Chemical Week

Thomas Watters, managing director/oil, gas and chemicals at S&P Global Ratings, joins the podcast to discuss the intersection of credit conditions and the industry's outlook. Topics include the impact of 'higher-for-longer' interest rates, what Europe's weak operating environment means for credit, and the impact of China's relentless capacity additions.

CW editor Jameson Croteau joins the podcast to discuss Chemical Week's net zero tracker and the industry's so-far-fitful progress towards reaching its climate goals. Topics include regional differences in goal-setting and the gap between the targets and implementation. You can check out Chemical Week's net-zero tracker here: https://chemweek.com/document/show/phoenix/5077186/Push-for-net-zero-plat...

Dow CEO Jim Fitterling and Evonik deputy chairman Harald Schwager chat with Chemical Week editor-in-chief Rob Westervelt about their views on chemical markets for 2024, energy transition, European competitiveness, and Dow's net-zero cracker in Alberta. The interviews were recorded live at the 2024 World Petrochemical Conference in March.

Rob Westervelt, editor-in-chief of Chemical Week and Antionette Smith, senior editor/chemicals at S&P Global Commodity Insights, join podcast host Vincent Valk to discuss key takeaways from this year's World Petrochemical Conference and read some tea leaves on what to look out for in first- quarter earnings.

Katja Wodjereck, executive vice president/renewable products at Neste, is interviewed by S&P Global Commodity Insights editors Iris Poon and Dias Kazym on Neste's views on renewable fuels and chemicals. Topics include the company's strategy in renewables, the role of regulation, and whether renewable feedstocks are competitive in the market.

With the World Petrochemical Conference by S&P Global getting underway in Houston, join Chemical Week editors Clay Boswell, Mark Thomas and Vincent Valk for a special episode on key trends for the petrochemicals sector in 2024 and what to watch out for at WPC. Topics the outlook for demand and margins, the diverging fortunes of the European and American industry, and why Asia can attract investmen...

Irene Tasi, senior vice president/global industrials at PPG, joins the podcast for a discussion of the evolving role of women and state of gender equality in the chemicals industry. Topics include what the industry can to do attract and retain women, how the industry can be a home for people with diverse personal and professional backgrounds, and what work still needs to be done to advance equalit...

Jennifer Abril, president and CEO of Socma, the US trade association for specialty and custom chemical makers, joins the podcast to discuss how the year is looking for companies in the sector. Topics include a topsy-turvy 2023, the likely end of destocking, interest in AI, and Socma's advocacy agenda for 2024. This episode was recorded live at the Socma Show 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. on February 20...

S&P Global Commodity Insights vice president Mark Morgan and executive director Karine Boccara, lead authors of recent report on sustainable chemicals, join the podcast to to discuss advances in sustainble chemicals. Topics include the role of chemical recycling in sustainability and the challenges - and opportunities - in creating chemical building blocks from renewable or biobased feedstocks. To...

In the first episode of an occasional series on recycling and sustainability, S&P Global Commodity Insights global sustainable editor lead Heng Hui and European chemicals analyst Iris Poon join host Abdulaziz Ehtaiba to discuss the outlook for recycled polymer markets, with a particular focus on geographic differences, regulation, and price dynamics. If you enjoyed this episode, we think you'll ge...

S&P Global Commodity Insights chemicals journalists Kristen Hays and Abdulaziz Ehtaiba, along with CW editor-in-chief Rob Westervelt, sit down with host Vincent Valk for a discussion of the 2024 outlook. Topics include the threat of petchems oversupply, what to expect in Europe and China, the impact of high interest rates, and where the energy transition goes from here.

Karim Engelmark-Cassimjee, CEO and co-founder of green chemistry start-up EnginZyme, joins the podcast to discuss the promise and pitfalls of biomanufacturing processes, and the company's advances in biobased catalysts and vaccine ingredients.

Sameer Bharadwaj, CEO of Orbia, joind S&P Global Commodity Insights' polymers lead Kristen Hays to discuss Orbia's transition to a global player focused on sustainability, as well as the longer-term outlook for PVC markets.

With growing demand for recycled plastics and investment in recycling ramping up, what does the future hold for plastics circularity? Bertan Enhos, exeuctive director/chemical consulting at S&P Global Commodity Insights and lead author of a recent report on plastics circularity, joins the podcast to discuss the state of plastic recycling, the promise of chemical recycling technology, and hurdles t...

Chemical Week editor-in-chief Rob Westervelt and senior editor Vincent Valk discuss third quarter results and what they imply for the industry's outlook. Topics include whether destocking could be coming to an end, if demand is bottoming out, the operating environment in Europe and recovery in China.

Carmen Song, principal consultant at S&P Global Commodity Insights and lead author of a new report on the state of the chemicals sector in China, joins the podcast to discuss shifting currents in the Chinese industry. Topics include a capacity build-out amid oversupply, the impact of decoupling and trade restrictions, and China's energy transition. To learn more about S&P Global's Chemical Strateg...

Abdulaziz Ehtaiba, senior editor/EMEA chemicals with S&P Global Commodity Insights hosts a discussion with Sarah Trinder, managing editor/aromatics EMEA at S&P Global Commodity Insights and Chemical Week executive editor Ian Young on the key takeaways from last month's European Petrochemicals Association (EPCA) meeting. Topics include the dismal outlook for European petrochemicals, Europe's unique...

With the annual meeting of the European Petrochemical Association approaching from Sept. 25-28, Chemical Week editors Ian Young and Mark Thomas join the podcast to discuss the massive challenges facing the European industry, including high energy prices, regulatory burdens, and weak economic growth. The Chemical Week podcast is the industry's premier platform for wide-ranging discussion of issues...

The chlor-alkali industry has seen an unusual number of lawsuits and contractual disputes in recent years, some of which have had a notable impact on market conditions. Kristen Hays, global market lead/polymers at S&P Global Commodity Insights, joins the podcast to help untangle the different legal actions and their implications.

Antionette Smith, senior editor at S&P Global Commodity Insights, and Rob Westervelt, Chemical Week editor-in-chief, join Chemical Week senior editor Vincent Valk to discuss second quarter earnings. Topics inclue regional differences in the outlook, destocking and supply/demand, and what could be in store for the rest of the year.

Benjamin Raerup Knudsen, vice president/research, North America at BASF, joins the podcast to discuss the company's open innovation initiatives. Topics include how BASF approaches partnerships in innovation, core areas of focus for research, and how to protect IP and trade secrets in an open innovation ecosystem.

Ryan Monis, director of chemical consulting with S&P Global Commodity Insights, joins the podcast to discuss a new report detailing the future for low-carbon ammonia, including rising demand and ammonia's potential uses as an energy carrier. Click here for more information about the report.

Michael Deutsch, vice president/biochemicals at UPM, joins the podcast to discuss the company's plans to make biochemicals using wood as a feedstock. 

Antoinette Smith, senior editor/Americas Chemicals and Recycled Polymers at S&P Global Commodity Insights, joins CW editor in chief Rob Westervelt for a discussion of first quarter results in an environment of slowing demand and growing complexity.

Petrochemical challenges  Rob Stier, senior lead/global petrochemical analytics at S&P Global Commodity Insights, joins CW editor Rob Westervelt for a look at how global petrochemical makers are coping with the downturn. Stier assesses the state of the sector, what is different about this downturn, the durability of US feedstock advantage, and what is needed to bring markets back into balance.  Jo...