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This podcast is brought to you by ICIS, a leading global price discovery service for the oil, energy, fertilizer and petrochemical sectors.
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Improving sentiment in manufacturing, especially in the US, raises hopes of a turning point, but industry needs strong action to save it, especially in Europe. - Big jump in US purchasing manager indices (PMIs) with Europe and China moving in the right direction- New report by Roland Berger highlights Europe’s chemicals crisis- Rising costs, poor demand, continue to pressurise margins- New Antwerp Declaration expected next week - Storms, cold weather bring chaos to Europe, disrupting logisticsIn this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.
LONDON (ICIS)--A mix of regulatory changes, feedstock volatility and global economic factors is transforming the global oleochemicals market.In this latest podcast, senior editors Helen Yan, Eashani Chavda and Lucas Hall and joins markets editor Nazif Nazmul to share the latest developments and expectations ahead of the Palm and Lauric Oils Conference (POC) being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 9-11 February.
Asia crude glycerine up on Indonesia export tax hike to 10%
Adequate US oleochemical supply catering to relatively soft demand
Europe fatty alcohols C12-14 spot prices rise by double-digits, bolstered by PKO spikes
1Is China’s polyethylene market heading for a crash or a recovery? In the latest ICIS podcast, senior industry analyst Joanne Wang sits down with Amy Yu , Asian PE lead from Analytical team to dive into the "tug-of-war" defining 2026. Together, they break down how the 6.2 million-tonne capacity surge is clashing with sudden price shocks caused by Middle East tensions.
Europe’s chemical distributors’ margins are under pressure as geopolitics roils the global economy, but they are also flexing to new business models for future growth.- Cost inflation impacting margins for distributors – logistics, energy, labor, working capital - Tougher to pass price increases to customers- Intense competition from cheap imports into Europe- Economic uncertainty affecting customer confidence- New business models needed as the old global world order changes - Distributors, being less asset-heavy, are well placed to adapt to changing trade flows and tariffs- Unstable tariff regimes are bad for demand due to the uncertainty they create- Tariffs can cause a whiplash as flows redirected to other regions
Join Egor Dementev, lead of the ICIS EMEA Recycling Analytics team as he asks Director General of the German Plastics Packaging Association, Martin Engelmann and ICIS Senior Editor, Recycling, Mark Victory about the nuances of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and why companies need to take action well ahead of the 2030 targets.Key topics covered include:
No political signs suggest PPWR will be delayed or weakened
PPWR roles and responsibilities are complex and often misunderstood
Lack of clarity around regulatory details creats uncertainty for industry
Companies must act now despite unknowns, especially ahead of 2026 deadlines
Recyclability and recycled content will be central to future requirements
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have seen a subdued start to 2026.With a challenging 2025 now behind us, and the New Year underway, there were hopes of restocking and improvements in demand, as well as overall market conditions.Acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech speaks to oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye and glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch about market conditions and whether these hopes have started to come to fruition.
SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- China's domestic acrylonitrile (ACN) prices fell to over five-year lows early this year. Overcapacity, weak demand and sustained margin pressure loomed over the value chain, encouraging players to rebalance. In this chemical podcast, Asia ACN editors Seymour Chenxia and Corey Chew take a look at recent China and broader Asian ACN market movements, discuss the short-term forecast, supply-demand fundamentals and trade flow outlook for 2026.
NE Asia ACN prices decline on tepid demand and overcapacity in Jan
Short-term pressure may ease as negative margins weigh on run rates
Exports emerge as the long-term option to mitigate China oversupply
LONDON (ICIS)--Sluggish demand, a complex tariff landscape and geopolitical instability are key talking points in the Europe and US epoxy markets.In this podcast, Heidi Finch who covers the Europe epoxy market and fellow senior editor Tarun Raizada who covers the US epoxy market share insights on tariff uncertainty, ongoing demand and margin concerns in a troubled climate.
Tariff and trade haze continue to cast shadows over the epoxy markets in both Europe and the US.*
Demand remains fragile and cautious across regions, with limited restocking activity in Q1, no meaningful recovery expected in the first half of the year, some uplift hopes for H2.
