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 THE ABOVE chart should give you pause for thought if you believe that the Chinese economy is already recovering as a result of major new economic stimulus. This once again points to the value of chemicals and polymers as leading indicators of economic activity. A recovery might be around the corner thanks...
By John Richardson IF THE US had the same income distribution it had in 1979, the bottom 80% of the population would have $1 trillion -or $11,000 per ...
ReadWE HELD our 8th World Polyolefins Conference in Vienna last week where I presented this paper on the China market. Polymers that go into durable end-u...
ReadBy John Richardson Click here for my latest interview with Will Beacham, Deputy of ICIS Chemical Business (go to the Download Episode icon, d...
ReadBy John Richardson TIME and again over the last ten years the strength or weakness of Chinese chemicals and polymers demand has taken everyone by surp...
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.
Thank goodness for backbench MPs and the European Union. Without their efforts, the UK would by now have left the EU without any trade deals, or ongoing relationship with it’s biggest export market. And as the Duke of Wellington said in another context, “It was a damn close-run thing”: In a historic vote, MPs decided...
Residential construction work in Qingdao, China. Government stimulus is unlikely to deliver the economic boost of previous years © Bloomberg China...
ReadWith the European Commission saying that a No Deal is now “likely“, small businesses across the UK and EU27 have begun to look forward to ...
ReadFour serious challenges are on the horizon for the global petrochemical industry as I describe in my latest analysis for ICIS Chemical Business and in...
Read150 businesses representing over 20% of the global plastic packaging market have now agreed to start building a circular economy for plastics with the...
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 ICIS Dutch TTF gas benchmark closed above the East Asian Index (EAX) spot LNG price on 20 March for the first time in three years, inverting the u...
ReadAfter losing nearly one fifth of its value within the last week, the Turkish lira recovered some losses, stabilising at TL6.5 to the US dollar in Tues...
ReadThe UK had indicated in 2015 that the generation tariff under the FiT scheme would end in March 2019 but Thursday’s announcement means the export ta...
ReadAs the bill to cut production from the Netherlands’ giant Groningen field makes its way through the Dutch halls of power, the challenges of implemen...
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...
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