By John Richardson THE recovery always seems to be three to six months away. Thus, as hope fades for a Q4 economic rebound in China, a marketing and sales executive with a major European speciality chemicals player told the blog earlier this week: “Everything will be fine in the New Year once China’s new leaders […]
Asian Chemical Connections
China Coal-to-Olefins Strong Economics
By John Richardson THE economics of China’s coal-based olefins industry are favourable when measured on a cash cost basis in a high oil-price environment, as the slide above from the Singapore-based consultancy Methanol Market Services Asia (MMSA) illustrates. But even when oil prices decline, which occurred in May this year, swinging cash costs back in […]
China And Demographics
OUR last four blog posts have focused on some of the big challenges confronting China’s economy over the next 12-18 months. Today we again switch our focus to how major changes in demographics could adversely impact longer-term growth prospects. By John Richardson CONTINUING high rates of urbanisation are constantly cited by chemical industry executives […]
China’s VUCA Moment
Ben Bernanke. Source of picture: Wikipedia By John Richardson OUR next three blog posts will examine some of the threats to a recovery in China’s chemicals and polymer demand growth over the next 12-18 months. We will look at: *Debt. Is China already confronting a Ben Bernanke moment? (In November 2007, the Fed […]
Managing China’s Political Challenge
By John Richardson Getting on with politicians is always pretty useful for doing business anywhere. And in China right now, it is a case of working key relationships with the right set of senior politicians who are set to take control of the Politburo later this year, after the once-in-a-decade leadership transition has taken place. […]
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