It looks like the March European Petrochemical Luncheon (EPL) next week is going to have a good attendance, judging by the number of the meetings we all have set up. Most of the main aromatics and olefins players will be there, despite all their recent talk about not being allowed to go anywhere. The EPL has confirmed that attendance is on target to match last March's number of around 90, which is good to hear in the current climate of travel cutbacks.
One Benelux producer messaged me that he was "deskbound", and that none of his colleagues would be attending any industry events in the coming months. A trader told me that the staff from one German producer were only allowed to go to the EPL if they travelled by train, and another German office which regularly participates was not intending to send anyone.
However, not everyone is missing the travel, and some are quite pleased to be spending more time at home.
"Travel is being discouraged. I could go if I really wanted to, but transatlantic is out," said another European producer.
The EPL will be held at the Brussels Hilton on 5 March, with the guest speaker Richard Whittet, managing director of the specialised products division of shipbrokers Clarksons.
"Busy going nowhere" - from the Bing Crosby song "Busy doing nothing."
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