Global chemical production growth continues to slow from the peak of 3.7% seen in April 2014. September’s reading from the American Chemistry Council was down to 3%, with most major regions showing a decline: Asia has halved from 6.4% to 3.2%; ME/Africa has fallen from 6.1% to 3.5%; Latin America is negative at -3.2% W […]
Chemicals and the Economy
Consumers abandon the middle ground
A critical change is underway in consumer buying habits as we enter the New Normal. The key driver for this is the switch from value-added to affordability: • Value-added. The Boomers loved buying premium products when they were young. Companies rushed to support them, so that even tee-shirts became status symbols. Thus they were able […]
V is for Volatility
Unilever CEO Paul Polman suggests we are living in a VUCA world, as we discuss in chapter 11 of Boom, Gloom and the New Normal. Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity make planning for the future more difficult than for a generation. This week, the blog will run a special series that examines how this VUCA […]
3 key questions for any Board
What are the key questions that need to be asked when discussing any budget or strategy proposal? I have just found the answer, from a master in the field. Sir Maurice Hodgson is recognised as one of the greatest ICI Chairmen. Under him, the company became a truly global leader, moving away from its ‘imperial’ […]