibo Xiao, Lucy Shuai, Joanne Wang and Cindy Qiu discuss the development trend of China's polyolefins and polyester market.
The European and US epoxy resins markets are facing a tug of war between margin and cost struggles versus still fragile underlying demand and competition from China. The US anti dumping case for epoxy resins against several Asian countries and the EU anti subsidy probe against Chinese wind turbines are also talking points as the west looks to protect its industry against unfair competition. Senior editor Heidi Finch who covers the Europe epoxy market discusses current and near-term expectations ...
The choppy economic backdrop, unprecedented growth of global polyolefins capacity, and how Europe can pivot under pressure from chunky legislation, were huge themes at the 10th ICIS World Polyolefins conference. Fresh from the stage, ICIS experts dig into the biggest themes that cropped up for delegates including converters, brands and producers in Vienna. In this podcast, PE and PP senior editor Vicky Ellis is joined by fellow senior editor Ben Monroe-Lake, senior analysts Emiliano Basualto, Lo...
LONDON (ICIS)--In April, for European oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets the focus has remained on supply-side changes to drive market sentiment and prices. This is largely expected to continue for the remainder of the quarter. Across markets, underlying demand continues to struggle amid the muted downstream environment in a variety of end user segments. Anticipated supply improvements for the rest of the quarter remain closely monitored Glycol ethers report editor Cameron Birch speaks to oxo-...
Recent cracker closure announcements in Europe and Japan may be the first of many as the industry grapples with chronic overcapacity driven by China and the Middle East. - Three cracker closure announcements in Europe, Japan since late March - 1.4 million tonnes of ethylene capacity affected, but up to 20 million may be needed - Europe, Japan, South Korea suffer from higher costs - Negative chemicals demand growth possible in China - China still dominates global chemical markets - Opportunity to...
The urea market is expected to remain subdued as Chinese exports resume over the next few months and given Iranian producers eagerness to move product before any fresh sanctions are imposed. China exports to resume but challenges remain Iran offers over 200,000 tonnes for May India’s return unlikely before June In this podcast, ICIS senior editors Sylvia Traganida and Deepika Thapliyal discuss the globally supply and demand situation for urea and ammonia, and the future developments for both pro...
SINGAPORE (ICIS) – Persistent production constraints have driven Asia’s spot prices for butadiene (BD) to near two-year-high levels, but how the rally may go from here may hinge on downstream demand conditions. Prolonged under-utilisation of regional crackers dented regional BD output Exports from China helped to plug some of these supply gaps Mixed views about downstream demand outlook In this podcast, ICIS editors Ai Teng Lim and Aviva Zhang discuss how regional supply and demand balance has e...
The arbitrage between Europe and northeast Asia opened up in Q1 as OQ Chemicals declared force majeure on oxo-alcohols at its German site, tightening the European market. However, as underlying European demand remains sluggish and economic malaise continues, import opportunities for Asian sellers may be short lived. Europe markets editor, Nicole Simpson, and Asia markets editor, Julia Tan, discuss the outlook for supply, demand and trade flows in the coming quarter....
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--In this podcast, ICIS Analyst Sijia Li and ICIS Senior Industry Analyst Joanne Wang talk about highlights in in polyolefin market to provide background for you to visit Chinaplas.
SINGAPORE (ICIS) – Buying in Asia and the Middle East polyethylene terephthalate (PET) markets remained relatively need-based, with factors like geopolitical tensions and uncertainties in freight rates clouding sentiment. · Mixed sentiment in Asian markets, PET tracks upstream closely · Uncertainty around freight rates leads to need-based buying · Inventories with Mideast buyers high, however some replenishment expected post-Eid break In this chemical podcast, ICIS editors Damini Dabholkar and Z...
Europe is finalizing the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, with far-reaching implications for both virgin and recycled polymer producers. - Most significant EU packaging legislation in decades - Includes binding targets for recycling and recyclability - PPWR will have huge impact on virgin and recycled packaging sectors - Working groups need to be set up across recycling value chains
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia recycled polymers markets were sluggish for the most part in 2023. In early 2024 too, challenges that dim the short-term outlook persist. Some legislations surrounding recycling were also put in place in the region over the last few years, but the obstacles that limit the growth of this sector still remain. In this chemical podcast, ICIS senior editor Arianne Perez and analysts Joshua Tan and Chua Xin Nee share their insights on the topic....
SINGAPORE (ICIS)— China recently recorded an average propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit run rate of 47.6% on 3 April, down from 58.7% from a week before, marking the biggest week-on-week decrease ever and hitting the lowest point on record, according to ICIS data. However, the average operating rate of PDH units in China is expected to pick up from late April as restarts are expected amid expectations of wider propylene-propane price spreads in Q2 and Q3. In this podcast, ICIS Analyst Wang Yan s...
