Updated analyst outlooks and news links
The automotive industry has an important relationship with the chemicals sector while remaining an instrumental force on the global economy as an employment-intensive sector.
In a fast-changing world, automotive manufacturing is susceptible to unique challenges. While vehicle manufacturers are impacted by material prices, trends impacting the market ripple upstream.
ICIS
ANALYST VIEWPOINT ON AUTOMOTIVE
In October the global light vehicle market was marginally up, selling 91m units/year. However, recovery is still some way off, with global output not forecast to reach pre-pandemic global levels until Q4 2021 (Oxford Economics). Countries that have been most successful in containing the virus have had the sharpest rebound in sales. Many European countries re-imposed the national lockdown trigged by a renewed wave of coronavirus and surge in cases. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, announced that the ‘lockdown light’ will be extended until the 10th January 2021, although it may be subject to revision. As a result, demand could weaken as unemployment rises and working from home increases over the winter.
According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, in October the US light vehicle market was down -0.5% month on month, and -3.3% year on year. April 2020 was the worst month for the US automotive sector, registering an all-time low of 8.7m units sold (as of 9 December 2020, the market has recovered approximately 86% of the loss).
After posting the first increase of the year in September, EU passenger car registrations have slipped back into negative territory by -7.8% year on year in October (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association). This is because numerous European economies have re-imposed restrictions to tackle a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Demand has been year on year substantially eroded in Spain where registrations are down -21%, followed by France (-9.5%) and Germany (-3.6%). Italy, on the other hand, is still holding up with only a slight downgrade of -0.2%. Automobile manufacturers reported mixed numbers. Fiat and Citroen recorded increases of 18%, and 16.5% year on year respectively; whereas Volkswagen and Peugeot reported decreases of -24.6% and -11.5% year on year respectively.
China is well on track for growth, and is leading the recovery in Asia. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), in October sales increased by 12.5% year on year. Commercial vehicles are leading the recovery, which is up by 30.1% year on year. India is following suit. Oxford Economics (OE) revised its earlier forecast for India upward from -27% to -1.9% in Q4 2020. This represents one of the biggest upgrades as Q3 performance far exceeded expectations.
LATEST NEWS
Biden
clean energy policies may boost electric
vehicle adoption
By Janet
Miranda 14-Jan-21 22:30 HOUSTON (ICIS)--With
incoming president Joe Biden’s priorities to
stimulate the economy and mitigate climate
change, electric vehicle (EV) adoption could
experience a boost.
INSIGHT: Asia
petrochemicals can thrive but lockdowns to hit
car sector anew
By Pearl
Bantillo 14-Jan-21 02:00 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--Demand for some petrochemicals in Asia
should be able to stay robust amid a new wave
of coronavirus-related lockdowns in parts of
the region, but the renewed restrictions will
again hit the downstream automotive sector as
the pandemic rages on to its second year.
US
auto dealers expect uptick in new car sales in
2021
By Adam Yanelli
12-Jan-21 21:39 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US sales of new
automobiles in 2021 are expected to rise by
7.2% over 2020, the National Automobile Dealers
Association (NADA) said on Tuesday, after 2020
ended with the industry experiencing its lowest
full-year sales total since 2012.
(Scroll to the bottom for more news)
The industry consumes significant volumes of plastics, resins, rubber, and paints. Despite the slowdown of recent years, auto production is still identified as a growth area for many as the focus on sustainability and opportunities to lightweight vehicles increase.
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CURRENT MARKET DYNAMICS
Even ahead of the coronavirus pandemic, the
global economy was already expected to slow
down, acting as a drag on the market, which in
turn was hampering growth in the chemicals
sector.
Bearish dynamics have since been exacerbated by the spread of the coronavirus, which has had a large impact on on the automotive industry.
Quarantine measures to prevent the spread of infection across the world left global automotive production stalling.
With lockdown regulations slowly lifting, manufacturing is returning in some places, but output numbers for the year will be significantly weaker.
Visit the ICIS Coronavirus topic page for analysis of the impact on chemical markets and links to latest news.
2020 VISION
With travel
restrictions in place in many countries, weaker
economic sentiment, and forecast record
unemployment levels in some parts of the world,
passenger vehicle sales are expected to remain
well below peak levels.
When lockdowns are fully lifted, the automotive industry will be left facing some serious challenges which could diminish any resurgence in demand.
Economic forecasters consistently project a sharp downturn in global GDP this year.
With less money coming in, households and companies will funnel capital towards essential products, which for many is unlikely to include a new vehicle.
In turn, the health of the global economy could also be impacted by the global automotive sector.
According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), if automotive manufacturing where a country, it would be the sixth largest economy.
This symbiosis means that the form the world’s economic recovery will take is likely to be shaped by what is happening in the automotive sector.
ON THE HORIZON
This year
would have been an interesting year for the
automotive sector anyway, with a myriad of
factors shaping the industry.
The push towards sustainability is a prominent issue concerning vehicle production and consumption.
A shift in demand towards electric vehicles does not cap the market for the entire chemicals sector, with some end-markets even identifying the automotive industry as a growth area for them.
While heat-resistant plastics will not be needed to house cooler electric engines, the increased need for fuel efficiency will drive demand for composite materials used in light-weighting vehicles.
Legislation is continuously evolving for the sector at different rates around the world presenting unique production challenges, with regulative issues surpassing environmental concerns.
As vehicles become more modern, so too do concerns about digitalisation of cars, which again provides an opportunity for those in the chemicals sector.
This means that data protection will become a concern of the sector, alongside sustainability and safety regulations.
TRENDS DRIVING THE
FUTURE
Beyond the obvious
headwinds facing the market, there are less
immediate and more conceptual factors
influencing the industry.
The prospect of car sharing and automated vehicles may seem far off, but these possible eventualities that manufacturers must prepare for now.
The automotive sector is at the forefront of research and development (R&D) spending, and much of the technology developed in this sector may be applied in other industries.
This was evidenced when the Mercedes Formula One team worked on a initiative with University College London to build respirators to assist coronavirus patients.
REGIONAL BREAKDOWN
US
Even before most North
American automotive plants were idled amid
efforts to protect the
employees from coronavirus, the industry
was facing a slowdown.
US light-vehicle sales will not likely return to pre-coronavirus levels until the second half of 2023, according to Haig Stoddard, senior industry analyst for Wards Intelligence.
US light vehicle sales are set to be 4m units lower in 2020 and and 1.5m units lower in 2021 compared with the pre-coronavirus outlook, according to Wards.
In the US, production was halted after a United Auto Workers (UAW) union employee at a plant in Warren, Michigan, contracted the virus.
US automakers firmed restart dates for 18 May as Michigan announced phased reopening plans following coronavirus-related shutdowns.
EUROPE
Some vehicle manufacturers are making a slow return to production lines as quarantine restrictions begin to ease throughout Europe.
Although work is restarting, it is unlikely that output will rival pre-pandemic levels as demand is unlikely to make a sufficient recovery in the near term.
This will weigh heavily on the industry for 2020 and companies have already started reacting to lagging demand, with Nissan permanently closing its plant in Spain and cutting overall production 20%.
ASIA
China took poll
position as the key market for the automotive
sector long before the pandemic.
Much production stalled in the first quarter but production has made a cautious return in the second quarter.
As Europe and the US may take significant time to recover productivity following lockdown, China is likely to remain important to the sector.
As global trade becomes more regionalised, and China in a better position than most for economic recovery, native demand may be crucial in providing support for the sector.
LATEST NEWS
Germany’s auto production
plunged 25% last year amid
pandemic
By Stefan Baumgarten
12-Jan-21 19:23 LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s car
production fell 25% in 2020 and domestic
new-car registrations fell 19% amid the
coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest
data by the country's auto industry trade group
VDA on Tuesday.
US
PPG acquires German industrial and auto
coatings specialist Worwag
By
Morgan Condon 11-Jan-21 15:20 LONDON
(ICIS)--PPG is set to acquire German coatings
producer Worwag, with the deal set to conclude
in the first half of 2021, subject to
regulatory approval, the US-headquartered
producer announced on Monday.
INTERVIEW: US
infrastructure, green stimulus plan would give
boost to Hexion - CEO
By
Joseph Chang 08-Jan-21 21:44 NEW YORK
(ICIS)--US-based adhesives, coatings and
composites producer Hexion stands to benefit
from a potential new US infrastructure stimulus
plan tilted towards green initiatives, its CEO
said on Friday.
Canada’s light vehicles
sales fell nearly 20% in pandemic-hit
2020
By Stefan Baumgarten
08-Jan-21 20:08 TORONTO (ICIS)--Sales of new
light vehicles in Canada fell 19.7% to 1.54m
units last year amid the ongoing coronavirus
pandemic, according to the latest estimates by
DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC) on
Friday.
North
American freight railcar traffic fell 11.2% in
2020 amid pandemic, chems down
2.7%
By Stefan Baumgarten
06-Jan-21 18:56 HOUSTON (ICIS)--North American
freight railcar traffic fell 11.2% in 2020 amid
the coronavirus pandemic, with chemical railcar
loadings down 2.7%, the Association of American
Railroads (AAR) said on Wednesday.
Eurostar to boost
Ascend's compounds for electronics -
CEO
By Joseph Chang 05-Jan-21
14:37 NEW YORK (ICIS)--Ascend Performance
Materials’ acquisition of France-based Eurostar
Engineering Plastics will enhance its
electrical and electronic (E&E)
capabilities with a wide range of nylon 6,6,
nylon 6, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and
other products, its CEO said on Tuesday.
Ford Motor Co to cease auto production in
Brazil
By Adam Yanelli 11-Jan-21 15:07 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Ford Motor Co will cease vehicle
production in Brazil in 2021 as part of its
South America restructuring plan, instead
choosing to service the region from Argentina,
Uruguay and other markets, the US automaker
said on Monday.
German auto activity
stalls in December, expectations
improve
By Morgan Condon
05-Jan-21 11:28 LONDON (ICIS)--Activity in
Germany's automotive industry declined in
December, although expectations for the future
remain buoyant, according to the latest data
from the Ifo Institute on Tuesday.
INTERACTIVE: US November
new auto sales fall from October as
year-on-year lag widens
By
ICIS Editorial 18-Dec-20 18:14 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US sales of new light vehicles in
November fell by 4.5% from the previous month
and are down by 8.4% year on year, according to
seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) from
the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
OUTLOOK '21: Europe
automotive industry will continue to be haunted
by pandemic aftermath
By
Morgan Condon 29-Dec-20 13:00 LONDON
(ICIS)--The automotive industry will start 2021
on rough terrain as the coronavirus pandemic
continues to be the dominant factor impacting
businesses.
Improvements in the
automotive sector supporting cyclohexane
consumption globally
By
Zubair Adam 22-Dec-20 18:20 LONDON (ICIS)--The
main markets for cyclohexane (CX), which
include the US, Europe and Asia, have been
supported by the improvements of the end user
automotive markets.
