Singapore’s container port Source of picture: www.gcaptain.com By Malini Hariharan and John Richardson A big challenge facing many companies that have built large polymer plants that are located far from key markets is how to move product most efficiently. These facilities have been built to take advantage of competitive feedstocks in regions such as […]
Asian Chemical Connections
Bright Future Predicted for Saudi Private Cos
Riyadh Source of picture: help.berberber.com By John Richardson PRIVATE Saudi Arabian petrochemical companies need not fret about the ethane-gas shortage that two sources had last week told us would hold up their development, according a third industry source we spoke to today, who is based in the Middle East. “The private companies I’ve spoken […]
Europe Faces More Middle East Pressure
A high chance of more showers Source of picture: www.stuff.co.zn By John Richardson A closer look at last year’s polyolefin trade flows illustrates just how vulnerable European producers will be over the next few years to rising pressure from Middle East imports. “The volume of trade in Western Europe (intra-regional plus imports) for all […]
No More Gas For Saudi Private Cos – Industry Source
Ras Tanura in Saudi – private companies bunkered by feedstock shortage? By John Richardson The gas feedstock shortages in Saudi Arabia – which we have commented on before – are such that no private company will receive any allocations in the future, claimed an industry source. “It’s only going to be for Saudi Aramco and […]
China Polyolefin Buyers Smell Blood……
…..but time to party for some thanks to re-exports to Brazil Source of picture: edgsgonesouth.com By John Richardson It’s a funny old world – or so it seems in poylolefins at the moment as traders re-export resin from China to Latin America and elsewhere. “I phoned up a trader in China the other day […]
US-China Yuan Row And The Threat To Chemicals
Source of picture: The China Daily By John Richardson THE outcome of the row between the US and China over the value of the Yuan has the potential to bring to an end a tentative and highly unbalanced global economic recovery, economists and chemicals industry sources have told the blog. If the US […]
China Labour Shortage Threat To Chem Demand Grows
“Sorry, but there’s more to life – I really don’t want to do this anymore…” Source of picture: China Daily By John Richardson The labour shortage crisis in southern China – which one trader had claimed would last exactly ten days beyond the end of a recent polyolefins conference – is proving to be […]
Good Manners More Important Than Financial Results
Source of picture: www.theage.com.au By John Richardson A good friend of mine, working for a Singapore-based chemical company, recently had a discussion about a new office seating plan with her company’s human (????) resources manager. “I have decided not to sit you next to xxxxx because, as both of you are so fat, you won’t […]
Saudi Feedstock Pricing May Change Next Year
What’s the gas? Source of picture: wwww.arabianoilandgas.com By John Richardson SAUDI Arabian feedstock pricing arrangements for ethane, liquefied natural gas (LPG) and naphtha could change in 2011 – affecting the competitiveness of existing and future investments, two well-placed sources have told this blog. Ethane is currently still priced at around 75 cents/mBTU and […]
Iran’s many problems
By Malini Hariharan A new problem is brewing for Iranian petrochemical producers. It appears that the government is quite keen on raising feedstock ethane prices and this issue is now under ‘hot negotiations’. “The National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) and the petroleum ministry would like to rationalise the price of ethane according to the international […]
Jump to page: