Abu Dhabi ahead in the race? Source of picture: www.gulftrackservices.com By John Richardson The global basic chemicals industry is likely to end up under the dominant control of the Middle East, and possibly Asia, within the next 3-5 years, a senior chemicals industry source told this blog. “We have known for a long time that […]
Asian Chemical Connections
Disappointment in India…speculation on Rabigh
By Malini Hariharan (Malini is now joint blogger for Asian Chemical Connections) The 17 Nov public hearing arranged by the Indian government at Delhi to discuss provisional anti dumping duties levied on PP imports from Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Oman was postponed at the very last minute causing a great deal frustration among lawyers and […]
A Chilling Chinese Export Rumour
“They are so cheap, I might even buy one as a hedge against global warming” Source of picture: www.formalwilderness.blogspot.com This blog has spent a lot of time tormenting itself over the sustainability of China’s extraordinary economic rebound during 2009. “Just where are all those imports of chemicals and polymers (polymers up 50% year-to-date) going?” […]
US Dollar Carry Trade Threat To Chemicals
Stay cool and don’t panic! Source of picture: www.wired.com By John Richardson THE growth of the carry trade US dollars – leading to a sharp depreciation of the greenback and possibly of many other unintended consequences – represents a major threat to the chemicals industry in 2010. Any corporate planner with her or […]
Naphtha Highest Level For More Than A Year
Shelf-space to be in short supply again? Source of picture: www.zrdata.com ASIAN naphtha prices hit their highest level for more than a year yesterday – reaching $701/tonne CFR Japan for second-half December open-spec material on “improved market conditions”. Earlier this week we picked up more reports of bleak demand in styrenics and fibre intermediates that […]
Reliance-LyondellBasell talks resurface
By Malini Hariharan (Malini is now joint blogger for Asian Chemical Connections) Talk of Reliance Industries acquiring LyondellBasell is once again gaining momentum. A report in today’s Economic Times says that the company is close to announcing a major overseas acquisition with the target being part of the assets of LyondellBasell. The announcement is likely […]
A fight to the finish
By Malini Hariharan (Malini is now joint blogger for Asian Chemical Connections) The Indian government has announced 17 November as the date for a public hearing to discuss the provisional anti dumping duties that it had imposed in June on imports of polypropylene (PP) from Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Oman. The hearing will give a […]
Time to look inward
By Malini Hariharan (Malini is now joint blogger for Asian Chemical Connections) It pays to have a domestic focus and Reliance Industries has shown this again in its results for the first half of fiscal 2009-10. Its petrochemicals division delivered Rs43bn in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), a 23.8% growth over the same period […]
To Cut Rates Or Not To Cut…
A Famous Ditherer Source of picture: sarafinewordpress.com Chasing higher oil prices and/or a response to the now long-running recovery in Chinese demand that’s become sustainable? Not wanting to sound too much like the start of a famous Shakespeare soliloquy, these are the questions that should be wracking everyone’s brains as they try to figure […]
A fresh vote of confidence for the DCE
By Malini Hariharan (Malini is now joint blogger for Asian Chemical Connections) It helps to have a commodity bull on your side and that’s just what the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) has succeeded in doing. Jim Rogers, the noted investment guru, will be a senior advisor to the exchange. Jim Rogers is, as always, positive […]
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