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.

China’s long-term PP demand growth may turn negative, shifting the focus to value from volumes
21st March 2023

STRONG upside PP demand growth scenarios for the rest of the world might still not enough to cancel out negative growth in China

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US PE exports in 2023 are not inevitably going to increase
16th March 2023

A SCENARIO-BASED approach is essential to understand US PE exports in 2023, based on non-plant economic factors

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Why China’s HDPE demand could decline in 2023-2040
14th March 2023

China's cumulative HDPE demand under the downside scenario would be 97m tonnes lower than our base case. in the above chart

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How to manage risks and opportunities during maybe the worst-ever PP downcycle
10th March 2023

During this downturn, razor-like focus on fluctuating netbacks and supply and demand among all the different countries and regions will allow producer

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Chemicals 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.

Today’s financial crisis confirms that “failing to plan, equals planning to fail”
19th March 2023

Companies and investors need to invest time now on having a genuine debate about the risks ahead. The regulatory failures of the past few days highlig

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Food prices hit record level as fertilizer costs/availability reduce farm output
5th March 2023

As the World Food Programme warns, "High fertilizer prices could turn the current food affordability crisis into a food availability crisis, with prod

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Clean energy set to squeeze fossil fuel demand as ‘the electrification of everything’ continues
26th February 2023

Portugal is showing the way. Despite 6 months of drought last year, 57% of its electricity came from renewables. And its clean energy focus means it i

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The next car you buy will probably be Electric, and you may not need to buy another
19th February 2023

As the photos from New York in 1900 and 1913 remind us, transitions happen very quickly once they get underway. One day, we are saying "it will never

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Energy 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 2021

Spot LNG prices remain firmly in bullish mood, with little prospect of an immediate easing of tight market conditions. Low storage levels in Europe, g

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Spot LNG strong as China equals Japan
18th June 2021

Spot 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

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Spot LNG bullish on storage, summer peak
21st May 2021

Spot 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

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Asia, Europe LNG converges as US turns cold
16th February 2021

Spot 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

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Chemical 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.

Ethylene-derivative opportunities take centre stage at IPC
28th March 2022

Huge opportunities are at hand for US producers of ethylene and its derivatives, especially in a world where security of supply remains tenuous in man

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Crude oil’s meteoric rise to ripple through supply chains
3rd March 2022

Crude oil prices are rising at a rate at which passing on the increases downstream is proving untenable in some markets. Its volatility will spur furt

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Sustainability challenges posed by recycled plastic inflation’s long game
23rd February 2022

The packaging supply chain needs to come to grips with inflation, but in a context few are considering at the moment – the sustainability movement.

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Logistics will signal pathway to market normalisation
12th January 2022

Prices precipitously falling from their highs after months of feverous run-up is typical commodity market behaviour, but the conditions in which the c

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