EU
commercial vehicle registrations at a
standstill in November
By Tom
Brown 22-Dec-20 11:44 LONDON (ICIS)--EU
commercial vehicle registrations were broadly
flat month on month in November, with new
purchases driving a 0.1% year on year increase
across the region after a fall in the previous
month, according to the European Automobile
Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
OUTLOOK ‘21: Asia PBT to
stay buoyant amid automotive recovery and firm
feedstock
By Clive Ong
22-Dec-20 02:09 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia's
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) market put in
a strong showing in the fourth quarter to end
the year on a winning note, reversing its
lacklustre performance in the second and third
quarters.
OUTLOOK ’21: Asia SBR
demand to improve as auto sector recovery
gathers steam
By Helen Yan
21-Dec-20 06:15 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) demand should
improve on the back of continued recovery in
the global downstream automotive market in
2021.
Europe SBR December
contracts rise by triple digits on surging
feedstock costs
By Melissa
Hurley 17-Dec-20 16:24 LONDON (ICIS)--European
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) December
contracts increased by triple digits on the
back of surging feedstock costs, limited supply
and good demand.
BASF,
partner mull nickel-cobalt refining project to
meet demand from EV market
By
Stefan Baumgarten 15-Dec-20 18:49 LONDON
(ICIS)--BASF and French metallurgical group
Eramet have agreed to jointly study a potential
nickel and cobalt hydrometallurgical refining
complex in Indonesia, they said on Tuesday.
US
November manufacturing output rises 0.8%, led
by autos
By Stefan Baumgarten
15-Dec-20 16:04 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US November
manufacturing output rose 0.8% from October,
led by a 5.3% increase in motor vehicles and
parts, the US Federal Reserve said in a data
release on Tuesday.
EU
truck fleet must be fossil fuel-free by 2040 to
meet carbon neutrality targets -
ACEA
By Morgan Condon
15-Dec-20 14:20 LONDON (ICIS)--All trucks in
Europe will need to be fossil fuel-free by 2040
to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 as set out
in the EU's climate targets, vehicle
manufacturers' trade group ACEA said on
Tuesday.
China
November vehicles sales rise to year’s new
high
By Fanny Zhang 11-Dec-20
10:30 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s vehicles sales
increased by a strong 12.6% year on year to
2.77m units in November, refreshing this year’s
record, according to data from the China
Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
EU
Commission's zero-emission vehicle goal 'far
removed from reality' -
ACEA
By Morgan Condon
10-Dec-20 13:10 LONDON (ICIS)--The European
Automotive Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA)
lambasted the EU's executive arm for having
unrealistic expectations about the future of
zero-emission vehicles.
China
auto industry recovery faces challenges from
Europe chip shortage
By Fanny
Zhang 09-Dec-20 05:30 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s
automotive production will have to hurdle
through a shortage of electronic chips from
Europe well into 2021, which could derail the
industry’s fragile recovery amid the pandemic.
UK
chem major INEOS acquires Mercedes plant in
France to produce its off-road
vehicle
By Stefan Baumgarten
08-Dec-20 17:42 LONDON (ICIS)--The automotive
affiliate of UK chemicals group INEOS has
acquired a Mercedes-Benz plant at Hambach in
northeast France to make its planned
"Grenadier" 4x4 off-road vehicle, it said on
Tuesday.
Germany’s 2021 auto
growth won't offset 2020 decline -
VDA
By Stefan Baumgarten
04-Dec-20 16:52 LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s auto
production is forecast to rise 20% in 2021,
with domestic new-car sales also increasing
notably from 2020, the country’s auto industry
trade group VDA said in an estimate on Friday.
Germany's November
new-car sales fall amid lockdowns, but EV sales
boom
By Stefan Baumgarten
03-Dec-20 18:22 LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s
new-car registrations fell 3% year on year in
November amid the latest lockdown measures to
contain the second wave of the coronavirus,
according to official data released on
Thursday.
Canada November light
vehicle sales fall 10.4% on renewed coronavirus
lockdowns
By Stefan
Baumgarten 02-Dec-20 18:06 TORONTO
(ICIS)--Canadian light vehicle sales are
estimated to have fallen 10.4% year on year to
128,351 units in November - mainly because of
renewed lockdown measures to contain the second
wave of the coronavirus, automotive consultants
DesRosiers said on Wednesday.
German automotive outlook
gloomy despite November
uptick
By Morgan Condon
02-Dec-20 11:12 LONDON (ICIS)--German
automotive manufacturers are pessimistic about
the outlook in the coming months despite the
improvement in the current situation, according
to researchers at the Ifo Institute on
Wednesday.
Germany's Audi, tech
institute launch project to recycle automotive
plastics
By Stefan Baumgarten
27-Nov-20 16:50 LONDON (ICIS)--German car maker
Audi and the country’s Karlsruhe Institute for
Technology (KIT) have teamed up on a pilot
project for the chemical recycling of
automotive plastics.
German industry
expectations fall as second wave stalls
recovery
By Morgan Condon
24-Nov-20 13:28 LONDON (ICIS)--German
manufacturing business conditions remained
positive in November but expectations for the
coming months "turned notably less optimistic",
according to the Ifo Institute on Tuesday.
EU
commercial vehicles registrations down slightly
in October
By Jonathan Lopez
25-Nov-20 13:29 LONDON (ICIS)--The EU’s market
for commercial vehicles – those purchased by
companies – continued to suffer in October,
albeit more moderate falls than earlier in the
year, the automotive’s industry trade group
ACEA said on Wednesday.
INSIGHT: China end use
markets lift chemicals as demand drivers
shift
By Nigel Davis
20-Nov-20 17:24 LONDON (ICIS)--The
post-coronavirus boom in China and further
growth in northeast Asia continues to underpin
the recovery for chemicals in the region and
lift the sector globally.
SE
Asia SBR demand strong as tyre factories run at
optimal rates
By Helen Yan
18-Nov-20 05:13 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Discussions
for December styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)
shipments in Southeast Asia are being supported
by strong demand and limited supply.
Canada’s Quebec bets on
EVs, plans to ban sale of new gasoline
cars
By Stefan Baumgarten
17-Nov-20 18:57 TORONTO (ICIS)--The government
of Canada’s Quebec province plans to ban the
sale of new gasoline-powered cars, beginning in
2035.
INTERACTIVE: US October
new auto sales edge lower from September, but
year-on-year lag narrows
By
Adam Yanelli 13-Nov-20 17:33 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
sales of new light vehicles in October fell by
0.5% month on month and down by 3.3% year on
year, according to seasonally adjusted annual
rates (SAAR) from the US Bureau of Economic
Analysis (BEA).
China
Oct vehicles sales up 12.5% to 2.57m
units
By Fanny Zhan 11-Nov-20
12:48 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s vehicles sales
in October stood at 2.57m units, an increase of
12.5% year on year and 0.1% month on month,
according to data from China Association of
Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
Germany’s October auto
production, sales fall
By
Stefan Baumgarten 05-Nov-20 19:14 LONDON
(ICIS)--Germany’s auto production, exports and
domestic new-car sales all fell month on month
in October, and they remained down year on year
for the first 10 months of 2020, according to
the latest industry data by the country’s auto
industry trade group VDA on Thursday.
German automotive
improves but recovery may stall as second wave
hits
By Morgan Condon
04-Nov-20 11:00 LONDON (ICIS)--The German
automotive sector performed better in October
but the pace of recovery could stall before the
end of the year, according to data from the Ifo
Institute.
Europe chems cautious on
automotive as recovery may be
short-lived
By Katherine Sale
30-Oct-20 11:37 LONDON (ICIS)--European
chemical markets remain cautious over the
recent recovery from the key automotive sector,
a result mainly of industry restocking, while
the pandemic’s second wave hits the region
hard.
Europe's lack of charging
points threatens deployment of EVs -
ACEA
By Jonathan Lopez
28-Oct-20 13:36 LONDON (ICIS)--A lack of
charging points for electric vehicles (EVs)
across Europe threatens their deployment
because just four countries account for 75% of
the total, the European automotive trade group
ACEA said on Wednesday.
US
Sherwin-Williams auto-refinish sales see slight
upturn in Q3
By Janet Miranda
27-Oct-20 20:08 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Third-quarter
sales in Sherwin-Williams’s auto-refinish
division rose slightly because people are
driving more, the company said on Tuesday.
Further automotive sector
recovery needed for adhesives, solvents rebound
- Covestro
By Tom Brown
27-Oct-20 18:54 LONDON (ICIS)--Further demand
recovery is needed in the automotive sector to
drive a stronger rebound for Covestro’s
coatings, adhesives and solvents (CAS)
division, company management said on Tuesday.
INTERVIEW: Dow to focus
on lower capital intensity projects, mobility -
CFO
By Joseph Chang 23-Oct-20
17:36 NEW YORK (ICIS)--Dow will maintain its
capital discipline, focusing on lower capex
projects in formulation houses as well as
investments in mobility, its chief financial
officer said.
Asian
petrochemicals markets on a roll as China's
economy rebounds
By Felicia
Loo 23-Oct-20 05:22 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asian
petrochemicals markets are on a roll this week,
with demand rising and exceeding supply, as
China’s economy continues to improve
post-holidays (1-8 October) after staging the
fastest recovery from Covid-19 as compared to
other major economies.
EU
car registrations in September mark first
increase of 2020
By Morgan
Condon 16-Oct-20 11:25 LONDON (ICIS)--EU car
registrations in September rose for the first
time in 2020, up 3.1% year on year, the
European Automobile Manufacturers Association
(ACEA) said on Friday.
Europe PC prices rise on
tight supply and strong demand from the car
industry
By Miguel Rodriguez
Fernandez 15-Oct-20 14:07 LONDON
(ICIS)--European polycarbonate (PC) prices rose
for October and fourth-quarter contracts due to
growing supply tightness and strong demand from
key industries such as automotive and
construction.
Recycling market failing
to keep pace with annual generation of scrap
tyres – USTMA
By Adam Yanelli
14-Oct-20 21:58 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US tyre
recyclers are not keeping pace with the amount
of scrap tyres that reach the end of life each
year, according to a report released on
Wednesday by the US Tire Manufacturers
Association (USTMA).
China
September vehicle sales grow 12.9% on year to
2.6m units
By Fanny Zhang
13-Oct-20 10:57 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s
vehicles sales in September increased by 12.9%
year on year and up 17.4% from August, industry
data showed on Tuesday.
Germany’s new-car sales
rise in September, but production down
11%
By Stefan Baumgarten
06-Oct-20 14:31 LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s
new-car registrations rose 8% year on year in
September but domestic auto production was down
11%, according to data from auto industry trade
group VDA on Tuesday.
Total
acquires London’s largest EV battery charging
network
By Stefan Baumgarten
29-Sep-20 17:27 LONDON (ICIS)--French oil and
petrochemicals major Total has reached a deal
to acquire “Source London”, described as
London’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging
network, with more than 1,600 on-street charge
points.
US,
Europe auto started recovering in August - HB
Fuller
By Al Greenwood
24-Sep-20 18:11 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The automotive
markets in North America and Europe started
recovering in August, and the trend should
continue through the end of the year, US-based
adhesives producer HB Fuller said on Thursday.
EU
commercial vehicle registrations slump 28.2% in
January-August - ACEA
By
Morgan Condon 24-Sep-20 10:58 LONDON
(ICIS)--Commercial vehicles registrations fell
by 28.2% in the EU between January and August,
according to the latest data from the
Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) on
Thursday.
US
Axalta names new head for transportation
coatings
By Stefan Baumgarten
23-Sep-20 13:47 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Axalta Coating
Systems has appointed Hadi Awada as senior vice
president, Global Transportation Coatings,
effective 12 October, to lead its global light
vehicle and commercial vehicle coatings
businesses.
Construction, automotive
outlook murky for US PA in
H2
By Antoinette Smith
22-Sep-20 22:38 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The H2 outlook
for demand for US phthalic anhydride (PA) is
hazy, with strong construction activity
expected to taper with cooler weather, and
automotive sales unlikely to surge in the
remaining months of the year.
Canada’s Standard Lithium
starts up demo plant at LANXESS US
site
By Stefan Baumgarten
22-Sep-20 17:29 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Canada’s
Standard Lithium has officially opened a
lithium extraction demonstration plant at
LANXESS' US production site in El Dorado,
Arkansas.
BASF
invests €16m in tech company making pyrolysis
oil from waste tyres
By
Morgan Condon 21-Sep-20 14:47 LONDON
(ICIS)--BASF is investing €16m into technology
company Pyrum Innovations as part of its
ChemCycling project, the German major said on
Monday.
Global auto sales in 2020
forecast to fall by 20% - credit rating
agency
By Adam Yanelli
18-Sep-20 18:19 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Global light
vehicle sales are expected to fall by 20% this
year compared with 2019 because of sales and
production disruptions related to the
coronavirus, according to credit rating agency
S&P Global Ratings.
South
Korea's LG Chem to spin off electric vehicle
battery business
By Stefan
Baumgarten 18-Sep-20 17:06 LONDON (ICIS)--South
Korean chemicals major LG Chem plans to spin
off its growing electric vehicle (EV) battery
business into a separate company.
INSIGHT: North America
autos slump has hit a $51bn chemicals
opportunity
By Nigel Davis
18-Sep-20 17:05 LONDON (ICIS)--The annual
American Chemistry Council review of the
chemicals and chemistry used in light vehicles
in North America helps put the overarching
impact of the coronavirus-driven slump into
perspective.
EU
Jan-Aug car registrations down 32% on 2019,
industry set for slow
recovery
By Morgan Condon
17-Sep-20 15:47 LONDON (ICIS)--Car production
in the EU fell by 32.0% in the first eight
months of 2020 year on year, the European
Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA)
said on Thursday.
Europe BDO supply
tightens as demand from automotive
rises
By Nick Cleeve
17-Sep-20 10:40 LONDON (ICIS)--European supply
of butanediol (BDO) has tightened, though
sources' views remain mixed on the extent of
supply limitations in the market.
VIDEO: Impact of a
no-deal brexit on automotive sector would be
devastating
By Morgan Condon
17-Sep-20 09:00 LONDON (ICIS)--Europe news
reporter Morgan Condon outlines the challenges
that a no deal Brexit would pose for the
automotive industry.
Auto
industry: No-deal Brexit could result in €110bn
losses by 2025
By Morgan
Condon 14-Sep-20 12:15 LONDON (ICIS)--European
automotive industry leaders have urged the EU
and UK to avoid a “no deal Brexit disaster” and
reach a free-trade agreement (FTA) ahead of the
end of the transition period on 31 December.
Germany's Covestro to tap
automotive ‘recovery momentum’ into
Q4
By Jonathan Lopez
11-Sep-20 12:21 LONDON (ICIS)--Covestro will
benefit from the “recovery momentum” in the
European automotive industry which set to
continue into the fourth quarter, analysts at
Baader Bank said on Friday.
India
August total vehicle output falls 3.1% year on
year
By Nurluqman Suratman
11-Sep-20 09:44 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India’s
overall production of vehicles in August fell
by 3.09% year on year, industry data showed on
Friday.
US
auto sales, production continue
recovery
By John Donnelly
10-Sep-20 18:07 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US sales of new
light vehicles rose for the second straight
month in August but remain down sharply year on
year as the sector shows signs of gradual
recovery.
European oxos-alcohol
spot prices firm, halting a six month
decline
By Jane Massingham
11-Sep-20 15:38 LONDON (ICIS)--Spot prices for
European oxo-alcohols have started to firm for
September following an improvement in demand,
and tighter supply due to a variety of
production constraints.
EU
chemicals output in ‘fragile recovery’ but
still 9% below pre-pandemic
level
By Jonathan Lopez
11-Sep-20 15:05 LONDON (ICIS)--Chemicals output
across the EU is still 9% below the levels
achieved before the pandemic hit the region in
March, although there are tentative signs of a
“fragile recovery”, Cefic said on Friday.
INSIGHT: New legislation
makes no deal Brexit more likely, industry must
prepare
By Will Beacham
11-Sep-20 12:13 BARCELONA (ICIS)--As the UK
publishes new legislation which seeks to renege
on important parts of the Brexit withdrawal
agreement, the country's chemical sector and
its trading partners need to ramp up
preparations for the rising prospect of a no
deal exit from the EU on 31 December, 2020.
INSIGHT: US MEG shortage
reverberates globally after hurricane,
maintenance
By Antoinette
Smith 10-Sep-20 16:24 HOUSTON (ICIS)--A severe
shortage of US monoethylene glycol (MEG) is
causing issues globally, as strong demand
continues in North America for downstream
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Europe seeks
volumes and peak polyester-fibre demand season
begins in Asia.
US
polyether polyol prices rise with increasing
feedstock costs
By Zachary
Moore 10-Sep-20 00:14 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
polyether polyol prices were assessed 3
cents/lb ($66/tonne) higher in line with rising
feedstock costs and improved demand.
US
polycarbonate market stable as demand continues
to improve
By Adam Yanelli
09-Sep-20 23:39 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US
polycarbonate market is stable, as supply
remains ample to meet gradually improving
demand while the economy continues to restart
after shutting down to help stop the spread of
the coronavirus.
US SBR outages linger, activity limited
following Hurricane Laura
By
Lucas Hall 09-Sep-20 23:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) activity is
limited amid lingering production outages
following Hurricane Laura.
INSIGHT: Huntsman Q3
upward guidance signals improving automotive,
construction trends
By Joseph
Chang 09-Sep-20 20:58 NEW YORK
(ICIS)--Huntsman’s upside guidance on
polyurethanes (PU) for Q3 2020 highlights
improving trends in construction and
automotive, two key markets for the entire
chemicals sector.
US
Element Solutions says auto sector faring
better than expected
By
Stefan Baumgarten 09-Sep-20 15:50 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US specialty chemical company Element
Solutions is experiencing ”greater than
expected momentum” in the automotive industry,
as well as continued resilience in the
electronics market, it said in an update on
Wednesday.
Germany agrees to help
auto industry, crisis squeezes parts
suppliers
By Stefan
Baumgarten 09-Sep-20 14:18 LONDON
(ICIS)--Germany’s federal government and auto
industry leaders on Wednesday agreed broad
targets to help the industry manage the
challenges of structural change, automation,
digitalisation, and autonomous driving.
INSIGHT: China
petrochemicals gain after slow start in August,
on crude, strong yuan
By
Yvonne Shi 08-Sep-20 11:52 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--China’s petrochemical markets posted
strong gains from the second half of August
after a slow start to the month, as crude oil
futures and the yuan strengthened.
Germany's chems output
rises in July, sentiment
stabilises
By Morgan Condon
07-Sep-20 14:13 LONDON (ICIS)--The German
chemicals industry's output rose in July, month
on month, and companies expect production in
August to have been stable.
Latin
American PS strong demand from essential goods,
returning industrial production
activities
By Renato Frimm
04-Sep-20 23:28 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Latin American
polystyrene (PS) demand remains strong for
essential goods related to food, hygiene and
medical applications, while continuing to firm
for durable goods and improving industrial
activity.
EU
adds lithium to critical raw materials list,
removes helium
By Stefan
Baumgarten 04-Sep-20 19:08 LONDON (ICIS)--The
European Commission has added lithium to the
EU’s list of critical raw materials, while
removing helium.
Europe PC producers push
for price rises, but buyers resist due to slow
demand
By Miguel Rodriguez
Fernandez 04-Sep-20 15:05 LONDON (ICIS)--Europe
polycarbonate (PC) producers are separately
attempting to achieve small price increases in
the early stages of September and
fourth-quarter negotiations, although buyers
are resisting as the market is well-supplied
and the return of demand in summer has been
slow.
China’s July MA exports fall on domestic
strengths
By Ai Teng Lim
04-Sep-20 05:45 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China
exported 4,126 tonnes of maleic anhydride (MA)
in July 2020, about 10.2% lower than June,
according to data from ICIS Supply and Demand
Database.
US
September oxo-alcohols to see some upstream
pressure
By Larry Terry
03-Sep-20 23:27 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US oxo-alcohols
demand remains on an uptrend after a healthy
August, with price discussions barely underway,
so far.
US
September OX settles at
increase
By Antoinette Smith
03-Sep-20 23:14 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US September
orthoxylene (OX) contracts settled at an
increase, on rebounding upstream prices.
US
August formula-based domestic ACN contracts
increase with higher August
propylene
By Lucas Hall
03-Sep-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August
formula-based domestic acrylonitrile (ACN)
contracts increased, tracking higher US August
propylene and September ammonia contracts.
Brazil July industrial
activity up 8.0%, durable goods up 42.0% from
prior month
By Renato Frimm
03-Sep-20 21:32 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Brazil
industrial activity continues recovering in
July, up 8.0% month on month but still 3.0%
lower year on year, the state statistical
agency said on Thursday.
German auto market
remained weak in August; sales down 20%,
production 35% lower
By
Stefan Baumgarten 03-Sep-20 15:04 LONDON
(ICIS)--The German auto market remained weak in
August, with new-car registrations down 20%
year on year and domestic auto production down
35%, according to data from industry trade
group VDA on Thursday.
INSIGHT: India’s demand
for SBR may wane as coronavirus resurgence
impacts tyre industry
By
Helen Yan 03-Sep-20 15:04 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--India’s demand for styrene butadiene
rubber (SBR), which strengthened after lockdown
restrictions were lifted in June, may soon
stall and start to wane as the country grapples
with rising coronavirus infections.
MIBK
prices torn between feedstock pressure and weak
fundamentals
By Anne-Sophie
Briant-Vaghela 03-Sep-20 13:30 LONDON
(ICIS)--The methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK)
market was divided this week. Nagging
production cost constraints supporting upward
momentum are co-existing with equal pressure on
sellers to reduce stock and entice buyers with
competitive discounts amid weak market
fundamentals.
