ICIS Market Expert Blogs

John Richardson is a highly chemicals industry consultant and trainer who has been working in the industry for 26 years. Based in Asia-Pacific, John has deep knowledge of the companies and people who have transformed the region into the world’s major production and consumption region. His aim is to provide insightful, factually based analysis of the key issues facing the industry. His views are highly valued by senior executives, who appreciate his balanced and independent approach. From 2006 until 2013, John was Director – Asia of ICIS training, in which role he successfully launched the ICIS training business in Asia. This provides a wide range of courses covering petrochemicals, oil refining, fertilisers and base oils. He now works for ICIS as a Senior Consultant.

Paul Hodges is Chairman of New Normal Consulting, and serves as a Global Expert for the World Economic Forum. The blog focuses on the major paradigm shifts now underway in the global economy – changing demand patterns; the transition to recycled plastics and the end of the Oil Age; the reshoring of supply chains; moves towards the circular economy and advanced manufacturing. I hope it will help businesses and investors to move quickly up the learning curve in today's New Normal world, and implement new strategies for success.

LNG Analyst, Global, ICIS Alex Froley follows the global LNG markets as an analyst at energy markets information provider ICIS. As well as following the latest market trends in pricing and trade flows, he is working on the development of new features for the company’s analytics platform LNG Edge. Alex has over fifteen years’ experience in the wholesale energy markets, with a particular focus on European gas and electricity trading and the rapidly-expanding market for spot LNG. He has worked as a price reporter assessing markets including the UK NBP and Dutch TTF gas markets, the German electricity market and Asian LNG and has been responsible for real-time news, daily and fortnightly publications about the natural gas industry. He has also worked as a European gas analyst tracking supply and demand data for gas flows across Europe.

Jeremy Pafford leads the ICIS market development strategy for the US, Mexico, and Canada. He represents the company and showcases its expertise to the chemicals market and his role draws upon his experience in leading engagement efforts by the Americas team. Previously, Jeremy served as managing editor, Americas, leading the team's efforts in analysing the ethylene, propylene, polymers, solvents and oleochemicals markets. He has covered several markets, authored research and presented at major events on topics such as the North American shale boom, US-China trade tensions and how macroeconomic developments translate Into chemical market trends.