Governments around the world are accelerating moves to impose anti-dumping duties as China ramps up exports of excess chemicals capacities. - New wave of chemicals anti-dumping investigations against China - Led by EU, US, India, Brazil, South Korea - China exporting more excess chemicals and other industrial products - China imports an added burden for struggling chemical companies in Europe - More trade barriers could drive deglobalization of chemical markets - China, Japan and India rely heav...
April is opening differently to March for Europe’s virgin polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) markets, and has been slow to start after the Easter break. Ahead of the ICIS 10th anniversary World Polyolefins Conference in Vienna this week, ICIS editors look at the early supply/demand signs for April, and what are the obvious changes from March. This podcast features Matt Tudball, senior editor for Europe R-PET & R-LDPE, and Vicky Ellis, senior editor manager for Europe virgin PE & PP...
The chemical ISO tank container market may benefit from the shift to regional supply chains as well as growth in low carbon supply chains. - ISO tank containers may benefit from growth in low carbon supply chains - Shift from global to more regional supply chains may benefit ISO tanks - ISO tank containers fit into 20 and 40-foot shipping containers - Fill gap between chemical parcel tankers and steel drums - Global fleet of 850,000 ISO tanks in 2023, 5.8% larger than 2022 - Fast-growing sector ...
Analyst Joshua Dill, Senior Analyst Andrea Bassetti, and Senior Market Editor Emily Friedman reflect on their experiences and key takeaways from the 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference in Grapevine, Texas. They dive into various topics regarding notable trends, legislation, chemical recycling, and more.
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's ethylene (C2) market will see northeast Asia supply in Q2 remain ample on the back of relatively high run rates at northeast Asian crackers. Similarly, propane dehydrogenation (PDH) units in the region are also expected to sustain current run rates for Q2. In this podcast, ICIS market editors Josh Quah and Julia Tan discuss Asia's olefins flows, with a forward view on the Q2 market. NE Asia C2 supply ample, SE Asia C2 supply tight NE Asia and SE Asia C3 supply ample Deep...
SINGAPORE (ICIS) – China’s continuing real-estate sector woes ensured healthy exports, especially to the major market of India. Supply continued to be ample in the region, while market participants digested news of impending implementation of BIS regulations and the initiation of the ADD investigation. Influx of exports from China continues amid sluggish domestic consumption India’s DGTR releases notification on ADD investigation Sentiment to be swayed by elections, monsoon, potential BIS regula...
SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- The importance of regulations cannot be overlooked as countries work towards their sustainability targets. However, the regulatory landscape in Asia Pacific is fragmented, resulting in a complex web of intricacies. As a result, countries may have similar policies, but implemented at different levels of maturity. For example, Southeast Asian countries tend have detailed roadmaps but lack specificity while countries in Northeast Asia tend to have matured policies that covers a ...
GRAPEVINE (ICIS)-- The Plastics Recycling Conference is underway in Grapevine, Texas, and Senior Market Editor Emily Friedman and Senior Analyst Andrea Bassetti break down the key topics among discussions and presentations at the show: US R-PET market experiencing a divergence from historic trend, as well as stark regional differences Chemical recycling capacities still set to grow through 2028 Recycling markets facing virgin, import price pressure and sluggish demand in 1H2024 To learn more, IC...
LONDON (ICIS)--With the already challenging supply chains taking a further hit with the force majeure declared by OQ on oxo-alcohols, there is growing tightness across the oxo-alcohol and derivatives markets. Oxo-alcohols editor Nicole Simpson joins acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech, butyl acetate (butac) editor Marion Boakye and glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch for the March 2024 edition of the oxo-alcohols and derivatives podcast and to assess just how tight and challenging the pictu...
Governments must do much more to protect recycled polymer producers in the West as rising oversupply in virgin markets, led by China, threatens to undermine their business model. - Europe recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) producers face existential threat - Feedstock prices soar while subdued demand, price of virgin, caps selling prices - Growing global overcapacity depresses prices, margins for virgin plastic producers - Recycler margins threatened, prospect of closures or bankruptcies ...
Stock markets around the world are surpassing previous highs while the chemical industry continues to be bogged down by low demand, poor profitability and rising overcapacity. - Chemicals supply/demand imbalance will persist even if economy picks up - China, Middle East will continue to add capacity - China chemicals demand growth could be low or even negative - Stock markets dominated by technology companies - Valuations bloated by past era of cheap borrowing - Stock market bubble could burst -...
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--In this podcast, ICIS analysts Whitney Shi and Jady Ma talk about supply and demand changes in China’s Group III base oils market.