US
September SBR contracts higher; plants await
power restoration
By Amanda
Hay 03-Sep-20 05:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
September SBR contracts settled higher,
tracking firmer costs for butadiene (BD) and
styrene, while spot prices rose in tandem.
US
September polycarbonate prices unchanged amid
steadily improving demand
By
Adam Yanelli 02-Sep-20 23:35 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
September polycarbonate (PC) prices were
assessed flat from August, as lengthy supply is
outweighing gradually improving demand.
US Q4
glycerine contract negotiations begin, spot
prices mixed
By Lucas Hall
02-Sep-20 23:34 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US Q4 refined
glycerine contract negotiations began in
earnest as of September. Contracts face
pressure from a downward correction in refined
spot prices over Q3 following historic highs in
Q2 amid the onset of the coronavirus. However,
security of supply continues to underpin the
market amid sporadic imports from southeast
Asia and expectations of tighter biodiesel
production in Q4, limiting the downward
pressure.
US
ABS prices roll over; market eyes tightening of
supply
By Adam Yanelli
02-Sep-20 23:20 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) prices
rolled over from July, but values are facing
upward pressure from tightening global supply.
Canada’s light vehicle
sales in August fall 8.9% year on
year
By Stefan Baumgarten
02-Sep-20 19:28 TORONTO (ICIS)--Canada’s new
light vehicle sales were at an estimated
165,837 in August, down 8.9% year on year, auto
industry consultants DesRosiers said on
Wednesday.
PODCAST: Europe benzene,
styrene September contracts settle
lower
By Helena Strathearn
02-Sep-20 17:29 LONDON (ICIS)--ICIS Head of
Market Reporting, Barbara Ortner, and Deputy
Managing Editor, Helena Strathearn, look at the
September benzene and styrene contract price
settlements, along with current market
dynamics.
Delayed European MEG
August contract fully confirmed at €28/tonne
increase
By Melissa Hurley
02-Sep-20 12:39 LONDON (ICIS)--The delayed
European monoethylene glycol (MEG) August
contract price has been fully confirmed at
€532/tonne FD NWE, a €28/tonne increase from
July. Import supply continues to be limited by
US production outages.
Europe August nylon 6,6
contract slips on slow
demand
By Marta Fern
02-Sep-20 11:26 LONDON (ICIS)--European nylon
6,6 contract prices for August settled with a
€0.01/kg decrease on the low end and a €0.02/kg
drop on the high end from July.
China
BD supply to grow on start-ups; demand outlook
uncertain
By Dan Lu 02-Sep-20
07:32 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Butadiene (BD) supply
in China will grow with new capacities coming
on stream while the outlook on demand is
uncertain, with a possible decline in
production at downstream synthetic rubber
market.
US
August barge acetone contracts increase amid
higher feedstocks,
tightness
By Tarun Raizada
02-Sep-20 00:10 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August barge
acetone contracts increased by 1.75 cents/lb
($39/tonne) for a majority of the market,
according to sources.
Demand for nylon 6,6
remains soft as growth in construction boosts
nylon 6 demand
By Adam
Yanelli 01-Sep-20 23:19 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
demand for nylon is showing some signs or
growth from the construction sector, but the
slow return of demand from the auto sector
continues to create headwinds.
September increase
initiatives emerge in US TDI, polyol
markets
By Zachary Moore
01-Sep-20 23:04 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Additional
September increase initiatives have emerged for
10 cents/lb ($220/tonne) in the toluene
diisocyanate (TDI) market and at 7 cents/lb for
polyether polyols, according to market sources.
Mexico GDP survey
projects 9.9% economic contraction for
2020
By Renato Frimm
01-Sep-20 17:07 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Economists
surveyed by the Bank of Mexico reveal continued
economic expectations of recession.
German automotive
sentiment improves in August, recovery may be
short-lived
By Morgan Condon
01-Sep-20 15:13 LONDON (ICIS)--“A light has
gone on in the dark cellar,” of Germany's
automotive industry according to the Ifo
Institute for Economic Research on Tuesday, as
sentiment improved in August - although the
road to recovery may remain a distant prospect.
INSIGHT: Europe demand
for technical grade IPA still disappointing but
higher grades continue to
perform
By Anne-Sophie
Briant-Vaghela 01-Sep-20 12:41 LONDON
(ICIS)--While the isopropanol (IPA) molecule
garnered attention from the entire
petrochemical industry at the height of the
coronavirus pandemic, the technical grade of
the solvent currently is disappointing European
players.
North
American PP inventories sink to 22-month low in
July, sales rise year on
year
By Zachary Moore
31-Aug-20 23:04 HOUSTON (ICIS)--North American
polypropylene (PP) inventories sank to a
22-month low in July while total sales
increased compared with July 2019, according to
data recently released by the American
Chemistry Council (ACC) and Vault Consulting.
US
polyether polyol prices facing upward pressure
as costs increase, demand
improves
By Zachary Moore
31-Aug-20 22:14 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US polyether
polyol markets are facing some upward pressure
as demand has been improving while propylene
feedstock costs settled higher for a second
consecutive month in July.
Repairs following
hurricane could add support to US
BDO
By Antoinette Smith
31-Aug-20 22:11 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The
construction sector - in particular increased
activity as a result of damage from Hurricane
Laura - is likely to add support to US
butanediol (BDO) demand into the fourth
quarter.
US
acrylates strength slowed by weak demand from
oil and gas sector
By Larry
Terry 31-Aug-20 21:41 HOUSTON (ICIS)--While
most US acrylates demand from adhesives and
architectural coatings continues to improve,
demand for glacial acrylic acid (GAA) used in
water treatment, particularly at refineries,
continues to struggle.
US
oxo-alcohols market continues to see slower
uptick in automotive
segment
By Larry Terry
31-Aug-20 20:45 HOUSTON (ICIS)--While demand
for US oxo-alcohols has picked up from most
downstream sectors this summer, interest from
the domestic automotive segment may continue to
lag demand from the construction and
do-it-yourself (DIY) coatings sectors.
US
butac demand expected to continue Q3 uptrend in
September
By Larry Terry
31-Aug-20 18:03 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US butyl
acetate (butac) demand is expected to continue
on an uptrend in September, though the pace of
recovery remains below year-ago levels, owing
largely to the persistent coronavirus.
Europe September
propylene contract price agreed at a
rollover
By Nel Weddle
31-Aug-20 13:51 LONDON (ICIS)--The European
propylene September contract reference price
has been set at €732.50/tonne, a rollover from
August.
North
American TiO2 demand momentum likely to extend
into Q4
By Larry Terry
31-Aug-20 09:36 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Demand for
North American titanium dioxide (TiO2) is
expected to continue gaining momentum into the
fourth quarter on pent-up demand from
construction.
US
glycol ethers will carry some price momentum
into September
By Larry Terry
31-Aug-20 07:39 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Pricing
momentum is building within the US glycol
ethers markets, but slowly and on upstream
pressure more so than on improved demand
levels.
US
MEG spot prices rise on hurricane, global
tightness
By Antoinette Smith
28-Aug-20 23:18 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US monoethylene
glycol (MEG) spot prices have increased, on
supply constraints and strengthening demand.
US
styrene spot export price rises amid shutdowns
from hurricane
By Adam
Yanelli 28-Aug-20 23:17 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US
spot export price was assessed higher this week
as supply could tighten after two producers
shut down their plants ahead of Hurricane
Laura.
Latin
American PS demand gradually improving, still
lower than last year
By
Renato Frimm 28-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Latin American polystyrene (PS) demand
is gradually improving amid resuming
manufacturing activity, but continues lower
than last year.
Latin
American PP supply tight, lower feedstock
availability
By Renato Frimm
28-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Latin American
polypropylene (PP) supply is likely to remain
tight in the short run, amid both shortened
feedstocks and PP production.
US
Aug EG contracts flat to
higher
By Antoinette Smith
28-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August
ethylene glycol (EG) prices are flat to higher,
amid supply constraints and mixed demand.
US
acetone supply to remain constrained despite
mixed demand
By Tarun Raizada
28-Aug-20 22:25 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US acetone
supply is constrained, with the picture
unlikely to change near term despite mixed
downstream demand.
US
melamine sees price increase nomination as some
market participants expect demand to
increase
By Deniz Koray
28-Aug-20 21:46 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Q4 melamine
discussions have picked up more quickly than in
recent quarters. On 24 August, Cornerstone
Chemical, the sole US producer of melamine,
introduced a price increase nomination of 7
cents/lb ($154/tonne) for Q4. The nomination
was confirmed by Cornerstone.
INSIGHT: Timid spot
market flattens spot premiums for Europe
toluene and mixed xylenes
By
Zubair Adam 28-Aug-20 15:03 LONDON
(ICIS)--Toluene and mixed xylenes (MX) spot
premiums over Eurobob gasoline have recently
been declining reaching low levels.
Furthermore, the gap between the ranges has
narrowed, the main reason being a weak spot
market.
Car
interiors 'battleground of the future' for
plastics producers –
Covestro
By Morgan Condon
28-Aug-20 13:37 LONDON (ICIS)--The interior of
the car will be the “battleground of the
future” according to German raw materials
company Covestro.
Europe BD market shows
steady improvement, but sentiment cautious for
Q4
By Nel Weddle 28-Aug-20
12:56 LONDON (ICIS)--After several months of
very poor demand for butadiene (BD) due to the
well-known impacts of the coronavirus pandemic
on the key end-user automotive sector, the
European BD market has finally started to show
some more sustained improvement.
Non-auto demand boosts
Europe ABS, SAN sentiment for
September
By Stephanie Wix
28-Aug-20 12:05 LONDON (ICIS)--Market sentiment
is positive for September demand recovery in
the European acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
(ABS) and styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) markets.
Chinese MEK market stale,
lacks near-term direction
By
Yuanlin Koh 28-Aug-20 10:26 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--China’s methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
market saw limited fluctuations this week in a
stale market.
Local
PP offers for Sep in Malaysia lower tracking
import trends
By Leanne Tan
28-Aug-20 09:21 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--September
offers in the domestic Malaysian polypropylene
(PP) market emerged lower month on month,
keeping in line with trends in the import
sector.
Indian PP copolymer
demand to see uptick from
September
By Veena Pathare
28-Aug-20 06:51 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--After close
to two years of relatively lacklustre
performance, demand for impact (block)
copolymer in India is poised to bounce back,
boosted by a recovery in the automotive sector.
Repsol’s new Spain unit
to produce high impact PP for
autos
By John Donnelly
27-Aug-20 23:57 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Repsol will
invest €32m to install a second reactor at its
Tarragona plant in Spain to produce high impact
polypropylene (PP), the producer said on
Thursday.
US
plasticizers pricing moves higher on rising
demand, some supply strain
By
Larry Terry 27-Aug-20 23:55 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
diisononyl phthalate (DINP), dioctyl
terephthalate (DOTP) and dioctyl phthalate
(DOP) pricing moved up on pressure from some
tightening DINP supply and stronger July
propylene.
