ICIS - chemical podcasts

Episode 587: US MMA supply crunch expected to ease in Q2 on returning production, imports

Episode 586: PODCAST: Middle East base oils supply shortages persist as Ramadan begins

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--In this episode of the ICIS Asia podcast, Senior Editor Jasmine Khoo speaks with Izham Ahmad, editor in charge of the Middle East base oils market, on recent developments. Middle East base oils continue to face dire supply shortages with no clear end in sigh • Middle East spot prices remain at record highs • SN500 UAE prices have risen 34% since January 2021 • No sign of any improvement in supply in coming weeks

Episode 585: Global ACN markets still tight, but positive signs of improved supply

The global acrylonitrile (ACN) markets is at a precipice, supply remains tight, but there are signs that each region will see an improvement moving forward. In this podcast, ICIS pricing editors Jane Massingham (Europe), Li Li Chng (Asia) and Lucas Hall (US) discuss the latest developments in the market and what can be expected in the short-term. - Supply still restricted, but less critical - Demand remains robust in all regions - Easing of pressure from feedstock propylene

Episode 584: Ethylene derivatives polyethylene, PVC, MEG take hard hit from rising feedstock prices, winter storm

Episode 583: Pandemic has broken link to GDP for chemicals demand, new models required

Post-pandemic patterns of chemicals demand will break the traditional link to GDP, meaning new models are needed to measure and analyse market trends. - Post-pandemic demand patterns will vary between mature, emerging economies - Questions over future demand growth for durable goods, packaging - Demand has completely broken link to GDP - Sustainability, geopolitics, demographics will impact demand - Europe chemicals growth could be driven by sustainability - China self-sufficienc...

Episode 582: PODCAST: Asia's toluene supply see gains amid cautious uptake for import toluene

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's toluene availability has increased, but uptake among buyers  remained largely on a need-to basis. Asia toluene supply improved with more spot cargoes available Demand may stayed lackluster amid cautious attitude among market players Eyes on Asia-US arbitrage window and import demand from India In this episode of the ICIS Asia podcast, Senior Editor Jasmine Khoo speaks with Bonnie Yin, editor in charge of the Asia-Pacific toluene market on the recent develop...

Episode 581: All eyes on China as India potash benchmark renegotiated at an increase

ICIS’ Sylvia Traganida speaks to Senior Editor Andy Hemphill as conjecture abounds among muriate of potash fertilizer players over the future of the China 2021-2022 supply contract benchmark, after its counterpart India had its own annual agreement renegotiated at an increase.

Episode 580: Propylene, ethylene markets diverge as US thaws from freeze

Episode 579: Persistent supply tightness challenges Europe acetone/phenol and BPA markets

LONDON (ICIS)--European editors Heidi Finch and Jane Gibson discuss tight phenol, acetone and BPA markets, as the chain faces supply limitations, strong demand and record-high prices.

Episode 578: China's styrene tends to see balanced fundamentals

Episode 577: China March petrochemicals fall on weak demand, easing supply shortage

In this episode, Nurluqman Suratman speaks with Yvonne Shi in Shanghai about the retreat in petrochemical markets in March following the surge in the previous two months as demand weakened, accompanied by easing tightness in global and domestic supply. For some products, supply will increase in the coming months due to scheduled start-ups on new capacities.

Episode 576: China-Iran deal set to remap global petchems power dynamics

OPEC's announcement last week of plans to gradually increase production underlines growing  bullishness on the economy, but is the latest bid by the cartel to balance crude markets after years of trying, as peak oil approached. At the same time, a huge new investment deal agreed between China and Iran is expected to integrate the Middle Eastern player into the Belt and Road initiative, further shifting global petrochemicals power balances.

Episode 575: US base oils 'incredibly volatile' after Texas deep freeze

Episode 574: Suez Canal blockage adds insult to injury for chemical markets already starved of supply

Closure of the Suez canal heaps further pressure on chemical supply chains which are already suffering from product shortages and strong demand. - Suez blockage adds to market woes caused by shipping container crisis; US, Europe and Middle East outages; semi-conductor shortages - No sign of easing in many chemical markets – supply more important than price - Cargoes stuck at Suez include base oils, methanol, purified terephthalic acid (PTA), polyethylene terephthalic (PET), monoeth...

