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The blog in 2008

The blog is now 18 months old. It has a truly global readership, and as shown in the above map, is now read in 1244 cities and 89 countries. Its aim has always been to identify 'the influences that may shape the chemical industry over the next 12 - 18 months', and to 'develop useful insights...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 01-03-2009
A "V-", "U-", "W-" or "L-shaped" recession?

There is now general agreement that we are in a global recession. The World Bank's new 'Global Economic Prospects' report forecasts global GDP growth of 2.5% in 2008, and just 0.9% next year. This is well below the 3% level that signals recession. And the Bank also forecasts that world trade...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 12-14-2008
A low-key G-20 meeting

The first-ever G-20 meeting of Heads of State was a relatively quiet event , without the presence of President-elect Obama. Two main areas seem to have been discussed : • Regulatory reform, where finance ministers have been given until the end of March to work out new rules for the world's financial...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-18-2008
Survival tips for CFOs

The Financial Times series on surviving the downturn focuses this week on CFOs . It includes advice from Feike Sijbesma, CEO of DSM, who suggests that "you need to see how creditable your debtors are, very quickly", and advises that "maintaining a good relationship with your creditors...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-14-2008
The blog's forecasting record

The blog's forecasting record is reviewed in ICIS Chemical Business this week . The blog's aim is to "highlight relevant information for the busy executive, and to provide relevant and actionable analysis of key issues". The article particularly notes the blog's willingness to challenge...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-12-2008
"A fundamental reassessment of the value of every asset"

"Our normal customers have no orders to place with us, and our credit department won't let us sell to others who might want to buy". The blog was given this plain-spoken assessment of current chemical market conditions by one of the majors yesterday. Coincidentally, US Fed Governor Kevin...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-08-2008
A downturn, not a dip (2)

The blog first raised this issue last December , when noting that global chemical industry production growth had already "slowed significantly". At that time, it questioned whether "central bankers will be able to wave the magic wand that restores us to a growth path". And it warned...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 10-26-2008
IMF expects low growth, high inflation

The IMF now sees a 25% chance of a world recession this year, in which global growth would fall below 3%. Its base forecast is just 3.7%, compared to 5.2% before the credit crunch began. Sales growth for most chemicals is tied to GDP growth, so companies should expect volumes to come under pressure as...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 04-02-2008

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