US
September BD contracts settle higher on
production constraints, ongoing cost
pressures
By Amanda Hay
27-Aug-20 23:28 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US September
butadiene (BD) contracts settled higher against
a backdrop of limited availability and ongoing
cost pressures.
PODCAST: Momentum in
European PX and MEG mounts, influencing mood in
PET market
By ICIS Editorial
25-Aug-20 10:41 LONDON (ICIS)--Changing
dynamics in monoethylene glycol (MEG) and
paraxylene (PX) are impacting sentiment in
downstream polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
US
September BD contract nomination up on tighter
supply, ongoing cost
pressures
By Amanda Hay
25-Aug-20 15:25 HOUSTON (ICIS)--A US September
butadiene (BD) contract nomination emerged
higher on Tuesday.
Europe butac prices
stable, automotive demand
rising
By Nick Cleeve
25-Aug-20 10:54 LONDON (ICIS)--European spot
prices for butyl acetate (butac) remain stable.
Tight
supply, costs and demand to bolster SBR in SE
Asia
By Helen Yan 25-Aug-20
10:00 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Limited supply of
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) in southeast
(SE) Asia and cost pressures are likely to
provide support for the non-oil grade 1502 SBR
market in the near term.
MEGlobal tracking storm
progress in US Gulf
By
Antoinette Smith 24-Aug-20 20:47 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--MEGlobal is monitoring two tropical
storms in the US Gulf, taking routine
precautions at its ethylene oxide (EO) and
ethylene glycol (EG) plant in Oyster Creek,
Texas.
Europe August ABS
contract prices roll over to increase
slightly
By Stephanie Wix
24-Aug-20 16:10 LONDON (ICIS)--August contract
prices in the European
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) market
have settled between rollovers and increases up
to €25/tonne.
Europe ABS margins see
another small rise week on
week
By Yashas Mudumbai
24-Aug-20 14:34 LONDON
(ICIS)--Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
producers in Europe saw another small rise in
contract margins in the week.
Latin
America PP facing increased feedstock prices,
short supply
By Renato Frimm
21-Aug-20 23:15 HOUSTON(ICIS)--Latin America
polypropylene (PP) feedstock propylene
availability is limited in most places, as is
PP itself, affected by numerous refinery
outages and reduced PP utilisation rates.
US
styrene spot export price falls on long supply,
soft demand
By Adam Yanelli
21-Aug-20 23:06 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US styrene
spot export price was assessed lower this week,
as long supply and steadily improving demand
weighed on the market.
Latin
America PE supply short as feedstocks continue
trending higher
By Renato
Frimm 21-Aug-20 23:03 HOUSTON(ICIS)--Latin
America polyethylene (PE) is facing reduced
supply availability in several countries as
global markets also are tight. Benchmark US
feedstock costs have risen 60% since May.
Tight
Europe supply supports US MEG export
prices
By Antoinette Smith
21-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Tight supply in
Europe amid upcoming turnarounds has encouraged
interest in monoethylene glycol (MEG) exports
to the region, pushing US spot prices up.
US
DEG prices flat amid moderate
demand
By Antoinette Smith
21-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US diethylene
glycol (DEG) prices were stable from the
previous week, on curtailed supply and moderate
demand from the construction sector.
European VAM contract
prices rise for first time since
2019
By Peter Gerrard
21-Aug-20 19:03 LONDON (ICIS)-- European vinyl
acetate monomer (VAM) contract prices turned a
significant corner in August, rising by an
average of €25-30/tonne, compared July, which
saw the eighth successive decline.
US PP
supply likely to remain limited amid production
issues, improved demand
By
Zachary Moore 21-Aug-20 18:27 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US polypropylene (PP) supplies are
likely to remain limited over the coming weeks
amid ongoing production issues and improved
demand.
SE
Asian MA import offers supported by a buoyant
China but demand stays structurally
soft
By Ai Teng Lim 21-Aug-20
17:03 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Southeast Asian maleic
anhydride (MA) import offers picked up slightly
this week, as sellers were motivated by the
strong showing in the domestic yuan-denominated
markets to hold their ground in September
negotiations.
Norway’s Elkem plans
battery graphite project to meet electric
transport demand
By Stefan
Baumgarten 21-Aug-20 15:33 LONDON
(ICIS)--Norwegian silicone company Elkem is
planning a battery graphite materials project
and has selected a site in Heroya, southwest of
Oslo, for a potential large-scale plant.
US BD
September contract nomination higher on
production constraints, ongoing cost
pressures
By Amanda Hay
21-Aug-20 15:23 HOUSTON (ICIS)--A US September
butadiene (BD) contract nomination emerged
higher on Friday.
Europe SAN August
contract prices settle stable to slightly
higher
By Stephanie Wix
21-Aug-20 10:17 LONDON (ICIS)--Contract prices
in the European styrene acrylonitrile (SAN)
market have settled between rollovers and
increases of €20/tonne, driven by the €4/tonne
increase for upstream styrene and the €23/tonne
increase for secondary feedstock acrylonitrile
(ACN).
Asia
MEK market on sidelines amid lackluster
downstream
By Yuanlin Koh
21-Aug-20 09:45 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s methyl
ethyl ketone (MEK) market remained quiet amid
the summer holidays in northeast Asia, and as
most of Asia, heavily battered by the ongoing
and resurgent coronavirus, was still struggling
to recover.
Weak
stearic acids demand in Asia unlikely to
improve
By Jackie Wong
21-Aug-20 07:56 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Poor demand
for the stearic acids continued to be a concern
for fatty acids suppliers in Asia, especially
with recent firmness in feedstock palm stearin
prices. The situation is not expected to
improve in the near future as downstream
industrial and automotive sectors remained
affected by the pandemic.
Asia
BD supply to stay limited amid firm
demand
By Helen Yan 21-Aug-20
07:52 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Limited spot butadiene
(BD) availability in Asia and firm demand will
likely persist in the near term but recent
price spikes could curb buying appetite.
US
August cumene contract prices increase 17% on
stronger benzene, RGP
costs
By Adam Burkin
20-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August
cumene contract prices settled 17% higher over
July while trade flows reversed course in June
for the first time in eight months, according
to ICIS market analysis.
US
SBR faces cost pressures into September, but
demand struggling to
recover
By Amanda Hay
20-Aug-20 21:40 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US styrene
butadiene rubber (SBR) prices face pressure
from feedstock costs heading into September,
although supply is sufficient as downstream
demand struggles to recover.
US PP
imports plunge 43.2% in H1 2020, exports
largely steady
By Zachary
Moore 20-Aug-20 20:06 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
imports of polypropylene (PP) plunged 43.2% in
the first half of 2020 compared with the first
half of 2019, according to data from the ICIS
Supply and Demand Database.
US BD
September contract nomination higher as cost
pressures continue, availability
limited
By Amanda Hay
20-Aug-20 19:02 HOUSTON (ICIS)--A US September
butadiene (BD) contract nomination emerged
higher on Thursday.
Europe capro demand
expected to improve in
September
By Marta Fern
20-Aug-20 17:17 LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe
caprolactam (capro) market continues to trade
reduced volumes on the back of sluggish
post-lockdown demand and seasonally slow summer
months, but from September buying interest is
expected to increase as the ongoing downstream
demand recovery is finally beginning to be more
noticeable upstream.
Europe PU feedstock price
surge cheers producers after tough
Q2
By Fergus Jensen 20-Aug-20
16:19 LONDON (ICIS)--Particularly for
isocyanates, prices surged upwards in Europe’s
polyurethane (PU) feedstocks markets in August,
as continuing stronger-than-expected demand for
rigid and flexible foams met supply limitations
in conditions some anticipate will continue in
September.
BASF
gets German government aid for EV battery
materials project
By Stefan
Baumgarten 20-Aug-20 15:12 LONDON
(ICIS)--Germany is granting BASF €175m in
government aid for its electric vehicle (EV)
battery materials project at Schwarzheide and
Ludwigshafen.
Hyundai signs MoU to
accelerate development of hydrogen fuel
technology
By Richard Ewing
20-Aug-20 15:05 LONDON (ICIS)--Korean car giant
Hyundai Motor Company on Thursday joined force
with two international partners to fast track
development of renewable hydrogen technology
for vehicles.
Chems
shipping demand buoys Odfjell amid sector
uptick
By Tom Brown 20-Aug-20
14:48 LONDON (ICIS)--An improvement in chemical
tanker earnings was the primary force behind a
surge in profitability for Odfjell, amid an
improvement in fortune for marine transport
firms despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
and questions over how long the rally will
last.
Europe AA and acrylate
esters August contracts
increase
By Mathew
Jolin-Beech 20-Aug-20 09:53 LONDON
(ICIS)--European acrylic acid (AA) and acrylate
ester contracts have settled at a low
double-digit increase for August.
August, September
increases emerge in US MDI, TDI, polyol
markets
By Zachary Moore
19-Aug-20 23:58 HOUSTON (ICIS)--September price
increases have emerged in the US markets for
methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), toluene
diisocyanate (TDI) and polyether polyols,
according to market sources.
US
ABS supply length keeps ceiling on
values
By Adam Yanelli
19-Aug-20 23:22 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Supply of US
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) remains
long, keeping values steady amid slowly
improving demand.
US
SBR spot prices align with August contracts; no
supply issue stemming from upstream
constraints
By Amanda Hay
19-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US styrene
butadiene rubber (SBR) spot prices firmed,
aligning with August contract values.
US
fatty acids prices face upward pressure amid
bullish feedstock costs, despite slow to
recover demand
By Lucas Hall
19-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US fatty acids
prices face upward pressure amid bullish
feedstock costs globally, despite mixed but
overall slow to recover demand.
Raw
material costs rising for US PC but long supply
weighs on market
By Adam
Yanelli 19-Aug-20 22:49 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Rising
raw material costs are putting upward pressure
on the US polycarbonate (PC) market, but the
slow return of demand following efforts to stop
the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) is
likely to keep a ceiling on prices.
BASF
seeks September increase nylon 6, feedstock
caprolactam
By Adam Yanelli
19-Aug-20 20:14 HOUSTON (ICIS)--BASF is seeking
an 8 cents/lb ($176/tonne) increase on nylon 6
and feedstock caprolactam for North America,
effective 1 September, or as contracts allow.
European nylon demand
mixed with gradual recovery expected from
September
By Marta Fern
19-Aug-20 19:51 LONDON (ICIS)--European nylon 6
and nylon 6,6 demand in August is a bit of a
mixed bag so far, but there are widespread
expectations of demand improvement from
September onward.
Asia
PBT remains under downward pressure, demand
recovery uneven
By Clive Ong
19-Aug-20 09:29 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Asia
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) market remains
under downward pressure, with uneven demand
recovery in the automotive sector.
Asia
SBR to see support from tight supply,
increasing demand
By Helen
Yan 19-Aug-20 06:18 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) market is
expected to see further support on tight
supply, increased demand and rising feedstock
butadiene (BD) costs.
