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 WORST is over for the margin depletion that’s been experienced by US PE producers in Q4 2018 and likely in Q1 this year as well, I have heard it being argued. There are two problems with this view. Firstly, the worse can only be over if the Chinese economy bounces back....
By John Richardson CHINA’S influence on the world economy has grown to such an extent over the last decade that is now a bigger driver of growth tha...
ReadBy John Richardson WHAT if the number of new vehicle sales in China reached a long term peak of 28.9m in 2017? What if the declines in sales that we s...
ReadGuest blogger today is again Ajay Parmar in the second his posts. He is a chemical engineering professional with 5 years of industrial experience in o...
ReadBy John Richardson ONLY YESTERDAY just about everyone I spoke to in the polyethylene (PE) industry believed that th...
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.
Companies across the UK and EU27 are suddenly realising there are now just 30 working days until the UK will likely abandon its 45-year trading relationship with the EU, and start to trade on WTO terms. If this happens, every supply chain involving a movement between the UK and EU27 will change. And all those...
The Financial Times has kindly printed my letter below, arguing that it seems the default answer to almost any economic question has now become “...
Read“Once upon a time, Granny and Grandad used to go to a large shop on the motorway to buy their furniture. They used to stagger around carrying Bi...
ReadLast November, I wrote one of my “most-read posts”, titled Global smartphone recession confirms consumer downturn. The only strange thin...
ReadWomen in most parts of the world are not having enough children to replace our population. This is one of the great issues of our time, but is hardly ...
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 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...
ReadTime is running out for energy companies that have to work out if they will be included or exempted by upcoming financial rules that will make some of...
Read“Alternative energy”. Is that still a common phrase? In some quarters, it is. In a recent New York Times Trump-themed article, the phrase was in t...
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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