By John Richardson
THE blog has met many Iranian delegates during its seven years of working for ICIS Training and visited the country a couple of times during the early 2,000s. We love the people and the country, but not …
Tag Archives | Europe
European Chemicals: Rescue Efforts Continue
By John Richardson
THE battle to save the European chemicals industry from widespread plant closures is wider than just at the Grangemouth complex in Scotland, the UK
In Holland, for example, the Dutch chemicals industry trade body - Vereniging van …
Europe’s Rubbish Solution
By John Richardson
SHALE gas may never be a significant energy solution for Europe because the political challenges are just too great, as this article in the Financial Times points out.For example, the FT writes that:…
Fracking is banned
The Challenges For 2013
By John Richardson
WE wish our readers a great festive season and wish them all the best for the New Year. We will take a break and resume the blog on 28 December.
We really do wish we could be …
New Policies Needed To Restore Growth
Politicians seem to be floundering as they seek to restore growth to the Western economy. Their prescriptions swing between austerity and economic stimulus as they argue over what has gone wrong.
But in chapter 10 of our Boom, Gloom & …
Restocking lifts polyolefins prices
By Malini Hariharan
Polyolefins prices in the key China markets inched up last week thanks to an uptick in buying activity.
Prices of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blow moulding and film grades moved up $20/tonne while linear-low density PE prices were …
Economic concerns dampen EPCA meeting
By Malini Hariharan
On a day when Asian stock markets tumbled on fresh worries about Europe’s debt problems and a wider economic slowdown, it was not surprising to read about the downbeat mood at this year’s European Petrochemical Association’s (EPCA) …
PE Market Weakness Spreads To US
By Malini Hariharan
After Europe, the US polyethylene (PE) market has started showing increasing signs of weakness. Spot offers have rapidly fallen putting downward pressure on June contracts that are currently under negotiation. Producers may have no choice but to …
The C4 challenge
By Malini Hariharan
C4 buyers are a troubled lot. Availabilty of the product is tight and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
So it was not surprising to hear that concerns about C4 supply dominated discussions at the recent …
PX: Still going strong
By Malini Hariharan
Paraxylene (PX) markets are on a roll. Prices have risen by 20% since the beginning of the year and were assessed at around $1,620/tonne cfr Asia late last week by ICIS pricing.
One contract nomination for March …