LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have seen ongoing subdued market conditions in march, and also face the pressure of rising feedstock and production costs. Acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech speaks 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.
Mar 17, 2025•9 min•Ep. 1316
Fresh US tariffs posing a big risk for PE, a chemical industry under threat of “extinction”, more Q4 results to pore over from EU polyolefins – there’s yet again plenty to digest for Europe polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) senior editors. Vicky Ellis and Ben Lake are joined by senior analysts Lorenzo Meazza (PE) and Emiliano Basualto (PP) to consider February trends, what to expect in March and the rest of 2025. Last but not least, they look at different scenarios that US tariffs will af...
Mar 06, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1315
HOUSTON (ICIS)—US polyethylene terephthalate markets reporter Melissa Wheeler interviews Vice President of the North America PET/Polyester Chain, Antulio Borneo. PET market factors discussed include: Tariffs on Mexico and Canada imports and the impacts to the US PET market Supply and demand balance going into the peak summer season China’s antimony bans on exports to the US and the impact that will have on PET production...
Mar 05, 2025•9 min•Ep. 1314
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The northeast Asian propylene import markets have been weighed down by lengthening supply amid restarts at propane dehydrogenation (PDH) units. However, lower affordability levels from derivatives such as propylene oxide (PO) have also curbed import demand. NE Asia propylene prices cool on weaker demand amid lower affordability levels Oversupply a central issue in northeast Asia for PO makers Tight SE Asia propylene supply likely to continue amid shutdowns In this latest podcas...
Mar 05, 2025•6 min•Ep. 1313
BARCELONA (ICIS)--The European Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal may not be radical enough to reverse the decline of Europe’s petrochemical industry. Member states urged to lower energy bills by cutting taxes to legal minimums Improve infrastructure and connections to ease flow of renewable electricity €100 billion to support EU-made clean manufacturing, but questions over how chemicals can access the money Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for energy-intensive industries to partner with renewab...
Mar 04, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1312
LONDON (ICIS)--Recent escalations in the US-China tariff war are set to create waves in the Asian and European import markets for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). Isocyanates Europe editor Zubair Adam and Asia editor Shannen Ng show case the key developments.
Mar 03, 2025•3 min•Ep. 1311
LONDON (ICIS)--The European oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have seen a mix of stable to firm pricing coming into February. Focus is shifting towards what demand trends may look like into the spring months and on current supply disruptions in the market. Glycol ethers report editor Cameron Birch speaks to oxo-alcohols editor and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye, acrylate esters editor Mat Jolin-Beech about the current conditions in these markets and expectations for the near future....
Feb 28, 2025•10 min•Ep. 1310
Europe’s petrochemical sector will need to see bold moves in the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal to help reverse its decline. - May be a conflict between aim of making Europe more competitive and environmental goals - Europe is in the “last chance saloon” to halt deindustrialisation - Europe industry burdened by high cost of energy, CO2 - Improved connectivity for renewable power will be essential for chemicals - Reform of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) welcome if it really protects local ...
Feb 25, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1309
In this podcast, market editors Zubair Adam (MX) and Miguel Rodriguez Fernandez (PX) discuss the challenges for future demand.
Feb 19, 2025•5 min•Ep. 1308
John Richardson , Market Development Director, hosts this new series of ICIS podcasts focusing on the subject of sustainability, and more specifically, recycling. In this first episode, John speaks to Helen McGeough , Global Plastics Recycling Analytics Team Lead, and Matt Tudball , Senior Editor for Recycling, Europe about how EU regulation is impacting the European recycling market now and in the future, and why European regulation will have a much more global impact. Topics include: Breaking ...
Feb 19, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1307
LONDON (ICIS)--Halfway through Q1 - and it is no surprise that there are still a host of challenges facing the phenol, acetone and derivatives chain. These include high energy costs, ongoing poor demand and the uncertainty around future trade flows given fresh Asia capacity and any tariffs – and reciprocal tariffs - from the new Trump administration. Europe ICIS editors Jane Gibson (acetone and phenol), Heidi Finch (bisphenol A and epoxy resins), Meeta Ramnani (polycarbonate), Mathew Jolin-Beech...
