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.
As always, this blog post expresses my own personal views and these are not the views of ICIS. Thanks By John Richardson TEN HOURS before I wrote this blog post, the South China Morning Post published an article headlined, “Dim prospects for a deal as China and US resume trade war talks”. The newspaper said...
By John Richardson ANYONE who has anything to do with the petrochemicals industry or anything to do with the global economy, in other words all of us,...
ReadBy John Richardson THEY SADLY still don’t get it. All the clamour yesterday was about declining services and manufacturing growth in the West, w...
ReadBy John Richardson CHINA is heading for another good year of PE demand growth with estimates from several players of growth at around of 8%. This is i...
ReadBy John Richardson NEITHER SIDE seems to want a war but at febrile times like this miscalculations could see the US and Iran in a full-scale conflict....
ReadGuest 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.
Nearly a third of the the world’s High Income population are now in the Perennials 55+ generation. Yet companies mostly ignore their needs – assuming that all they want are walking sticks and sanitary pads. Instead, they continue to focus on the relatively declining number of younger people. No wonder many companies are going bankrupt, and...
Major paradigm shifts are occurring in the global economy, as I describe in a new analysis for ICIS Chemical Business Over the past 25 years, the budg...
ReadMost people would quickly notice if $50 went missing from their purse or wallet. They would certainly notice if $50k suddenly disappeared from their b...
ReadMajor disruption is starting to occur in the world’s largest manufacturing industry. Hundreds of thousands of jobs will likely be lost in the ...
ReadCanada’s normally pro-UK ‘Globe and Mail’ summed up the prevailing external view of Brexit last week: “We begin this editorial with an apology...
ReadICIS energy editors post their expert opinions on the major topics facing participants in the European gas, electricity, LNG and oil markets. This blog will look behind the headlines and critically analyse the impact of market developments on the industry, with some more light-hearted posts thrown in for good humour.
The 5.0 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) US Freeport LNG train one was getting ready to load its first cargo in August, adding the prospect of further ...
ReadSpot LNG prices held below $5.00/MMBtu in the four weeks from mid-June to mid-July on the back of continued strong supply in the global market. Howeve...
ReadThis article was written by Harriet Roberts. It discusses the findings of the ICIS European Energy Mid-Year Outlook 2019 European energy prices weak o...
ReadSpot LNG prices remained low around the world in mid-June, prompting continued speculation over whether US producers might cut back output later this ...
ReadICIS editors and consultants give their views on the big questions raised by market events and developments. By analysing market conditions, supply and demand, and other factors influencing future profitability, they set today’s markets into context and provide an outlook for 2016 and beyond.
Taking look at the latest EIA data (published 4/28/2017) with a little ICIS analytics thrown in: The amount of ethane recovered in February was up 20%...
ReadOne of the most disheartening parts of being in the price forecasting business, particularly in the energy price forecasting business, is that, despit...
Read