Pricing tension persists, amid margin concerns vs soft market conditions
Europe bears the brunt of competition from South Korea, due to EU anti‑dumping exemptions
Possible EU review of anti‑dumping duties/SK ADD exemption could potentially level out the playing field
*Since the podcast recording, Trump has called off his 10% tariff threat from 1 February on some EU countries over the Greenland dispute following a productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.Podcast editing: Zubair Adam
The whip shaw over tariffs relating to the Greenland dispute highlights the need for chemical companies to plan for a world of rising geopolitical instability. · Trump’s tariff swings deepen uncertainty for global chemical trade· EU–US deal stalls, exposing fragile trade negotiation structures· Davos leaders warn of weakening global institutions and alliances· China presents itself as stabilising force amid shifting geopolitics· Trade deals no longer guarantee protection from sudden policy shocks· Tariff uncertainty threatens investment, planning and market confidence· Chemicals growth areas include defence, recycling and water technologies· Chemicals may need to develop strong regional championsIn this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.
Despite widespread geopolitical instability around the world, the most severe period of crude oil oversupply ever will depress prices, latest ICIS forecasts show. - For 2026 global oil markets are in the largest period of oversupply we have ever seen- Oversupply forecast by ICIS at 3 million barrels/day out of a roughly 100 million barrels/day market- China oil demand growth has slowed drastically thanks to slowing economy and transition to electric vehicles- OPEC is increasing supply, unwinding previous cuts- Around 20% of global oil supplies pass through Strait of Hormuz so closing it could push prices above $100/barrel. - End Q1/early Q2 Brent crude oil prices could decline under $60/barrel as fundamentals of oversupply take over from geopolitical concerns- Overall prices could be 15% lower than in 2025, ICIS forecasts- China-driven chemicals oversupply will persist in 2026- Developing world outside China may become a driver of chemicals demand- SABIC’s petrochemical sale ushers in new era of ownership by turnaround investors In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS market development director John Richardson, ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Ajay Parmar, head of oil markets for ICIS.
BARCELONA (ICIS)--EU leaders seem to recognize the need for action to reverse deindustrialization, but it risks being too little, too late for chemicals.
EU chemicals regulation needs ambitious reform, not tinkering at the edges
Chemical companies continue to close operations in Europe, partly driven by regulatory costs
Expect a review of Reach regulation and “one substance one assessment” part of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability in 2026
Sustainability reporting requirements are being watered down
Proposed changes to the EU Waste Framework Directive will impact chemical recycling sector
Risk of EU moving towards hazard-based assessments, rather than risk
Restriction of lead in ammunition could stifle defence sector
Move away from international rule of law means new approaches needed
In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Gerard McElwee and Peter Sellar from Squire Patton Boggs, ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have seen a subdued level of activity in December amid ample supply across derivative markets and sluggish demand.For 2026, many remain sceptical surrounding the prospect of demand recovery tied in part to the potential of infrastructure spending and any resolution to ongoing geopolitical issues.Glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch speaks to oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye and acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech about market conditions and expectations for the near future.
In the second of a two-part Sustainably Speaking podcast special, Helen McGeough, ICIS Global Analyst Team Lead for Plastics Recycling talks to long-standing veterans of the European recycling industry about the current state of the market and steps for the future.In Part 2, Helen is joined by Bernard Merkx who has an extensive background in the recycling industry and is the former President of Plastics Recyclers Europe, to take a look at the challenges still facing the recycling markets today, including:
Risk of bankruptcies, high energy costs and price volatility to persist to 2027
New recycling capacities focused on packaging at the expense of the automotive and construction sector despite upcoming recycled content targets
How imports into the EU remain essential in the short-term
Plus some calls to action for Europe’s recycling industry
With the prospect of global overcapacity easing from around 2030, Middle East petrochemical players are debating how to monetise their plentiful natural gas supplies.
Middle East producers plan a major new capacity wave after 2030,
Long‑term strategy centres on monetising hydrocarbons beyond 2030
China’s overcapacity cycle may ease by around 2030,
Debate about staying focused on simple, large‑volume commodity grades or moves into higher‑value or specialty polymers
Climate‑driven demographic and economic pressures in the Global South could reshape demand
Chinese competition in high‑value chemicals is intensifying
Maintaining strong ties with China remains important today
Massive crude oil‑to‑chemicals (COTC) ambitions are being moderated
Partnerships and M&A are key tools for Middle East companies to secure technology, expand globally, and balance portfolios
In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS senior consultant John Richardson. Download a special issue of ICIS Chemical Business with full coverage of the recent Gulf Petrochemical Association (GPCA) event.
