ICIS - chemical podcasts

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 i...

In this podcast, market editors Zubair Adam (MX) and Miguel Rodriguez Fernandez (PX, OX) showcase the low levels of consumption in Europe.

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...

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 e...

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 ...

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 che...

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 m...

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 Edito...

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 footp...

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 i...

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  -          Award...

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 do...

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...

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 s...

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...

BANGKOK (ICIS)--Over the past week, Asia ethylene players arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, to reflect on the industry's drift towards oversupply, and probe opportunities for continued survival as supply-demand balance changes enter the horizon.  Feedstock cost competitiveness, ethane conversion considerations still on the table Consolidation a complex question, but looking more necessary for survival...

LONDON (ICIS)-- European acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile (ACN) markets are facing ongoing demand weakness in 2025, as well as uncertainty for global supply dynamics and the potential impact expected from US tariffs. In this latest podcast, Europe ABS market editor Stephanie Wix and markets editor for the Europe ACN report, Nazif Nazmul, share the latest developments and exp...

The agreement to pause steep tariffs between the US and China for 90 days allows normal business to resume, but chemicals CEOs still need to plan for structural changes to global trade.  -          US-China tariff pause allows trade to resume between nations -          Will benefit chemical companies around the world -          But business leaders still need to plan for a more protectionist world...

BANGKOK (ICIS) -- Northeast Asia ethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) markets have seen a slower-than-expected tempo of spot talks for June cargoes, with the main driver of uncertainty being unclear start up timelines from new ethylene derivative expansions, particularly from Chinese PVC. Around 1.5million tonnes/year new PVC supply may face start-up postponements Import discussions on ethylene s...

China’s tariff on US LPG has been cut from 125% to 10% for 90 days. Shihao, Yan, and Lilian from the ICIS China LPG team discuss what this means for US cargo flows, CFR China price trends, and China PDH operation outlook, and why market players remain cautious despite the relief.  China lowers tariffs on US LPG for 90 days What this means for trade flows and pricing PDH run rates show signs of rec...

Raphael Jaumotte , Technical Manager at PETCORE EUROPE speaks to Matt Tudball , ICIS Senior Editor, Recycling about the PETCORE EUROPE Thermoforming Conference on 27-28 May in Dijion, France. Details of the event can be found via Petcore's webiste. The theme of PETCORE EUROPE's 3rd dedicated thermoforming conference is focused on PET thermoform circularity, and asks the question ‘how can collectio...

As demand for transport falters, and with the Middle East fighting for market share, crude oil prices may continue their downward spiral, eventually boosting chemicals demand.   -          Low oil prices put money into consumers’ pockets -          Petrochemicals demand will eventually benefit from lower oil prices  -          Destocking down value chains initially masks demand boost -          Bu...

Demand in the EU and US epoxy markets remains muted and the sentiment has become even more cautious, as players navigate the changing and complex tariff landscape. In this podcast, senior editor Heidi Finch , who covers the Europe epoxy market and fellow senior editor Tarun Raizada , who covers the US epoxy market, share insights on key topics including tariffs, effects on sentiment, demand and pr...

From Trump's tough tariffs talk to pivotal recycling legislation, ICIS senior analysts and editors pick their top themes from the 11th ICIS World Polyolefins Conference in Cologne. Joining senior editor manager Vicky Ellis on the podcast are senior editor Ben Lake, senior analyst for PE Lorenzo Meazza, ICIS consultant Les Bottomley, senior recycling analyst Egor Dementev and senior analyst Alex To...

The impending trade war is already hurting consumer and business sentiment and may help cause a global recession as demand collapses amid rampant chemicals overcapacity.  -          US retailers fear empty shelves, fuelling inflation -          Uncertainty, chaos is hurting business, dampening consumer sentiment -          China chemicals demand growth could be negative in 2025 -          China ma...