ICIS Market Expert Blogs
Asian Chemical Connections
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.
New supply chain problems prolong the big HDPE divide as imbalances build
20th January 2022By John Richardson WHEN POLYETHYLENE (PE) and polypropylene (PP) markets become truly global again remains anyone’s guess. But what’s clear in my
ReadWhy China’s PP demand may only grow by 1% per year in 2022-2032
17th January 2022By John Richardson MOST people now accept that China’s real estate sector, worth some 29% of the country’s GDP, is deflating with significant long
ReadEuropean and US LLDPE margins may in 2022 sink towards northeast Asian levels
14th January 2022By John Richardson A GOOD FRIEND and contact messaged me this week to say, “Wow, this is complicated”. Yes, I am afraid so. These are the most dif
ReadChina PP in 2022: either 3.6m tonnes net imports or 500,000 tonnes net exports!!
12th January 2022By John Richardson AGAIN, PLEASE DON’T SAY I DIDN’T WARN YOU. Regular readers of the blog will not be surprised in the slightest by the chart belo
ReadChemicals and the Economy
Guest 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.
China’s ‘perpetual motion’ housing machine has started to slow
16th January 2022Evergrande's default will only be the first of many. Companies and countries that have “bet the ranch” on China’s “perpetual motion machine”
ReadPlastics industry feedstocks at risk from the rise of Electric Vehicles
9th January 2022The plastics industry as we know it today, may well start to move into an endgame as it is squeezed from both ends of the value chain.
ReadChart of the Year – the surge in Electric Vehicle sales will disrupt auto, oil and petrochemical markets
19th December 2021The implications of the rise in EV sales go well beyond the auto and oil markets, with petrochemicals likely to be next in line for disruption. This i
ReadTime for demographics to replace economics, as Evergrande’s default marks the end of the central banks’ debt bubble
12th December 2021It is time for the central banks to give up their outdated economic models, and focus instead on the science of demographics. Their efforts to create
ReadEnergy Connections
ICIS 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 stuck in bullish mood
21st July 2021Spot LNG prices remain firmly in bullish mood, with little prospect of an immediate easing of tight market conditions. Low storage levels in Europe, g
ReadSpot LNG strong as China equals Japan
18th June 2021Spot LNG strong as China equals Japan Spot LNG prices remain bullish as China’s demand growth continues and Australia enters a period of heavy maint
ReadSpot LNG bullish on storage, summer peak
21st May 2021Spot LNG bullish on storage, summer peak Spot LNG prices have broken back into double figures, over $10/MMBtu, as Europe continues to pull in gas to r
ReadAsia, Europe LNG converges as US turns cold
16th February 2021Spot gas markets in Europe and Asia have re-aligned after splitting apart during last month’s cold weather and price spikes in east Asia. But it may
ReadChemical Connections
The ICIS Chemical connections blog delves into the chemicals and commodities behind some of the world’s biggest companies. Daniel tracks and provides analysis on 167 companies in the oil and gas, commodities, chemicals, speciality chemicals, plastics, packaging and fertilizers markets and Jeremy analyses macro and micro trends affecting the North American chemicals industry, from olefins, aromatics and solvents to general-purpose and engineered plastics.
Volatile resin markets require rethinking 2022 contracts
5th November 2021Negotiations on annual contracts are under way for many in the plastics supply chain, and the market conditions looming over the bargain table have ra
ReadGlobal PP market divide may rebalance painfully
10th September 2021They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I can prove the one here is worth 1,034. How so? Because my colleague John Richardson wrote that man
ReadMarket danger set to lurk in the Gulf
25th August 2021Time to keep a watchful eye on the Gulf of Mexico. Apropos of the approaching peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, there is growing chatter among me
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