In the first of a two-part Sustainably Speaking podcast special, Helen McGeough, ICIS Global Analyst Team Lead for Plastics Recycling talks to long-standing veterans of the European recycling industry about the current state of the market and steps for the future.In Part 1, Helen speaks to Dr Michael Scriba about the current downturn in Europe's recycling sector and discusses topics such as:
What factors contribute towards the current prolonged industry downturn
Industry barries such as lack of approval for polyolefins for use in food contact applications
Large-scale adoption unlikely until 2030
Lack of a robust European collection and sorting system for many recycled polymers
Key actions needed such as interim targets from 2026 to bridge the gap to 2030 goals
Remarks by French president Emmanuel Macron suggest a tougher approach to protecting Europe as global chemicals move towards a 2028 bottom of cycle. - Ethylene, propylene capacity additions to accelerate, peak in 2027 - 2028 bottom of the cycle, project delays could push this out to 2029- 2000-2028 almost 75% of global capacity additions for key building blocks have been in China - Final investment decision (FID)-to-on spec production can be only 2.5 years in China, so risk of further projects adding to the problem - China additions may slow from 2030 due to peak carbon goals- Fight for survival for producers in Europe and Asia- To balance markets around 24m tonnes of ethylene closures required – equivalent to demand of Europe, Former USSR and Africa - 26m tonnes of propylene closures required - equivalent to capacity of Europe, Former USSR and Africa- Olefins demand at 30-year low in Europe, to 1990s levels, and will not revive- Signs of a more protectionist approach by Europe to save industrial base- Producers in China are also suffering from overcapacity, losing money- China exported more chemicals than the US or Middle East in Q2 2025- Trinseo closure, INEOS Quattro ratings downgrade spell more bad news
Asian spot prices for butadiene (BD) are rebounding, after a prolonged period of declines, as supply tightens on various unplanned grounds, but the supply losses may be minimised if China exports rise. Join ICIS Asian BD editors Elaine Zhang and Ai Teng Lim, as well as Senior Analyst Ann Sun, as they discuss current Asian BD market developments and a near term outlook.
Since the US Liberation Day, chemical prices and margins have plummeted, while tariffs are also accelerating the end of existing globalised business models of trade. - Tariffs are altering decades of globalized trade patterns, pushing economies toward protectionism- Chemical prices and volumes have plummeted since Liberation Day on 2 April- Export-oriented business models under threat, particularly for US chemical companies- Average US tariffs surged from 2.4% to 28% before settling around 16.8%, the highest since 1935 during the Great Depression- Future strategy must focus on regional supply chains and production capabilities, reducing reliance on global exports- Rising geopolitical tensions and NATO uncertainties mean chemicals for defence could become a major growth area- Localized production will drive demand for recycling, acceptance of mass balance approach needed- Grupa Azoty Polyolefins bankruptcy shows vulnerability of European chemical projects in an oversupplied global market - Regionalization trend already accelerating companies like BASF touting local capacity as a competitive advantage amid tariff uncertainty- Expect consolidation into fewer, larger producers in Europe, while smaller players may shut down or transition to specialties/low carbon production
China has a huge impact on the global chemical industry in terms of supply and demand so analysis of future demographic and economic trends is important for business leaders. - Huge variation in forecasts for changes in population- Chemicals demand growth scenario planning is vital- Must take into account China’s success in technology and exports- Demand boost if export earnings are funnelled back into pension and healthcare reforms- ICIS base case 2025-2050 sees 2% polyolefins demand growth per annum, down from 10% between 1992 and 2024- More container traffic may return to the Suez Canal if ceasefire holds
LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets remain structurally weak, as participants keep inventories lean or actively destock, further reducing spot market activity.Market participants are now prioritizing inventory management and 2026 contract talks, with fundamentals expected to remain largely unchanged through year-end.Oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate reporter, Marion Boakye, joins acrylate esters editor, Mathew Jolin-Beech, and glycol ethers editor, Cameron Birch, to discuss current conditions along the oxo-alcohols value chain.
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