Home Blogs Asian Chemical Connections

Asian Chemical Connections

The Rest Of 2011 A Write-Off

By John Richardson SORRY to be yet again a bearer of bad news, but the awful China market continues to reflect a reality on the ground that remains in contrast to the views of chemicals analysts and top industry executives. And as we discussed yesterday when we looked at just one aspect of the problems […]

Structural Threats To 2012 China Rebound

By John Richardson SERIOUS structural problems with China’s economy threaten another disappointing year for polymer demand following flat, or even negative, growth for many of the major synthetic resins during 2011. Last week the blog visited Singapore and held discussions with several industry players and chemicals analysts. They agreed that polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl […]

Middle East-China PE Exports Up 60%

By John Richardson NORTHEAST Asian polyethylene (PE) exports to China fell by 34% in January-August this year compared with the same period in 2010 as Middle East shipments surged by 60%, according to Global Trade Information Services – click here for a graph: ChinaPEImportsJan-Aug2011.ppt Exports from the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) region, which […]

China Refining: Where Is It Heading?

By Malini Hariharan Yesterday’s post talked about refining capacity additions in China and India over the next few of years and how this will contribute to weak refining margins across the region. The blog obtained a preview of a presentation being made by Liao Na, information director of C1 Energy, at a China oil and […]

Asia refining: tough times ahead

By Malini Hariharan The going has been good for the refining industry this year but analysts are predicting a weaker 2012 and 2013. UBS for instance, expects complex refining margin in Asia to fall 20% in 2012 from the average $8/bbl forecast for 2011. And it expects 2013 to be even weaker with average margin […]

HDPE-LLDPE spread expands

By Malini Hariharan and John Richardson The spread between high-density polyethylene (HDPE) film grade and linear-low density PE (LLDPE) prices in Asia has steadily widened over the last five months to hit a high of $110/tonne, raising questions on how long this can continue. LLDPE has been consistently cheaper than HDPE since May, a reversal […]

European Petchems: A Great Year For Some

By John Richardsn A brilliant seven months or a collapse in average profitability to its lowest level since end-2009 are two radically different takes on the fortunes of European petrochemicals so far this year. The description of a brilliant January-to-August was given to my colleague Nel Weddle, European olefins editor for ICIS pricing, by a […]

China’s Widespread Inventory Problem

By John Richardson THE extent of the inventory overhang in China has become more apparent thanks to a research note from Kunal Agrawal – Singapore-based refining and chemicals analyst with BNP Paribas. Kunal’s note – based on a survey of polyethylene (PE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and butadiene producers and traders – […]

Propylene To Stay Expensive

By John Richardson A DEBATE is taking place over whether the price of propylene will decline to its traditional discount versus ethylene. In Europe, propylene prices went above ethylene for the first time ever during the second quarter of 2010. Since 2001, the price differential of ethylene over propylene had steadily eroded until it reversed […]

China Downside Continues To Surprise

  By John Richardson  THE statistics speak for themselves. For example: *The full HSBC August manufacturing index for China, which was released last Friday, showed that manufacturing input costs were rising at their fastest rate for four months, suggesting that the battle against inflation is a long way from being won. Although the final HSBC […]

Jump to page: