If population and incomes drove growth, global PE demand could have been just 52m tonne in 2024 versus the ICIS forecast of 126m tonnes. The China market could have been just 10m tonnes versus 43m tonnes; the Developing World ex-China 13m tonnes versus 44m tonnes and the Developed World 29m tonnes versus 38m tonnes.
Asian Chemical Connections
China’s PX net imports may fall to an annual average of just 700,000 tonnes in 2024-2030
CHINA’S annual average PX exports in 2024-2030 could average as much as 7.4m tonnes a year or as little as 700,000 tonnes
CFR China PE spreads hit a new record low because of all-time high oversupply
So far in 2024, despite supply tighter than it was in December last year, the average per tonne CFR China PE price spread over CFR Japan naphtha costs has fallen to its lowest annual level since we began our price assessments way back in 1993. 2022 and 2023 were the previous record lows.
Global demographics shape polyethylene demand yesterday, today and tomorrow
DEMOGRAPHICS SHAPE petrochemicals demand. As we consider the future, evaluate the different challenges of the G20’s Rich but Old, Poor & Old and Poor & Young G2O groups of countries.
South Korea may have to shut 48% of its PP capacity in 2024-2030 to return to healthy operating rates
If South Korea kept all its PP plants open, 2024-2030 operating rates would average just 58% compared with 94% in 1990-2023. Profitability would obviously be very poor.
Or South Korea may permanently close an annual average of 430,00 tonnes/year of capacity – a total of 3m tonnes/year or 48% of capacity as of 2023. 2024-2030 operating rates would average a healthy 85%.
A fundamental shift in thinking on petrochemical plant closures
Environmental, social and political factors – along with integration into upstream petrochemicals – have held back plant closures. Now, things seems very different.
Overstocking may have boosted China PE demand as the US continues to win while others lose
THE US gains $296m in China HDPE sales as Asian and Middle East exporters lose $1.4bn.
Winners and losers as demographics, debt, sustainability, geopolitics and crude-to-chemicals rewrite the rules of success
I BELIEVE WE are heading for the biggest period of change in the global petrochemicals industry since the 1990s.
This was when globalisation took off with the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), when China’s economic boom began, when the global population was more youthful and before climate change became a major threat to growth.
China PP demand looks set to grow by just 1% in 2023 as sales losses increase
CHINA’S PP demand could grow by only 1% this year, while major producers saw their January-August 2023 sales in China decline by $796m versus the same months last year.
Exporters of HDPE lose estimated $1.1bn of China sales in H1 2023
Total estimated losses by eight of the major HDPE exporting countries in sales to China was $1.1bn in H1 2023 versus H1 2022.
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