Feb 18, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1306
The Global Impact Coalition (GIC) aims to bring chemical companies and value chain partners together to solve challenges on the road to net zero carbon. - Collective effort will bring down the cost of sustainable solutions - GIC is spin off from the World Economic Forum - Major chemical company members include BASF, SABIC, Clariant, Covestro, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi, Syensqo, LG Chem - Automotive plastics recycling is a key focus - Fully decarbonised car would only add $900 to final price - O...
Feb 18, 2025•37 min•Ep. 1305
Recycled Plastics senior analyst Andrea Bassetti and US Recycled Plastics senior editor Emily Friedman discuss the main takeaways from the latest round of corporate quarterly earnings calls, as they relate to the US recycled plastics industry.
Feb 14, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1304
Senior Editor for Recycling Matt Tudball asks Carolina Perujo Holland , Senior Analysts for Plastics Recycling, and Travis Klein , Senior Analyst for PET how the European markets compare to other regions in terms of competitiveness, impacts of regulation and feedstock costs, and what they'll be covering in their presentation at the ICIS PET Value Chain Conference. The ICIS PET Value Chain Conference runs from 6-7 March in Amsterdam. Click here to register and see the full agenda....
Feb 12, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1303
SINGAPORE (ICIS) --The Trump administration swiftly withdrew financial support for its hydrogen sector, while China is accelerating hydrogen expansion with strong policy backing. In this podcast, ICIS hydrogen analysts Patricia Tao and Anita Yang discuss how these developments could gradually shift the global hydrogen market’s center of gravity over the next three to five years.
Feb 12, 2025•7 min•Ep. 1302
Europe’s petrochemical sector is in the midst of a crisis which EU leaders can solve through bold actions, according to Ilham Kadri, president of Cefic and CEO of Syensqo. - More than 11 million tonnes of European chemicals capacity slated to close - Decline can be reversed with strong EU political action - Simplify bureaucracy, lower energy costs, finance low carbon transition - EU needs to stimulate demand for low carbon products, create level playing field against global competition - Time to...
Feb 11, 2025•40 min•Ep. 1301
What with tough financial results from some producers, the threat of tariffs and upstream price wobbles, 2025 already has a lot to discuss for Europe polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) senior editors. Vicky Ellis and Ben Lake look back on January trends and what's being tussled over for February in contract talks. They touch on LyondellBasell's Q4 results , Dow CEO Jim Fitterling's downbeat view on demand, early February market trends and ICIS' article about the SE Asia PE plant shutdowns ...
Feb 10, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1300
LONDON (ICIS)--Relatively stable demand expectations is anticipated to be met with evolving global supply dynamics within the European acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile (ACN) markets in 2025. In this latest podcast, Europe ABS report editor Stephanie Wix and her counterpart on the Europe ACN report, Nazif Nazmul, share the latest developments and expectations for what lies ahead. Geopolitics-led macroeconomic challenges dampen prospects of demand resurgence Balanced-to-long...
Feb 07, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1299
Senior Editor, Recycling, Matt Tudball talks to Helen McGeough , Global Recycling Analytics Team Lead about some of the key topics that will be discussed at the upcoming ICIS PET Value Chain Conference on 6-7 March in Amsterdam. Topics include: Improving the supply chain for recycled PET Getting access to good-quality feedstocks Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) growing in Europe Impact of high feedstocks on R-PET prices Spreads between virgin PET and R-PET...
Feb 05, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1298
As US president Donald Trump revives his trade war, business leaders may seek certainty by switching to local and regional supply chains. - Businesses need stability, certainty to make investment decisions - Trade war could drive more national/regional industrial and chemical supply chains - But reshoring can be very expensive and time-consuming - New technologies such as 3-D printing and AI support local production - Export-dependent US chemicals have a lot to lose from a trade war - US exporte...
Feb 04, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1297
In a changing financial and political landscape, the global base oils market is wavering between new capacity from the east and closely watching the US for new developments. 2025 looks set to pose new questions for investors and market can see changes at the touch of a key stroke. A widening spread between approved and unapproved Group III material A wave of new capacity, with plants particularly in Singapore and India adding competition to Group I A tight supply of Brightstock and shifting spre...
Jan 30, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1296
Women are under-represented in the chemical industry and companies are missing the benefits diversity bring to leadership teams. - It could take 50 years for women to achieve gender equality - Women under 30 have closed the gender pay gap - But inequality increases at more senior levels - Burn out is a major problem for female executives - Companies with diverse workforces out-perform - Women deterred from choosing roles which are male-dominated - Chemical industry only has 30% female workforce ...
Jan 28, 2025•35 min•Ep. 1295
LONDON (ICIS)--European oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have been slow to start up in the new year as familiar factors suppress consumption. Players were hoping for reasonable restocking activity this month, following the destocking period that took place in late Q4 2024, but spot activity has been below expectations for many players down the value chain. Oxo-alcohols & butyl acetate reporter Marion Boakye speaks to acrylate esters reporter Mathew Jolin-Beech and glycol ethers reporter ...
Jan 27, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1294
Detailed modelling by Europe’s principal chemicals trade association analyses different potential routes and technologies as the industry moves towards its aim of carbon neutrality by 2050. - Report aims to guide chemicals to 2050 EU Green Deal goal of climate neutrality - Takes into account Scope 1, 2, 3, embedded carbon and end of life emissions - Modelling covers many types of technologies - Industry will compete with other sectors for access to scarce resources - Report models the huge level...
Jan 23, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1292
Asia BDO editor Corey Chew and European BDO editor Yashas Mudumbai discuss the long supply and low demand conditions across the two regions, and whether regular trade flow will resume after the Lunar New Year holidays.
Jan 23, 2025•10 min•Ep. 1291
SINGAPORE (ICIS) – Asian spot market for butadiene (BD) saw a bullish start to 2025, as prices in both Chinese yuan and US dollar terms surged dramatically. In this latest podcast, ICIS senior editor Ai Teng Lim and industry analyst Elaine Zhang come together to discuss the factors moving prices and to take a peek into what may lie ahead for downstream demand. Domestic China prices surge on supply factors, raising imports too Uncertainties prevalent on whether downstream demand will hold out Sup...
Jan 17, 2025•8 min•Ep. 1290
At the end of 2024, the European bioplastics industry met to discuss innovations, barriers to growth and the future outlook for production capacity, demand and changes in legislation. ICIS Recycling Analyst Alexandra Tomczyk attended the conference and updates us on the current state of play for the bioplastics market. Some of the key takeaways included: Global capacities are set to grow rapidly in the next 5 years It’s unclear how the rise of bioplastic packaging will impact the goals set in Pa...
Jan 15, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1289
A ceasefire in the Gaza conflict could potentially end attacks in the Red Sea, reopening the Suez Canal and normalising the Asia-to-Europe container shipping route. - Gaza ceasefire could stop Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping - Route via Cape of Good Hope takes 10 days longer than Suez Canal - Reopening Suez would add 10 days of chemicals inventory to the market - Europe would be open to more Asia exports - Freight rates could fall as container capacity is freed up - ‘Stunning’ levels of overc...
Jan 14, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1288
Chemicals leaders must plan for a year in which powerful trends will alter the markets they serve, promising another period of rapid change across the industry landscape. - Global overcapacity will get worse this year, ICIS Supply & Demand data shows - Depressed demand set to continue - Donald Trump tariffs may change trade flows, fuel inflation - China economy will continue to struggle - Disinformation will make it difficult to navigate trends - Look for pockets of growth from low carbon ag...
Jan 10, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1287
SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- Asia ethylene editor Josh Quah and analyst Aliena Huang talk about the Asia outlook for ethylene arbitrage cargoes for 2025 with markets editor Damini Dabholkar. Ethylene loadings from US in December continue to favour southeast Asia destinations More intra-Asia tradeflows between northeast and southeast Asia expected for H1 2025 Increasing ethane competitivity and demand may curtail US ethylene exports to Asia
Jan 08, 2025•8 min•Ep. 1286
