Europe top stories: weekly summary
ICIS Editorial
20-Jan-2020
LONDON (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Europe for the week ended 17 January 2020.
Europe BD spot prices
firmer on supply constraints, better
demand
Supply constraints amid the traditional pick-up
in demand have made for a more positive start
to 2020 than butadiene (BD) sellers had been
expecting.
Green
shoots for potash fertilizer market
The global muriate of potash (MOP) fertilizer
market is showing signs of recovery after a
lacklustre fourth quarter and slow festive
season.
INSIGHT: US-Iran
hostilities highlight Iraq’s
precariousness
The recent outbreak of hostilities between the
US and Iran has underscored the potential for
escalating tension in the Middle East to impact
chemicals pricing and trade flows. But
the real present risk factor in the region may
be Iraq, the battleground the two countries
chose for their skirmishes.
Explosion at reactor
caused IQOXE’s blast, death toll rises to
three
The explosion at IQOXE’s Tarragona chemicals
plant in Spain on 14 January occurred in a
reactor, which then ignited a nearby storage
tank, a company spokesperson told ICIS.
Tarragona chemicals park
running normally after IQOXE blast leaves two
dead
Operations at Tarragona’s chemicals park in
Spain are running normally after a blast at
IQOXE’s facilities left two dead and eight
injured.
PC
market next step in Shell’s chems expansion
plans – executive VP
Plans to expand into China’s polycarbonates
(PC) market is the next phase in Shell’s
strategy to double its chemicals earnings by
2025, by focusing on products where the
Netherlands-based oil and gas major can
leverage a competitive advantage, according to
Shell Chemicals executive vice president Thomas
Casparie.
Chems
shipping markets watchful but unmoved as
US-Iran tensions cool
Iran is unlikely to attempt to shut down
traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in spite
of high political tensions, although there is
scope for shipping costs to escalate.
Europe jet fuel market
bearish on abundant supply, unfazed by Middle
East tensions
Fundamentals in the European spot jet kerosene
market have been bearish this week, with
availability broadly outpacing demand amid a
seasonal low in demand.
Europe methanol hits
four-month high on global outages, downstream
markets
European methanol spot prices have risen to a
four-month high on the back of pressure from
higher US and Asian values and US-Iran
tensions.
Global News + ICIS Chemical Business (ICB)
See the full picture, with unlimited access to ICIS chemicals news across all markets and regions, plus ICB, the industry-leading magazine for the chemicals industry.
Contact us
Now, more than ever, dynamic insights are key to navigating complex, volatile commodity markets. Access to expert insights on the latest industry developments and tracking market changes are vital in making sustainable business decisions.
Want to learn about how we can work together to bring you actionable insight and support your business decisions?
Need Help?