ICIS Market Expert Blogs

Read our chemical and energy experts’ latest assessment of the market

Asian Chemical Connections

John Richardson’s Asian Chemicals Connections looks at Asian and global commodity chemicals and polymer pricing trends, supply and demand, macroeconomics, energy and environmental issues.

China’s economic challenges continue to be made clear by PP spreads
9th June 2024

Until average PP spreads recover by 149% from where they were up until 9 June, there will have been no return to the great markets we saw during the S

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South Korea petrochemicals: Challenges and opportunities
4th June 2024

SOUTH KOREA needs to transform its petrochemicals and polymers exports through reduced exposure to China and improved sustainability

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A Personal View of the New Petrochemicals World
23rd May 2024

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 i

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Chemicals, sustainability and the new industrial revolution
16th May 2024

Blood bags, syringes, disposable hospital sheets, gowns and medicine packaging. Modern-day medicine, which has greatly extended the quantity and quali

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Chemicals and the Economy

Guest blogger, Paul Hodges looks behind today's headlines and studies key influencers shaping the chemical industry over the next 12-18 months. He takes a closer look at oil prices, economic growth and the environment among other things, along with some light-hearted commentary along the way.

OPEC+ starts to refocus on market share as demand growth weakens
10th June 2024

OPEC would have been better advised to keep prices low to reduce non-OPEC supply. Instead, they are likely to face some difficult pricing decisions la

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EU and UK elections will likely set new course for Europe, as geopolitical tensions rise
2nd June 2024

Both elections could well prove the most important in decades. The EU faces major crises with Russia's invasion and the risk of deindustrialisation.

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Chemical prices start to slide in Asia and Europe, as summer slowdown starts early
26th May 2024

Geopolitics are starting to fragment the global economy again. Economics are no longer the key driver for decisions. And so we need to refocus on the

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China’s housing market moves from boom to bust
19th May 2024

China’s housing inventory is now at a record 25 months. Prices/demand continue to fall. And local government land sale income has already fallen 1/3

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