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Asian Chemical Connections

PE margins turn negative as economic risks build

By John Richardson CASH margins for Asian linear-low density polyethylene (LLDPE) for naphtha-based producers have turned negative for the first time since Q1 2015, according to an industry contact. And this is of course before the flood of new US LLDPE production arrives in Asia. No matter how you crunch the numbers, the likely increase […]

China Drives Down Yuan To Protect Jobs

By John Richardson WE first warned in December 2011 that as China’s economic reforms accelerated, Yuan depreciation was a strong possibility.  And then in May of last year, we picked up the theme again by again suggesting that as growth in China slowed, Beijing would attempt to support the economy through boosting exports via a […]

The Petronas Decision: What It Means

By John Richardson LAST week’s decision by Petronas to go ahead with its $27bn refinery and petrochemicals complex at Pengerang in Johor, Malaysia, tells us that: Nation building remains important in the petrochemicals business. This project will create huge further economic value for Malaysia through all the construction and operating jobs created and the revenues […]

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