Capacity growth of just 1.6m tonnes a year versus our base case of 5m tonnes a year would require substantial capacity closures in some regions. Closures are never easy and so take considerable time because of links with upstream refineries, environmental clean-up and redundancy costs – and the reluctance to be the “first plant out” in case markets suddenly recover.
Asian Chemical Connections
Petrochemicals after the Supercycle: Revised scenarios
LET ME AGAIN bang away on the same old drum which I’ve covered with a new skin: The above slide is an updated version of the slide I first published late last year. Note that there is a new scenario added to the original two, A Bi-polar World. Also note that I have this time included percentage weightings of my views on the likelihoods of the scenarios.
China PP exports could reach 2.6m tonnes in 2024 as markets become ever-more complex
As recently as 2020, China’s PP exports for the whole year were just 424,746 tonnes. Between 2021 and 2023 they ranged between 1.3m to 1.4m tonnes. If the January-May 2024 export momentum were to continue for the rest of this year, full-year 2024 exports would reach 2.6m tonnes, double last year’s level.
South Korea petrochemicals: Challenges and opportunities
SOUTH KOREA needs to transform its petrochemicals and polymers exports through reduced exposure to China and improved sustainability
A Personal View of the New Petrochemicals World
What follows is, as always on the blog, a personal view of how I see the petrochemicals world developing. There are no right answers, and the debate is the thing. That’s how we move forward together.
China’s 96% Q1 surge in PP exports mirrors wider export push as trade tensions build
China’s Q1 2024 exports reach 619,367 tonnes versus 315,904 tonnes in the first quarter of last year.
China may see either annual average PP net imports of 4.9m tonnes or net exports of 7.2m tonnes in 2024-2030
Relatively minor changes in PP demand growth and operating rate assumptions have big effects on forecasts for China’s trade flows.
Record levels of oversupply and the “Doublespeak” of the old market language
China CFR PE price spreads hit new record low in 2024
Scenarios for China PP trade flows underline the end of the Supercycle and many more new complexities
A MUCH MORE complex world requires better scenario-planning.
China PP price spreads over naphtha hit new low as the long-term shift in markets continues
China block copolymer and raffia-grade price spreads between 2022 and 26 January this year were 144% lower than their long-term average with injection grade spreads 145% lower.