The world is now moving from today’s “Continuous Instability” into “Growing Disruption”. Real wars are already escalating in Europe and the Middle East. Trade wars are beginning. And Demand Patterns in key industries such as autos are starting to change very rapidly.
Chemicals and the Economy
US Treasury Secretaries change their minds on trade and inflation policies
Policymakers in the West and the East now find themselves adrift in increasingly stormy seas, without a compass. Their 2 key policy tools on trade and inflation have proved to be wrong. New thinking on the role of central banks is urgently required.
Oil and financial markets start to wake up to geopolitical reality
The oil price has rallied 22% over the past 4 months, since it bottomed at $74/bbl. And slowly but surely, traders are being forced to realise that geopolitics are replacing economics as the key driver for world markets.
Risks mount for US ethylene exports
Future Winners in today’s New Normal world will be those companies that realise that the key question is no longer, “Do we have low-cost supply?” It is instead “Do we have a customer who is willing and able to buy from us”.
All happy property owners are alike, each unhappy owner is unhappy in their own way
“The entire commercial real estate space has to reset. No one really knows where the values are…You can’t raise rates this quickly and not expect a financial shock. We’re already working on transactions at 50% on the dollar: the equity is wiped out and half of the loan is wiped out.”
Western automakers face a race to catch up as Chinese EVs arrive
Automakers have very little time – maybe as little as 5 years – to reposition themselves to meet today’s market needs. They need to develop an integrated EV supply chain. And they also need to follow Stellantis’ lead and go back to selling affordable cars costing €25k.
Rethinking, repositioning and restructuring are now essential for industry survival
Resilience requires companies to refocus downstream and diversify their portfolio. They also need to be clear about the value proposition for their target market – are they providing Value, or Luxury? Rethinking, repositioning and restructuring are now all key to survival and future profit.
The Antwerp Declaration is set to transform Europe’s chemical industry
Restructuring, repositioning and rethinking are now essential for the industry’s survival.
Thinking ‘out of the box’ will deliver major revenue and profit growth in the New Normal world
We are living in very uncertain times. Major wars are underway in Ukraine and Middle East. And the concept of ‘Business as Usual’ is returning to the 1970s model – of disruption and military conflicts.
The demographic and peace dividends created by the Boomer SuperCycle are disappearing
Demand patterns are now changing rapidly. We now have a demographic deficit, rather than a dividend. And the peace dividend has also disappeared.
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