Episode 573: US BD, SBR supplies tight until June after February freeze

Episode 572: PET, R-PET markets endure further supply disruption ahead of peak demand season

ICIS Senior Editors Caroline Murray and Matt Tudball discusses the current state of the European polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET (R-PET) markets amid on-going tightness and high demand, and look to the summer to try and understand where PET and R-PET demand may head in the coming months.

Episode 571: China’s MMA weighed down by new capacity, weak downstream

Episode 570: Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives podcast: Force majeures severely restricting supply

European oxo-alcohols and its derivatives are mong the 43 different products currently being affected by numerous force majeures. This has tightened up supplies and making the markets challenging for all players this month. In this podcast, ICIS European pricing editors Jane Massingham (oxo-alcohols), Eashani Chavda (glycol ethers), Nick Cleeve (butyl acetate, butac), and Mathew Jolin-Beech (acrylate esters) analyse just how the disruptions is impacting the market.

Episode 569: Chemicals demand pushed in different directions by vaccine rollout, supply chain disruption

Chemicals demand is being pushed in different directions as the vaccination rollout helps reopen some economies while continued supply chain disruption stifles end use markets. - Demand for US chemicals is healthy, driven by stimulus - Europe suffering from another wave of coronavirus lockdowns - Shift to online shopping has changed demand patterns - Supply, logistics disruptions mask real underlying demand patterns - Big question over China domestic and export demand - Semi-conduc...

Episode 568: US PE, PP availability stays low amid mixed restarts from winter storm

Episode 567: European MEG demand concerns driven by supply woes in downstream PET sector

European mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) editor Melissa Hurley discusses impact of downstream polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production situation with Senior Editor Caroline Murray. Supply woes are set to spill into April and could continue to impact MEG demand.

Episode 566: Europe EO derivatives under pressure due to supply shortages in March

LONDON (ICIS)--European editors Melissa Hurley, Eashani Chavda and Jane Gibson discuss market fundamentals for ethylene oxide (EO), monoethylene glycol (MEG), glycol ethers and ethanolamines, as the EO chain faces varying degrees of pressure due to supply limitations.

Episode 565: Tight conditions for European butanediol and polybutylene terephthalate

Butanediol (BDO) report editor Nick Cleeve discusses the tight market situation in Europe with Zubair Adam - editor of downstream polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) included in the engineering plastics report.

Episode 564: PODCAST: China polyolefins supported by global recovery, tight supply

ICIS Senior Reporter Nurluqman Suratman speaks Senior Analyst Joey Zhou on factors supporting China's polyolefins market

Episode 563: MPG supply constraints intensified after February winter storm

Episode 562: Europe short supply of ACN adds to woes of ABS buyers

Acrylonitrile (ACN) editor Jane Massingham and Stephanie Wix - editor of the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) reports - discuss the ongoing supply constraints of ACN and the impact on downstream markets. - INEOS ACN FM significantly impacting ABS and SAN producers - Ongoing strong demand for ABS and SAN likely to continue through H1 of the year - ABS concerns over April costs and availability of feedstocks

Episode 561: hydrogen could hold the key to low carbon chemicals

Hydrogen could play a key role in lowering the chemical industry’s carbon footprint thanks to use of renewable energy and carbon storage. - Hydrogen could become important for low carbon chemical production - Grey hydrogen uses natural gas as a feedstock and is very carbon-intensive - Blue hydrogen uses natural gas but stores carbon dioxide - Green hydrogen uses renewable energy to extract hydrogen from water – zero emissions - BASF, Solvay, Evonik leading in Europe - EU Green Deal,...

Episode 560: Europe styrene downstream markets grapple with short supply, record prices

Aromatics Markets Editor Fergus Jensen and Stephanie Wix, editor of the styrenics derivatives ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), SAN (styrene acrylonitrile), PS (polystyrene) and EPS (expandable polystyrene) market reports, discuss current trends and concerns in the styrenics supply chain.

Episode 559: PODCAST: Asia petchems supported by growing global economic recovery, tight supply

In this podcast, ICIS Senior Reporter Nurluqman Suratman speaks with Felicia Loo on the current macroeconomic developments supporting the majority of Asian petrochemical markets. Asia's petrochemicals are jazzed in light of a growing global economic recovery and vaccinations underway in many parts of the world, which help stoke market confidence. Sentiment was upbeat following news of US President Joe Biden who signed into law on Thursday a $1.9tr stimulus package that will provide...

Episode 558: US import duties on phosphates from Morocco and Russia to affect the market in the long term

After an approximately 8-month process, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has completed its investigation and determined that subsidised phosphate imports from Morocco and Russia have materially injured the US phosphate industry. As a result, there will be countervailing duty orders on phosphate from Russia and Morocco for at least five years. Senior editors Sylvia Traganida and Mark Milam explain the latest developments and how they will affect the US phosphates market. ...

Episode 557: Europe Group I base oils market at multi-year highs on continued shortages

LONDON (ICIS)--European base oils Group I spot prices are at multi-year highs in the export and domestic markets, with heavier grades seeing greater pressure due to shortages. Editors Samantha Wright and Eashani Chavda discuss the latest price changes as well as the outlook for Q2.

Episode 556: Podcast: NBA remains closely corelated with butyl-A developments

Episode 555: Chemical markets distorted by logistics, panic buying, but underlying optimism for 2021

Chemical markets are being distorted by logistics bottlenecks and panic buying, but there is optimism for 2021 and beyond. - Lack of China data makes economy, chemicals hard to assess - China recovery driven by imports of raw materials, exports of finished goods - Panic buying may disguise health of underlying real demand - Container shortages continue to disrupt normal market function - Bubble may be about to burst in financial markets - Chemical production, capacity utilisation ro...

Episode 555: Ammonia prices surge amid perfect storm of market conditions

Ammonia producers on both sides of the Suez have enjoyed a very strong start to 2021, with prices in some regions soaring to levels not seen in nearly six years, but will the favourable market conditions continue into Q2, or will prices soon go into reverse? Senior ammonia editor Richard Ewing talks to Sylvia Traganida about the latest developments in the market.

Episode 554: PODCAST: Asia NBA and downstream butyl-A and butac in global tight supply, prices surge

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s n-butanol (NBA) and downstream butyl acrylate (butyl-A) and butyl acetate (butac) markets have seen surges in spot prices in the recent weeks amid global tight supply. In this episode of the ICIS Asia podcast, listen to editors Melanie Wee, Jude Chan and Chng Li Li discuss about the latest developments and expectations in the near term. • US winter storm exacerbates tight supply • Near term outlook hinges on global production recovery • Downstream buyers un...

Episode 553: PODCAST: Asia benzene bolstered by supply issues, firm Chinese import and buoyant US sector

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s benzene prices have been on an upswing since the start of the year, along with the general petrochemical complex, as an inflation bias appeared to have set in to global markets. Massive stimulus engaged by governments worldwide to combat the effects of the pandemic had mitigated the worst of economic the fall-out from the disease. However, another effect of monetary stimulus is rising asset prices, most evident since the fourth quarter of last year in rising ...

Episode 552: PODCAST: Global ABS supply tighten amid cold snap, limited new capacities

SINGAPORE (ICIS)— Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) markets are seeing supply tighten all around the world, while capacity expansions continue to be limited. In addition, polar storms in the US have affected ABS and styrene production, resulting in force majeures and significant supply chain disruptions. In this episode of the ICIS Podcast, Senior Editor John Donnelly (US Styrene and ABS), Markets Reporter Stephanie Wix (Europe ABS), Markets Reporter Cheng Ran (Chinese domestic...

Episode 551: ICIS chemical update podcast: Global ACN supply likely to remain short into Q2

Episode 550: PODCAST: Huge hike in Europe styrene March contract; spot prices peaking

Head of Market Reporting, Barbara Ortner, and Markets Editor, Fergus Jensen, discuss the impact of the record price increase for the Europe March styrene contract price. The tightness of the European styrene market is reflected in both the contract and spot markets, driven by major plant outages in both Europe and the US. The styrene monthly contract price plays a key role in determining the health of the whole styrenics chain, but is there a limit to how well the derivatives can a...

