Source of picture: www.sierraclubgreenhome.com By John Richardson WHEN the bisphenol-A (BPA) health scare erupted a couple of years ago I rushed out and changed all my baby boy’s milk bottles to ones made from polypropylene (PP). “Did you know that there are concerns now being expressed in Europe about the plasticisers used in […]
Asian Chemical Connections
German World Cup Win And A Double-Dip Recession?
Please, please not again… Source of picture: soccernet.espn.go.com By John Richardson The dreadful state of China’s polyethylene (PE) market will last for at least the next two months as a result of the overstocking we talked about earlier this week and poor demand, two polyolefin traders told the blog today. And […]
Ethylene Margins Plunge On PE Rate Cuts
By John Richardson THE steep decline in Asian ethylene margins – detailed in the chart below from the ICIS pricing weekly margin report – seems to be largely the result of the worrying state of China’s polyethylene (PE) market, which we discussed yesterday. “The Saudis have reduced their PE operating rates, resulting in an […]
Chemicals Growth Story Gets More Complicated
A Velozzi plug-in hybrid Source of picture: www.zerauto.nl.blog By John Richardson Doom-mongers are claiming the end is nigh with the world heading for a double-dip recession. This is happening at the same as the optimists are talking of the world entering a new sunny upland of sustained exceptionally strong emerging-market growth, which will more-than […]
US Needs A Serious, Informed Energy Debate
Will he back raising fuel prices to European levels? Source of picture: sociologycompass.wordpress.com By John Richardson IN the midst of the continuing BP oil-spill saga, here’s an important question for our American readers: Once the story is forgotten, meaning when it drops out of the 24-hour-news cycle, will you be willing to back tougher […]
BMS Plans New Asia Polycarbonate
By John Richardson Bayer Material Science (BMS) has announced plans for a new polycarbonate ((PC) plant in Asia in another sign of confidence that the chemicals industry, despite major macro-economic threats, is continuing to benefit from the continent’s soaring growth. BMS will make a decision on whether to build a new polycarbonate plant either […]
Petronas Restructuring Details Emerge
Petronas seeks to scale new heights Source of picture: www.mir.com By John Richardson MORE details have emerged concerning the major restructuring taking place at Petronas, the Malaysian state-owned oil, gas, refining and petrochemicals major. Vice-presidents have being appointed to head new downstream (refining and petrochemicals), upstream (exploration and production) and finance divisions, a source familiar […]
Being Miserable As A Profession
Never look on the bright side of life… Source of picture: thescratchingshed.com By John Richardson – fresh back from a long break in Europe (more on this later). “If you keep predicting a catastrophe, John, you will eventually be proved right,” a senior executive from a major Asian petrochemicals producer told me in mid-2007. At […]
GCC gas shortage expected to last till 2015
By Malini Hariharan After enjoying years of plentiful supplies the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries face a gas shortage that could last another five years, says consultancy Booz & Co. And this is happening at a time when other countries around of the world, especially the US, are seeing a surge in availability. Source: Booz […]
PTT merger delayed yet again and Map Ta Phut tops new minister’s agenda
By Malini Hariharan A merger of PTT Aromatics and Refinery (PTTAR) and IRPC has once again been postponed to early next year due to concerns about legal issues and the business outlook, reports to Bangkok Post. The legal concerns relate to the country’s competition law and outstanding lawsuits filed by Prachai Leophairatana, the founder of […]