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 DON’T SAY I didn’t tell you. It has always been just a question of time before China took its plastic rubbish crisis very seriously, as I argued in an April 2019 blog post: It seems clear that plastics rubbish will become a major focus of the Chinese government, affecting all...
These are, as always, my personal views and do not express the views of ICIS. Thanks By John Richardson RELATIONSHIPS between the US and China reached...
ReadBy John Richardson THE RISE in Asian spot ethylene prices is being cited as evidence of better downstream polyethylene (PE) supply and demand fundamen...
ReadBy John Richardson MUCH OF the debate about plastics and the environment is, I fear, missing the bigger picture. The focus is heavily on what some of ...
ReadAs always, these are my personal views only and do not represent the views of ICIS. Thank you By John Richardson A WILLINGNESS to change policy...
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.
Brazil, Russia, India and China disappoint as manufacturers face investment demands of EVs © Bloomberg Less than a third of China’s 31,000 auto dealers were profitable in the first half of 2019, as I describe in my latest post for the Financial Times, published on the BeyondBrics blog Auto markets in the Bric countries are...
The IMF has now confirmed that the world economy has moved into the synchronised slowdown that I forecast here a year ago. Its analysis also confirms ...
ReadFew investors now remember the days when price discovery was thought to be the key role of stock markets. Instead, we know that prices are really now ...
ReadEach year, there has been only one possible candidate for Chart of the Year. Last year it was the collapse of China’s shadow banking bubble; 2...
ReadFinally, after three and a half years, the UK has reached “the end of the beginning” with Brexit, in Winston Churchill’s famous phra...
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 over the past four weeks for January 2020 cargoes to Asia averaged $5.515/MMBtu, falling back 11% from average prices for December 201...
ReadSpot LNG prices in east Asia softened over the past four weeks on indications of mild weather for the winter ahead and against a background of strong ...
ReadCuts to Dutch gas production, French nuclear troubles and a court case impacting Russian pipe flows combined to give a sharp upwards boost to spot gas...
ReadThe 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 ...
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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