China’s surging demand led the chemical world out of recession and into boom territory. Its 53% increase in polyethylene (PE) demand between 2008 – 2010 (up 6.2 MT), was typical of the support it provided. But H1 2011 has not maintained this momentum, as the chart shows. Its PE demand was actually down 2.5% versus […]
Chemicals and the Economy
European cracker margins at ‘top of cycle levels’
European cracker margins are currently “at top of cycle levels” according to INEOS last week. But as the above chart shows (based on APPE data), they remain supported by supply issues rather than demand. Operating rates actually slipped to 81% in H1, a figure more normally associated with a downturn. Detailed output figures for Q2 […]
US GDP still below 2007 levels
On Friday, the US government announced that GDP grew just 0.8% in H1. This, of course, was far below the US Federal Reserve’s confident estimate of 3.5-4% for 2011, given only 4 months ago in March. We are indeed in a New Normal. But the consensus simply refuses to recognise the impact on demand of […]
Oil prices distorted by Wall St’s computer trading
Crude oil and commodities markets have lost touch with the fundamental realities. This didn’t just happen yesterday, but began a decade ago. That’s the argument put forward by my co-author, John Richardson, in the latest chapter of our new free eBook, ‘Boom, Gloom and the New Normal – how the Western BabyBoomers are changing chemical […]
BASF warns on the outlook
Last month, the blog suggested that CEOs might want to warn investors of the threat to earnings from high oil prices, unemployment and economic fragility. BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, have done exactly this today. New Chairman, Dr Kurt Bock warned: “The economic risks remain: We continue to be concerned about the development of […]
Oil markets set up another ‘triangle’ pattern
As promised yesterday, the blog looks today at the impact of high frequency trading (HFT) on oil markets. This now takes place in micro-seconds. It is algorithm-driven via ‘black boxes’, and so fast that as Andy Haldane of the Bank of England notes: “Around 40,000 back-to-back trades can take place in the blink of an […]
Credit expansion drives financial market speculation
The world’s major central banks, particularly the USA and China, have been the main driver of financial markets since the start of the Great Recession, due to the liquidity they have provided: • China’s credit bubble has funded astonishing growth in futures markets • Monthly volume in LLDPE* (above) has averaged 44MT since Q4 2008 […]
Gates suggests more energy R&D, less ‘cuteness’
When you’re the world’s richest man, and have committed $36bn to philanthropy, you don’t have to be politically correct. Thus the blog was delighted to see Bill Gates’ interview on energy needs with Wired magazine, where he noted: • “The solutions that work in the rich world don’t even come close to solving the energy […]
Petchem markets stabilise
Petchem markets have moved into an interesting phase. Optimists will point to the recovery in crude oil and financial markets, plus higher prices for naphtha and benzene. They will see these as signs that we are just in the middle of a typical correction. And they will hope for further price increases over the summer. […]
Greece closer to defaulting on its debt
Greece is about to become the first developed country to default on its debts since 1964. On Thursday night, Eurozone leaders finally agreed to reduce Greece’s €350bn debts, if only by 21%. They also agreed to take the first steps towards the creation of a European Monetary Fund. After more than a year of defying […]
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