Episode 549: US, European ethanol markets face margin pressure

Episode 549: Ramp up of recycling held back by technology, poor collection, inertia

The chemical industry is under intense pressure to ramp up recycling but is being held back by technology, poor collection and inertia over commitment to major investments. - Mechanical recycling present in Europe for more than 20 years - 46m tonnes/year of mechanical recycling capacity in Europe (PET, PP, PE) - 21m tonnes/year mechanical recycling capacity in Asia - Chemical recycling has not yet made a big impact on the market - Around 200 chemical recycling projects on ICIS data...

Episode 548: US crude market looks ahead to recovery after winter storm, economic challenges

Episode 547: March 2021 PE/PP Europe, Africa and Turkey outlook

European PE/PP editor, Linda Naylor and Africa and Turkey polymers editor, Ben Lake, look ahead at what could be an historic month for the plastics market. Prices are breaking records all over the world and March look likely to maintain the uptrend. Linda and Ben discuss what got us to this situation and how sustainable this surge in prices is.

Episode 546: US BDO struggles amid myriad of supply constraints

Episode 544: PODCAST: China petrochemicals extend gains on tight supply, US disruptions

Episode 545: PODCAST: MEG global supply shortens, sending prices soaring after US Gulf production disruption from ice storm

Global monoethylene glycol (MEG) markets deal with fallout from US storms in February, causing all US glycol suppliers to declare force majeure. Asia prices increase to the highest level in over two years, European concerns over March and April imports mount. Melissa Hurley talks to Cindy Qiu, Judith Wang and Antoinette Smith. - Asia MEG rises by over 5% on short supply, strong buying - China import volumes limited in March - US supply nowhere to be found as all glycol suppliers d...

Episode 543: Europe oxo-alcohols chain further pressured by feedstock limitations and force majeures

Limited availability of feedstock propylene, strong downstream demand and force majeures from BASF and Sasol have resulted in tight supply and sustained pressure on prices across the oxo-alcohols markets Rising costs and short feedstock supply have passed pressure down to n-butanol (NBA) derivative markets, with prices for multiple products reaching the highest levels since ICIS records began. Butyl acetate (butac) editor and oxo-alcohols covering editor Nick Cleeve discusses the i...

Episode 542: PODCAST: Tight BPA global supply to persist amid US weather outages

SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- Global Bisphenol-A (BPA) markets are facing a supply crunch, exacerbated by unprecedented plant shutdowns. Just this week, Hexion has declared a force majeure for both their Pernis and Deer Park BPA facilities. In this episode of the ICIS Podcast, Markets Reporter Julia Tan, the editor of the ICIS Asia-Pacific BPA Report speaks with Senior Editor Heidi Finch, the editor of the ICIS Europe BPA Report, to discuss current supply conditions for BPA as well as the pos...

Episode 541: PODCAST: Asia, Middle East PP under upward price pressure from supply disruption

SINGAPORE (ICIS)— The recent spate of outages in the US brought about by the winter storm has disrupted supply for a host of commodities, leading to a surge in polypropylene (PP) prices. Even though US is not a major PP exporter to Asia, tight supply conditions and new disruptions there have resulted in a greater demand pull for Asian and Middle Eastern PP cargoes. In this episode of the ICIS Asia podcast, Senior Editor Manager Veena Pathare, editor in charge of the Middle East and...

Episode 540: US Gulf Coast storm outages risk global supply crunch

The US Gulf Coast storm impact could be worse than Hurricane Harvey, and cause a global supply crunch for major chemical product groups. - Polar storm impact could be worse than Hurricane Harvey - 100% of US capacity knocked out for major commodities - Polar storm on top of shipping container, semi-conductor disruption - Supply was already tight in some value chains - Middle East and South Korea may replace lost US supplies - Big question over real demand in China - Globally, pandemi...