US
Group II base oil export prices edge higher on
strong demand
By Amanda Hay
19-Aug-20 00:05 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US Group II
base oil export prices rose as demand continues
to be strong outside of domestic markets.
US EPS demand continues to improve, participants tracking feedstock costs for pricing indicationsBy Zachary Moore 18-Aug-20 23:28 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Demand for expandable polystyrene (EPS) in the US continues to incrementally improve while participants are tracking the direction of feedstock markets to get a sense of the market direction.
US
Eastman nominates MEG higher for
September
By Antoinette Smith
18-Aug-20 22:32 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Eastman
Chemical has nominated US September
monoethylene glycol (MEG) prices higher by 2
cents/lb, according to a customer letter.
Demand for US nylon
continues to improve, but supply overhang caps
values
By Adam Yanelli
18-Aug-20 22:09 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US demand for
nylon continues to show gradual improvement,
but long supply and a sputtering restart of the
economy are keeping a ceiling on prices even as
upstream costs are trending higher.
Europe August epoxy
demand buoyed by downstream
recovery
By Heidi Finch
18-Aug-20 18:11 LONDON (ICIS)--Europe August
epoxy resins demand is similar, if not better
than expected compared to the typical summer
lull at this time of year.
Asia
ABS spot import prices continue to firm on
strong demand and tight
supply
By Julia Tan 18-Aug-20
13:31 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Asian acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS) market saw firmer
prices in the week ended 14 August on stronger
demand and tighter supply.
Japan
R&D investments to stay resilient despite
recession amid pandemic
By
Pearl Bantillo 18-Aug-20 05:49 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--Japan’s investments in research and
development (R&D) are expected to stay
resilient despite a deep economic recession
induced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Sentiment shifts in US
TDI market as supply tightens, demand
improves
By Zachary Moore
17-Aug-20 22:40 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Sentiment is
shifting in the US toluene diisocyanate (TDI)
market as supply tightens even as demand has
begun to improve.
US
benzene reverses on trade flows in
June
By Adam Burkin 17-Aug-20
20:44 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US benzene trade flows
shifted in June 2020 amid arbitrage windows
opening with key market regions, per the ICIS
Supply and Demand Database.
Stable to firm
expectations for August PVC as downstream
demand rises
By Chris Barker
14-Aug-20 11:10 LONDON (ICIS)--European
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) demand has risen in
the third quarter after steadily increasing
from its second quarter low point.
BASF
enhances R&D capabilities with acquisition
of Solvay PA business
By
Fanny Zhang 14-Aug-20 09:30 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--BASF said on Friday that it has
enhanced its research and development (R&D)
capabilities in Asia Pacific with new
technologies, technical expertise, and upgraded
material and part testing services through the
acquisition of the Solvay polyamide (PA)
business.
MEGlobal nominates US
September MEG at increase
By
Antoinette Smith 14-Aug-20 00:02 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--MEGlobal has nominated US September
ethylene glycol (EG) prices at an increase, on
supply constraints, according to a company
source.
Recent surge of US MEG
exports to China unlikely to last through
Q4
By Antoinette Smith
13-Aug-20 21:38 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US monoethylene
glycol (MEG) exports to China surged to record
highs in June, but this demand is unlikely to
be sustained through the end of the year.
ExxonMobil seeks
September price increase on US
PP
By Zachary Moore 13-Aug-20
19:38 HOUSTON (ICIS)--ExxonMobil is seeking a
price increase of 3 cents/lb ($66/tonne) on all
non-metallocene grades of polypropylene (PP)
effective 1 September separately from any
changes in propylene monomer prices, according
to a Thursday customer letter.
Europe refined glycerine
price ranges narrow on increased
supply
By Samantha Wright
13-Aug-20 17:41 LONDON (ICIS)--European refined
glycerine price ranges narrowed this week on
the back of continually improving availability.
Indorama adds US MEG
capacity
By Antoinette Smith
13-Aug-20 17:28 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Indorama
Ventures has added 60,000 tonnes/year of US
monoethylene glycol (MEG) capacity by
debottlenecking, the company said in its Q2
earnings release.
PODCAST: Feedstock cost
pressure continues for Europe oxo-alcohols and
derivatives in August
By
Eashani Chavda 13-Aug-20 15:06 LONDON
(ICIS)--After a third consecutive increase in
propylene and ethylene contract prices, editors
Nick Cleeve, Mathew Jolin-Beech and Eashani
Chavda discuss the impacts on the European
oxo-alcohols, butyl acetate (butac), acrylate
esters and glycol ethers markets.
INSIGHT: Northeast Asia
ABS prices surge on tight supply, improved
demand
By Julia Tan 13-Aug-20
14:15 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Northeast Asia
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) prices
have surged, a positive development for the
market as a whole as values drop to historic
lows in the pandemic.
LANXESS to sell leather
chems business, maintains earnings guidance for
2020
By Tom Brown 13-Aug-20
12:34 LONDON (ICIS)--LANXESS has agreed to sell
its organic leather chemicals business to TFL
Ledertechnik for up to €115m as the
Germany-based chemicals firm maintains its
earnings guidance for 2020.
Asia
BDO stable, while rising US-China tensions
weigh on sentiment
By Clive
Ong 13-Aug-20 05:41 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Asia
butanediol (BDO) market held steady amid thin
trade while participants remain cautious as
tensions between the US and China continued to
rise.
Brazil Oxiteno Q2
operating income rises on higher
sales
By Al Greenwood
13-Aug-20 02:55 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Brazilian
surfactants producer Oxiteno reported on
Wednesday a second-quarter operating income
versus a loss from the same period in 2019
because sales rose faster than costs.
US
polyether polyol prices increase on stronger
feedstock costs, improving
demand
By Zachary Moore
12-Aug-20 23:54 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US polyether
polyol prices were assessed 3 cents/lb
($66/tonne) higher, with stronger feedstock
costs and improving demand.
US
TDI prices rise on tightening supply, improving
demand
By Zachary Moore
12-Aug-20 23:31 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US prices for
toluene diisocyanate (TDI) were assessed 6
cents/lb ($132/tonne) higher, in line with
tightening supply and improving demand.
US
fatty alcohols supply overhang weighing on
market despite volatile feedstock
costs
By Lucas Hal 12-Aug-20
23:28 HOUSTON (ICIS)--A Q2 supply overhang is
beginning to weigh on the US fatty alcohols
market, despite volatile feedstock costs across
the oil palm complex, as demand in key end
markets outside the cleaning sector is slow to
recover from the coronavirus.
US
ABS supply ample to meet gradually improving
demand
By Adam Yanelli
12-Aug-20 23:04 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US supply of
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) is ample
to meet gradually improving demand, which is
slowly recovering following mitigation efforts
to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
September increase
initiatives emerge in US MDI
market
By Zachary Moore
12-Aug-20 22:52 HOUSTON (ICIS)--September price
increase initiatives ranging from 8-12 cents/lb
($176-265/tonne) have emerged in the US
methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) market.
US PC
stable amid gradually improving
demand
By Adam Yanelli
12-Aug-20 22:16 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US
polycarbonate (PC) market is stable as supply
is ample to meet gradually improving demand.
Mitsui Chem affiliate
acquires sheet moulding compound business in
Japan
By Stefan Baumgarten
12-Aug-20 18:50 LONDON (ICIS)--Mitsui
Chemicals’ joint venture affiliate, Japan
Composite, has acquired the sheet moulding
compound (SMC) and moulding operation of DIC
Kako in Japan.
Plastics machinery maker
Sumitomo Demag reports jump in H1 orders
despite coronavirus crisis
By
Stefan Baumgarten 12-Aug-20 17:53 LONDON
(ICIS)--Japanese-German injection moulding
machine manufacturer Sumitomo Demag saw H1
orders for machines produced in Germany and
China rise nearly 25% year on year, despite the
coronavirus health crisis, it said on
Wednesday.
INSIGHT: China’s PO
prices keep rising on spiking demand, limited
supply
By Claire Gao
12-Aug-20 03:00 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s
propylene oxide (PO) prices have been on an
uptrend on the back of bullish supply and
demand fundamentals; the situation is likely to
persist.
Fitch
lowers US's Eastman's rating to one notch above
junk
By Al Greenwood
11-Aug-20 23:21 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Fitch Ratings
lowered on Tuesday its rating for Eastman to
one notch above speculative grade or junk
status.
US
nylon 6 demand improves as manufacturing
expands
By Adam Yanelli
11-Aug-20 23:17 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US demand for
nylon 6 continues to improve, supported by
growth in the manufacturing sector, as the
economy continues to recover from mitigation
efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
US
Sep PA prices fall with
feedstock
By Antoinette Smith
11-Aug-20 23:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US September
phthalic anhydride (PA) prices have fallen on a
lower August feedstock settlement.
US PA
supply to remain sufficient amid US, Italy
maintenance
By Antoinette
Smith 11-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Planned
maintenance in late August at a key European
producer for US phthalic anhydride (PA) imports
is unlikely to affect US supply.
Firm
costs maintain pressure on US base oil prices;
India shows strong demand
pull
By Amanda Hay 11-Aug-20
23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--ExxonMobil and Paulsboro
Refining Company (PRC) separately announced
price increases of 15-30 cents/gal that take
effect this week.
INSIGHT: PPG Q3 upside
and investor-sentiment shift lifts chemicals
stocks
By Joseph Chang
11-Aug-20 21:47 NEW YORK (ICIS)--A clear shift
in investor sentiment and rotation into
industrial stocks is lifting the chemicals
sector, a typical early economic cycle
outperformer. US-based coatings producer PPG’s
announcement of better-than-expected Q3 volume
trends is adding fuel to the fire.
US
July new auto sales rises from
June
By Tracy Dang 11-Aug-20
17:32 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US sales of new light
vehicles in July rose by 14% month on month but
remain down by 11% year on year, according to
seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) from
the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
Europe butac prices
stable, seasonal low
demand
By Nick Cleeve
11-Aug-20 17:11 LONDON (ICIS)--European spot
prices for butyl acetate (butac) continue to be
stable, despite increased propylene costs for
August
Europe ABS margins see
big drop week on week
By
Yashas Mudumbai 11-Aug-20 14:43 LONDON (ICIS)
-- European producers of acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS) saw a big drop in their
margins week on week.
Hopes
for ‘speedy’ recovery rise in Germany but
financial services cause concern -
Zew
By Jonathan Lopez
11-Aug-20 12:48 LONDON (ICIS)--German financial
analysts are growing in confidence that the
recovery in the country could be faster than
expected, but the banking and insurance sectors
could put a drag on the economy as they deal
with the consequences of the coronavirus
pandemic, research institute Zew said on
Tuesday.
India
July total vehicle output falls 29% year on
year
By Nurluqman Suratman
11-Aug-20 11:14 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India's
overall production of vehicles in July fell by
29.4% year on year to 1.72m units in July,
industry data showed on Tuesday.
