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.
By John Richardson ALL OF us are struggling to come to terms with a collapse in the global economy that is poised to be worse than the Great Depression – in Britain’s case its deepest recession since the “Great Frost” of 1709. In the US, Wall Street analysts expect the US unemployment rate to still...
By John Richardson POLITICIANS, not just including the Populist variety, are talking a lot about reshoring or bringing back home manufacturing supply ...
ReadBy John Richardson RECENT rises in oil and petrochemicals prices should not in my view be taken as a signal that the worst phase of the coronavirus cr...
ReadBy John Richardson AS PETROCHEMICALS storage space in China fills up on the hope that the country can lead the world in economic recovery, here are so...
ReadBy John Richardson IT IS NOT just a razor-like focus on petrochemicals demand that will get you through the crisis. Also essential is an equally close...
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.
The US Federal Reserve has now spent $7tn bailing out Wall Street. But it couldn’t save the 102-year old Hertz rental company from filing for Ch...
ReadLondon property websites haven’t used the word “reduced” for many years. But it’s starting to appear again on homes for sale a...
ReadThe smartphone sales decline accelerated in Q1, as Strategy Analytics report: “Global smartphone shipments fell 17% to reach 275m in Q1. This is...
ReadThe Financial Times kindly made my letter on the risks now associated with central bank stimulus their Lead Letter One has to agree with your editoria...
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.
Spot LNG prices remain at historically low levels, the result of ongoing structural oversupply in the market after recent years in which new supply pr...
ReadSpot LNG prices have continued to plummet in recent weeks as the demand destruction brought by the coronavirus adds pressure to what was already an ov...
ReadSpot LNG held largely stable around $3.00/MMBtu levels from mid-February to mid-March, but a huge crash in the global oil markets narrowed the gap bet...
ReadSpot LNG prices have dropped to record lows under $3.00/MMBtu after a mild winter combined with the coronavirus outbreak in China to bring strong cuts...
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 a near-term outlook.
There are a few time-tested principles you take for granted when dealing with chemical data: Crude oil price movements will be a direct or indirect indicator of chemical price deltas. Upstream price rises, compared with upstream price falls, are more likely to cause downstream prices to change (in other words, suppliers tend to pass on...
Five months into 2020, here’s where we are: Companies literally and figuratively have ripped up their plans and guidance on 2020 business expect...
ReadHere’s a blasphemous statement: There really is no “new normal.” The only “new normal” is the “new normal” of calling current condit...
Read