Episode 1384: Think Tank: EPCA '25 - Focus on cash, feedstocks, consumer trends amid shifting industry landscape
Description
Industry leaders should concentrate on cash, security of raw materials and trends which will drive chemicals demand as tough conditions continue in Europe.
- Preserve cash, keeping debt under control in this tough environment
- Focus on securing feedstocks amid upstream closures
- Identify consumer trends, future customer needs
- Tentative signs of improvement for Europe’s economy
- Expect more closures across the region
- Oxford Economics forecasts return to growth from mid-2026
- Southern Europe ports may get busier as more imports flow from Middle East, Asia
- Sustainability has to be about affordability
- Market talk of some aviation fuel buyers opting to pay a fine for undershooting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandates due to the cheapness of conventional fuels