PODCAST: Markets punish
big, diversified chemical companies much more
than specialties
By Will
Beacham 11-Aug-20 10:57 BARCELONA
(ICIS)--Large, diversified chemical companies
are being punished much more by stock market
investors than their specialty, solution-based
peers, new research shows.
China
ECH prices rise as domestic supplies tighten;
outlook clouded
By Ai Teng
Lim 11-Aug-20 08:02 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s
domestic prices for epichlorohydrin (ECH)
recovered some lost grounds this week as
domestic supplies bucked earlier anticipations
to turn tighter, instead of lengthening
further.
China July
vehicles sales grow 16.4% on year; production
up 21.9%
By Fanny Zhang 11-Aug-20 06:02 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--China’s vehicles sales in July
increased 16.4% year on year to 2.1m units as
stimulus measures from the government continued
to drive broad recoveries in consumption and
market vitality, industry data showed.
Asia
nylon demand recovery unlikely amid weak
downstream run rates
By
Leanne Tan 11-Aug-20 05:01 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--Hopes of an August demand recovery in
Asia’s nylon market are fading, as downstream
manufacturing run rates remain curtailed amid
slow end-use consumption.
US
base oil H1 exports, imports lower year on year
because of coronavirus demand
dent
By Amanda Hay 10-Aug-20
20:17 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US base oil export
volumes are down by 21% and import volumes are
down by 10% year on year through the first half
of the year compared with 2019, according to
the ICIS Supply and Demand Database.
Formosa declares force
majeure from US Texas PP
plant
By Zachary Moore
10-Aug-20 15:55 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Formosa
Plastics Corporation USA has declared force
majeure on Formolene polypropylene (PP)
products from its plant in Point Comfort,
Texas, as of 8 August, according to a customer
letter.
Northeast Asia ABS prices
surge on tight supply
By
Julia Tan 10-Aug-20 02:00 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--Northeast Asia's acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS) prices surged in the
week ended 7 August, with selling indications
rising towards the end of the week.
US BD
spot prices rise in line with contract values
amid limited prompt
availability
By Amanda Hay
08-Aug-20 00:06 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US butadiene
(BD) domestic spot prices firmed, tracking
stronger August contract values and factoring
in snug prompt availability.
Latin
America PE August prices are up on higher
feedstocks, strong demand
By
Renato Frimm 07-Aug-20 23:54
HOUSTON(ICIS)--Latin America polyethylene (PE)
August prices are rising in several markets as
feedstock costs in US benchmark market have
increased over the past three months and
regional currencies have devalued. Demand has
been strong, especially for food and medicine
end uses, with recent increase for agricultural
applications.
US
MEG export spot prices rise on supply
constraints
By Antoinette
Smith 07-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
monoethylene glycol (MEG) spot export prices
continued to rise, due to ongoing supply
constraints.
US
domestic MEG prices rise, co-products steady to
lower
By Antoinette Smith
07-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US domestic
monoethylene glycol (MEG) spot prices have
risen on continuing supply constraints.
Latin
America PP August prices are rising on
shortened feedstocks, demand
improving
By Renato
Frimm 07-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON(ICIS)--Latin
America polypropylene (PP) August price
increases for several markets are taking hold
amid limited propylene supply
and increased feedstock costs. Demand for
durable goods improved significantly in June
but continues lower than last year, while food
and medicine applications remain strong.
North
American polyether polyol sales jump 73% month
on month in June, remain lower year on
year
By Zachary Moore
07-Aug-20 15:27 HOUSTON (ICIS)--North American
sales of polyether polyols jumped by 73% month
on month in June after sales plummeted in April
and May, according to data recently released by
the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Vault
Consulting.
North
American MDI sales jump 31% month on month in
June, year-on-year sales down
8.1%
By Zachary Moore
07-Aug-20 15:25 HOUSTON (ICIS)--North American
sales of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)
jumped more than 31% month on month in June
while sales were down by 8.1% year on year,
according to data recently released by the
American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Vault
Consulting.
INSIGHT: Hopes of
V-shaped recovery fade as pandemic
resurges
By Will Beacham
07-Aug-20 15:01 BARCELONA (ICIS)--With the
second half of the year now fully underway,
there are signs of an economic rebound from
very depressed levels.
Russia's SIBUR bullish on
H2 despite pandemic eroding
demand
By Morgan Condon
07-Aug-20 09:06 LONDON (ICIS)--SIBUR’s outlook
for its petrochemicals business is bullish for
the second half of the year if a second wave of
coronavirus infections is avoided, the Russian
producer said this week.
US
July formula-based domestic ACN contracts
increase with higher July
propylene
By Lucas Hall
07-Aug-20 00:07 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US July
formula-based domestic acrylonitrile (ACN)
contracts increased, tracking higher US July
propylene contracts.
US
August OX contracts settle
lower
By Antoinette Smith
06-Aug-20 21:36 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August
orthoxylene (OX) contracts settled lower, amid
stable feedstock spot prices and subdued
demand.
INSIGHT: Argentine debt
deal provides confidence boost, avoids larger
collapse
By Al Greenwood
06-Aug-20 20:58 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The
restructuring agreement that the Argentine
government reached with bond holders should
provide a short-term boost in confidence while
avoiding a larger collapse in the economy.
US
Olin to continue idling capacities, Texas
closure on track for end
2020
By Stefan Baumgarten
06-Aug-20 17:23 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Olin will
continue idling plants as it adapts to weakness
in demand, the CEO of the US-based producer of
chlorine and caustic soda, vinyls, epoxies,
chlorinated organics, bleach and hydrochloric
acid said in an update on Thursday.
Europe PE price ideas
emerge for August in uncertain
market
By Linda Naylor
06-Aug-20 15:24 LONDON (ICIS)--August
polyethylene (PE) price ideas in Europe have
begun to emerge as many players are about to go
on holiday, with little in the way of what they
can expect for September on their return.
Germany’s June
manufacturing orders rise from May, but are
still down 11.3% year on
year
By Stefan Baumgarten
06-Aug-20 14:27 LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s
manufacturing orders rose month on month in
June, with all major sectors recording
improvements - but orders were still down
sharply from their pre-coronavirus levels,
according to the latest official data released
on Thursday.
Malaysia PP demand for
food packaging stays strong, other segments
weaker
By Leanne Tan
06-Aug-20 11:38 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Demand in
Malaysia for polypropylene (PP) used in the
manufacture of takeaway containers remains
healthy in the week, though downstream
consumption in most other segments was
significantly weaker.
Europe PBT prices
impacted by fragile demand from the automotive
sector
By Zubair Adam
06-Aug-20 11:29 LONDON (ICIS)--Consumption of
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) has been low
in 2020, primarily due to its main end user,
the automotive industry, having been severely
impacted by the pandemic.
POM
demand slowly improving, driven by the
automotive sector
By Zubair
Adam 06-Aug-20 10:57 LONDON (ICIS)--After the
coronavirus crippled the global automotive
sector, there have been some recent positive
signs for the polyacetal (POM) market.
Borealis Q2 sales,
profits sag on inventory charges, fire at
Sweden cracker
By Jonathan
Lopez 06-Aug-20 09:00 LONDON (ICIS)--Borealis
second-quarter net profit fell 80% and sales by
more than a quarter as the lockdown impact was
compounded by an outage at its cracker in
Sweden and falling crude oil prices, the
Austrian polymers and fertilizers major said on
Thursday.
US
base oil output at multi-year lows amid
coronavirus demand
declines
By Amanda Hay
06-Aug-20 02:35 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US May total
refinery net production of lubricants fell by
18.5% year on year and by 8.7% month on month,
according to the US Energy Information
Administration (EIA).
Sentiment improves in US
PC market on positive manufacturing
data
By Adam Yanelli
05-Aug-20 23:14 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Demand for US
polycarbonate (PC) continues to show gradual
improvement, and market sentiment has turned
more optimistic amid increased domestic and
global manufacturing activity.
August increase
initiatives emerge in US MDI
market
By Zachary Moore
05-Aug-20 23:12 HOUSTON (ICIS)--August increase
initiatives of 4 cents/lb ($88/tonne) have
emerged in the US methylene diphenyl
diisocyanate (MDI) market.
US
SBR August contracts rise on firmer feedstock
costs while demand
improves
By Amanda Hay
05-Aug-20 23:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) contracts rose
on firming costs for feedstocks butadiene (BD)
and styrene.
US
August tallow-based, C16 palmitic acids mixed
amid mixed feedstock costs
By
Lucas Hall 05-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
August and July fatty acids prices were mixed,
amid mixed feedstock costs and demand in July.
September increase
initiatives emerge in US polyol
market
By Zachary Moore
05-Aug-20 22:17 HOUSTON (ICIS)--September price
increase initiatives of 2.5 cents/lb
($55/tonne) have been announced in the US
polyether polyol market, according to market
sources.
US
July ABS prices flat as rising costs
counterbalanced by ample supply, slowly
improving demand
By Adam
Yanelli 05-Aug-20 22:16 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) prices
were assessed at a rollover this week, as ample
supply and slowly improving demand
counterbalanced increased production costs.
US
July EO contracts rise with
feedstock
By Antoinette Smith
05-Aug-20 21:23 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US July
ethylene oxide (EO) contracts have risen on an
increase in same-month feedstock ethylene
contracts.
Europe POM Q3 contracts
roll over, PBT softens
By
Zubair Adam 05-Aug-20 18:28 LONDON (ICIS)—Q3
European contract prices for polyacetal (POM)
have settled at a rollover, while polybutylene
terephthalate (PBT) pricing was slightly
reduced.
Canada July light vehicle
sales rise 6.2% from June
By
Stefan Baumgarten 05-Aug-20 16:20 TORONTO
(ICIS)--Sales of new light vehicles in Canada
rose 6.2% last month from June to an estimated
165,200 units, DesRosiers Automotive
Consultants said on Wednesday.
Germany July auto output
still down year on year, domestic new-car sales
falter
By Stefan Baumgarten
05-Aug-20 15:47 LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s auto
market improved in July, from June, but
domestic new-car sales, production and exports
were all still down year on year, according to
the latest data by German auto industry trade
group VDA on Wednesday.
Asia
BDO may potentially turn higher as Chinese
market firms
By Clive Ong
05-Aug-20 09:36 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Asia
butanediol market held steady while the
domestic Chinese sector was firmer after
several weeks of stabilisation.
Clariant eyes grim Q3 but
keeps focus on cash flow to pull through
pandemic - CEO
By Morgan
Condon 05-Aug-20 09:00 LONDON (ICIS)--Although
Clariant managed to maintain profitability in
the first half of 2020, the company is bracing
for the economic damage from the pandemic to
hit in the third quarter, its CEO said to ICIS.
Strong demand for India
SBR from replacement, two-wheelers and
off-the-road sectors
By Helen
Yan 05-Aug-20 07:34 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Demand
for SBR is likely to remain strong on
re-stocking activities, while offers are also
poised to rise higher in the near term on
feedstock cost pressures.
