ICIS - chemical podcasts

SINGAPORE (ICIS) — Asia propylene will continue to see new capacities coming from China in H2 2024, while its demand is also likely to improve as new derivative projects come up. Margin challenges may continue to impact the market by altering propylene and its derivatives’ operations.  As China is the largest producer and consumer globally, dynamics in the country will impact the wider Asia propyl...

SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- China's recent decision to include hydrogen in its draft national energy law signals a transformative shift in the country's energy landscape. By positioning hydrogen alongside traditional energy sources, China is unlocking vast investment opportunities and paving the way for robust market growth in the burgeoning hydrogen sector. In this podcast, ICIS analysts Patricia Tao and...

Climate change and warming oceans mean that the US Gulf Coast chemical sector will have to adapt to more frequent weather events such as Hurricane Beryl. -          Gulf Coast area where Hurricane Beryl made landfall houses 13m tonnes, 29% of US ethylene production capacity -          Beryl is earliest Category five hurricane on record; busy season forecast -          Warming oceans mean there may...

Squeezed by high propane costs and weak propylene prices, some Chinese propane dehydrogenation (PDH) operators are turning to a potential lifeline: commercializing hydrogen, a valuable byproduct of their operations. 

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- The ICIS recycling analyst team recently presented on Asia’s recycling market at the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (APIC) in Seoul, Korea, and at Alliance to End Plastic Waste’s CEO round table in Beijing, China.    Join recycling analysts Joshua Tan and Chua Xin Nee in this podcast as they have a conversation about key takeaways from both events, pyrolysis in Korea, a...

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- The ICIS recycling analyst team recently presented on Asia’s recycling market at the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (APIC) in Seoul, Korea, and at Alliance to End Plastic Waste’s CEO round table in Beijing, China.    Join recycling analysts Joshua Tan and Chua Xin Nee in this podcast as they have a conversation about key takeaways from both events, pyrolysis in Korea, a...

Chemical companies can expect to pay even more for container space along the Asia to Europe route as attacks against shipping persist, port congestion grows and demand rises.   -          Shipping rates soar amid congestion, rising demand, echoing post-pandemic era -          Shipping reliability, customer service levels have fallen -          Shippers reorganizing routes, focussing on big ports l...

In this podcast, ICIS analyst Claire Gao explores the oxo-alcohols market overview and outlook. 

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s base oils supply is expected to improve slightly in H2 2024, while overall demand will likely improve towards the later part of Q3 with the onset of the seasonal peak.  Group I brightstock supply from southeast Asia and Group II supply from South Korea expected to gradually increase  India demand to pick up in September after monsoon; China demand to remain stagnant amid e...

LONDON (ICIS)--European monoethylene glycol (MEG) editor, Melissa Hurley, explores the global glycol situation with Judith Wang, Cindy Qiu, Melissa Wheeler and Antulio Borneo. Asia tug of war between limited imports and sluggish demand Downstream polyester plants may cut operating rates further in China China MEG inventories fluctuated between 700,000 and 800,000 in June European import supply set...

LONDON (ICIS)--The European oxo-alcohols market and the majority of its derivatives have been characterized by ample supply in June, particularly following the lifting of OQ Chemicals' force majeure at the end of May. Demand across most markets remains tepid and slow due to ongoing economic challenges. The construction and coatings industries have not experienced the expected seasonal surge. Butyl...

In this podcast, we will have Mason to talk about China MMA market. 

ICIS consultant, James Ray, describes how the shale gas revolution has benefited the US economy and chemicals plus views on demand and the green transition. -          US shale gas revolution has helped entire economy -          Low energy costs key driver of economic growth -          Post-pandemic soaring demand, crimped supply pushed margins very high -          US chemicals margins have now no...

China's propane import growth is expected to remain strong this year although local authorities have been encouraging food catering and residential end-users to switch from bottled LPG to piped natural gas (PNG).  In this podcast, ICIS LPG analysts Yan Wang , Lillian Ren and natural gas editor Yueyi Yang discuss the current market dynamics and outlook.

LONDON(ICIS)--European downstream demand remains low due to inflation and high interest rates. Add logistics issues and a continuous flow of imports to that, and the doom of European petrochemical industry begins. But with the recent reduction in interest rates by ECB and increased tariffs on Asian EVs, there is hope that the acetone and phenol derivative chain might come back to its glory.  Europ...

Senior Editors for Recycling, Emily Friedman and Matt Tudball take a look at how both the US and European R-PET markets are seeing more activity around imported material, and what that means for local recyclers in the US and the EU, including:  The growing numbers of imports into the US Price competitiveness of imports vs. local material Balancing recycled content with cost-saving objectives How i...

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 analy...

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Propane in northeast Asia is losing its advantage over naphtha as a cracking feedstock, but the spread is expected to widen again in August-September due to higher naphtha forecast prices.   Propane price spread over naphtha below $50/tonne for the first time since end -January NE Asia propane firm on year-to-date high China PDH plants run rates Crackers using imported propane re...

While the butanediol (BDO) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) markets in Europe have benefited from challenges in importing volumes from Asia, demand remains subdued for sectors. In this podcast, ICIS Europe Engineering Plastics editor Meeta Ramnani and ICIS Europe BDO editor Yashas Mudumbai discuss the current dynamics and the outlook ahead.

Methanol has long-term potential as a major player in the energy transition, especially for use a marine fuel. -          Methanol mainly made from coal in China, natural gas elsewhere -          Used to make formaldehyde, acetic acid, in China mainly coal-based methanol to olefins (MTO) -          Q2 typically peak demand for Europe construction but subdued this year -          Concerns about ove...

Jumping freight rates, political changes and monsoons are all at play for June in various polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) markets around the world, so while it is potentially a calm month on the surface, there’s a complex mix of factors to watch. Senior editors for PE and PP, Nadim Salamoun and Ben Lake join senior editor manager Vicky Ellis to discuss the June outlook for Europe, Middle...

The sentiment for most fertilizer products is bearish due to a lack of strong demand globally. Following the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) annual conference in Singapore the ICIS fertilizer team discusses the latest trends and developments in the market.

MOL’s €1.3bn polyols project helps move the company’s balance from transport fuels towards chemical production, according to Peter Csaszar, senior vice president, chemicals.  -          Long-term, Hungary’s MOL will move towards chemicals as demand for transport fuels declines -          Russia-Ukraine war raised importance of energy security  -          Commercial scale start-up of polyols projec...

The outlook for European PVC remains challenging, as construction activity is trending below normal seasonal levels. Analyst Valentina Cherubin and Senior Editor Chris Barker discuss expectations for the rest of 2024, including the impact of the Red Sea crisis and lower-than-expected interest rate cuts later in the year.

LONDON (ICIS)—Supply down the oxo-alcohols value chain has improved as OQ Chemicals has restarted production and some Asian imports are available.  Across markets, demand continues to be subdued by economic pressures and there has been little seasonal improvement.  Oxo-alcohols market editor Nicole Simpson speaks to butyl acetate (butac) editor Marion Boakye, acrylate esters editor, Mathew Jolin B...