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Asian Chemical Connections

Polyolefin Producers Maintain Their Control

Source of picture: Dallhouse University, Canada   By John Richardson THE incredibly smart way in which polyolefin producers have managed production since the great collapse of September 2008 continues to defy what appear to remain some very uncertain, and some cases weak, macro-economic fundamentals. As we discussed on Wednesday, China faces a significant demand-growth gap […]

A Repeat Of The 2008 Collapse On The Cards

       “Only another thousand or so years to go…..”       Source of picture: Atlantic Council   By John Richardson HERE we go again, eh? Yes, as rising crude-oil prices and overall inflation pose a major threat to the petrochemicals industry. Nothing the blog has read or heard over the last two weeks has given […]

Bayer Material Science Outlines Global Strategy

Patrick Thomas Source of picture: Bayer Material Science   By John Richardson SUCCESS in chemicals – whether you are into commodities or specialities – is largely about eking out maximum value from every single molecule in all the important markets. The almost obsessive focus on China and other emerging markets might give the impression that […]

What’s next for PetroChina and Ineos?

By Malini Hariharan After months of talks, PetroChina finally signed a framework agreement with Ineos for partnerships in refining, trading and petrochemicals at Grangemouth in Scotland and Lavera in France. The companies will be working towards the formation of these ventures by end-June 2011. PetroChina’s parent China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and Ineos also signed […]

Gaping Chasm Between Effective, Real Op Rates

By John Richardson A gaping chasm has opened up over the past 18 months between nameplate capacities and effective operating rates, resulting in much greater focus on the latter. It isn’t easy and it is getting ever-more complicated to assess the actual volumes likely to hit markets. There is a considerably well-supported school of thought […]

Dalian offers hope …but naphtha continues to climb

By Malini Hariharan The good news for polyolefin producers is that prices in China are inching up supported by an upward movement in the key linear low-density polyethylene (lldPE) futures contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE). The arbitrage window has opened with the Dalian contract for May at CNY12,800/tonne and spot prices at CNY11,100-11,300/tonne. […]

Are you feeling the pinch?

By Malini Hariharan With crude oil at around $88/bbl and naphtha hitting $890/tonne cfr Japan on Monday, the pressure is building up along the olefins chain. Ethylene is trading at around $1200/tonne cfr NEA while propylene is at $1280/tonne cfr NEA. Offers of ethylene at above $1250/tonne and propylene at $1320-1330/tonne have not found any […]

Methanol: China key to upbeat forecasts

By Malini Hariharan When it comes to methanol its all about China. Producers are expecting another strong year if Chinese demand remains robust. China’s appetite kept Asian spot prices in the $200-410/tonne range last year and the expectation is for prices to hover between $300-400/tonne this year, writes my colleague Heng Hui, ICIS pricing methanol […]

Strong predictions for fibre intermediates

By Malini Hariharan The blog is back in action and would like to wish its readers the very best for 2011. The start of a new year is a time for forecasts. And ICIS pricing editors have been busy gauging industry expectations. The blog will start with the fibre intermediates chain today where, not surprisingly, […]

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