US
July nylon formula prices tick higher on rising
feedstocks
By Adam Yanelli
04-Aug-20 23:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Formula prices
for US nylon rose by 2 cents/lb ($44/tonne) on
higher upstream benzene costs, but real market
values continue to face headwinds amid overall
soft demand and ample supply.
US
paraffinic base oil market prices steady to
firm on higher offer levels, improving
demand
By Amanda Hay
04-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US paraffinic
base oil market prices are steady to firm.
US
naphthenic base oil prices steady but face
pressure amid increases
By
Amanda Hay 04-Aug-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
naphthenic base oil market prices remain steady
as of early August, although they face pressure
on firm costs.
INSIGHT: Global
manufacturing PMIs jump but headwinds hinder
full chemicals recovery
By
Joseph Chang 04-Aug-20 21:04 NEW YORK
(ICIS)--Global manufacturing purchasing
managers’ indexes (PMIs) are finally in
expansion territory, coinciding with volume
recovery in some key chemicals markets in early
Q3. Yet major headwinds persist and will hamper
any full recovery from the coronavirus-induced
recession.
Future uncertainty
impedes Europe chems demand
recovery
By Tom Brown
04-Aug-20 16:23 LONDON (ICIS)--Consumer and
industrial consumption is starting to rebound
from the historic lows seen in April and May,
but continued uncertainty about future demand
has left the trajectory of recovery for some
chemicals difficult to gauge.
Brazil June industrial
activity up 8.9%, durable goods up 82.2% from
prior month
By Renato Frimm
04-Aug-20 16:16 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Brazil
industrial activity recovered in June, up 8.9%
month on month but remains 9.0% lower year on
year, the state statistical agency said on
Tuesday.
German automotive
industry sentiment increases in July, although
employment still weak
By
Morgan Condon 04-Aug-20 12:27 LONDON
(ICIS)--The German automotive industry showed
signs of gaining strength for the second
consecutive month in July, according to the
latest data from the ifo Institute business
survey on Tuesday.
Dutch
DSM H1 sales, earnings dragged down by sharp
falls in Materials
division
By Jonathan Lopez
04-Aug-20 09:54 LONDON (ICIS)--Sharp falls in
DSM’s Materials division sales and earnings
dragged down its overall financial in the first
half of 2020 but Nutrition in part offset the
falls, the Dutch chemicals producer said on
Tuesday.
China's petrochemical
prices consolidate in July, demand largely
stable
By Yvonne Shi
04-Aug-20 09:48 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's
petrochemical market fluctuated within a narrow
range in July. The prices of most chemical
products saw limited changes. Overall demand
appeared to be generally stable, whereas supply
pressure differed from product to product.
Germany’s Evonik Q2 net
income falls by 50% amid weaker
demand
By Nurluqman Suratman
04-Aug-20 06:52 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Evonik’s net
income fell in the second quarter, weighed by
the global economic slowdown arising from the
coronavirus pandemic and production cutbacks by
customers, the German specialty chemicals firm
said on Tuesday.
European MEG spot prices
maintain uptrend on limited
supply
By Melissa Hurley
03-Aug-20 17:58 LONDON (ICIS)--European
monoethylene glycol (MEG) spot prices have
continued on an upward trajectory as sellers
remain bullish for August on limited bulk
supply.
Mexican PA could fill US
supply gaps as demand rebounds in
2021
By Antoinette Smith
03-Aug-20 16:30 HOUSTON (ICIS)--As US run rates
for phthalic anhydride (PA) are projected to
remain around 90% - leaving little room for
additional production - Mexican imports could
well meet increased demand in 2021.
INSIGHT: Aerospace demand
lags as industry struggles back to
life
By Tom Brown 03-Aug-20
16:26 LONDON (ICIS)--European industrial
production is slowly starting to return
to growth, but the aerospace sector
continues to lag the wider pace of recovery,
with some of the lost demand for chemicals
players potentially never returning.
Europe etac and butac
prices close to decade
lows
By Nick Cleeve 03-Aug-20
16:24 LONDON (ICIS)--European spot prices for
ethyl acetate (etac) and butyl acetate (butac)
remain close to the lowest levels seen in a
decade.
Europe ABS margins see
big increase again week on
week
By Yashas Mudumbai
03-Aug-20 15:15 LONDON (ICIS)--European
producers of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
(ABS) saw another big increase in their margins
week on week.
au
Jibun Bank's July Japan manufacturing PMI rises
to 45.2
By Nurluqman Suratman
03-Aug-20 04:36 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The au Jibun
Bank Japan manufacturing purchasing managers'
index (PMI) for July rose to 45.2 in July from
40.1 in June after production volumes dropped
at the slowest pace for five months, the
Japanese bank said on Monday.
South
Korea July manufacturing PMI rises to 46.9 in
July
By Nurluqman Suratman
03-Aug-20 04:24 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The headline
South Korea manufacturing purchasing managers'
index (PMI) rose to 46.9 in July, up from 43.4
in June as new orders fell at a slower pace,
financial information services provider IHS
Markit said on Monday.
US
plasticizers demand in H2 2020 may be hindered
by weaker auto sector
By
Larry Terry 01-Aug-20 00:07 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
plasticizers demand will continue to gain
momentum in the second half of 2020, after a
slow July uptick in buying interest from
downstream construction applications.
Dow
nominates increase for August
TEG
By Antoinette Smith
01-Aug-20 00:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Dow has
nominated a price increase for triethylene
glycol (TEG), effective 15 August.
US
July PS contracts increase on higher
feedstocks, improving
demand
By Tarun Raizada
31-Jul-20 23:49 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US July
polystyrene (PS) contracts increased by 3
cents/lb ($66/tonne), tracking higher feedstock
costs and improved demand.
US
acetone facing upward pressure amid tight
supply
By Tarun Raizada
31-Jul-20 23:48 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US acetone
supply is expected to remain tight, but demand
recovery is difficult to forecast due to
faltering consumer confidence amid rising
coronavirus cases.
US
July PP contracts increase with higher
feedstock costs
By Lucas Hall
31-Jul-20 23:38 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US July
polypropylene (PP) contracts increased 6
cents/lb ($130/tonne) from the previous month,
tracking higher feedstock July propylene
contracts.
US
July PE contracts settle higher on tight
supply, better-than-anticipated
demand
By Amanda Hay
31-Jul-20 23:22 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US July
polyethylene (PE) contracts rose as production
issues have tightened supply and demand is
stronger than anticipated.
US
fatty acids supply likely to remain sufficient
to meet slow H2 demand
recovery
By Lucas Hall
31-Jul-20 23:22 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US fatty acids
supply is likely to remain ample to meet H2
demand. A slower-than-expected demand recovery
and volatile feedstock costs globally will
continue to weigh on the market in the second
half of the year.
US
July EG contracts roll over on ample supply,
slowly improving demand
By
Antoinette Smith 31-Jul-20 23:01 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US July freely negotiated ethylene
glycol (EG) contracts are assessed at a
rollover, as supply is sufficient to meet
lower-than-normal demand.
US MEG spot export prices rise on curtailed
supply
By Antoinette Smith
31-Jul-20 23:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US monoethylene
glycol (MEG) spot export prices rose, on
curtailed supply through August.
Europe styrene outlook
positive but fragile
By
Helena Strathearn 31-Jul-20 23:00 LONDON
(ICIS)--Demand for styrene and its derivatives
took a hit over March, April and May as a
result of the coronavirus and its associated
lockdowns. Consumer confidence remains frail
but activity has picked up, and the outlook is
positive but only very cautiously so.
Europe SAN and ABS August
outlook mixed, non-automotive demand performing
better
By Stephanie Wix
31-Jul-20 22:56 LONDON (ICIS)--Downstream
non-automotive applications for both
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and
styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) have seen increased
demand for July compared to previous months.
US
glycol ethers will continue to gain momentum in
H2 2020
By Larry Terry
31-Jul-20 22:40 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US glycol
ethers market will continue to see mixed
near-term demand. Tthe automobile sector
struggles as construction coatings gain
momentum, and cleansers and disinfectants
remain strong as coronavirus cases escalate in
many US states.
Europe Phenol contracts
increase €6; remain well below early 2020
levels
By Fergus Jensen
31-Jul-20 22:35 LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe
August phenol contract range climbed by
€6/tonne, tracking gains in upstream benzene
costs.
Constrained US propylene
supply likely sufficient to meet sluggish H2
demand
By Michael Sims
31-Jul-20 22:28 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Although US
propylene supply faces a few short- to
medium-term production constraints, it is
likely to be sufficient to meet slowly
recovering demand in the latter half of 2020.
Chem
firms see signs of recovery in auto
demand
By Al Greenwood
31-Jul-20 22:16 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Chemical
companies are seeing signs that demand from the
automobile sector is recovering following
widespread shutdowns earlier this year.
Phillips 66 sees strong
demand on chemical side, weak-to-improving
margins
By Alex Snodgrass
31-Jul-20 20:22 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Phillips 66 is
seeing strong chemical demand for consumer
goods with weak-to-improving margins, company
executives said at an earnings presentation.
Nylon
demand outlook remains ‘challenging’ -
AdvanSix
By Stefan Baumgarten
31-Jul-20 18:09 HOUSTON (ICIS)--AdvanSix
expects the near-term outlook for nylon demand
to remain “challenging”, the top executives of
the US-based integrated nylon 6 producer said
in an update on Friday.
PODCAST: ICIS acquisition
of CDI strengthens North America position –
ICIS & CDI executives
By
Will Beacham 31-Jul-20 18:04 BARCELONA
(ICIS)--The acquisition of polymer data and
analytics provider Chemical Data (CDI) by ICIS
strengthens its position in North America while
giving CDI a new global platform.
US
acrylates demand expected to see slow upswing
in H2 2020
By Larry Terry
31-Jul-20 17:20 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US demand for
glacial acrylic acid (GAA) and the acrylate
esters will remain uneven for the near term,
but buying interest is moving slowly in the
right direction, market participants say.
Europe MMA July prices
increase as oversupply eases, feedstocks
firm
By Katherine Sale
31-Jul-20 17:16 LONDON (ICIS)--European methyl
methacrylate (MMA) July contracts increased
€30/tonne, rebounding after 27 months of
consecutive price declines.
US
oxo-alcohols market generally upbeat despite
virus, auto-sector
concerns
By Larry Terry
31-Jul-20 17:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--In the US
oxo-alcohols market, positive sentiment about
the second half of 2020 is rising slowly, along
with current volumes.
European ACN market
continues to feel pinch on costs, spot business
stalemate
By Jane Massingham
31-Jul-20 14:36 LONDON (ICIS)--European
acrylonitrile (ACN) players are awaiting news
of the August feedstock settlement, which is
experiencing further upwards pressure.
LyondellBasell Q2 net
profit down 69% at $314m, sees demand
improving
By Nigel Davis
31-Jul-20 12:42 LONDON (ICIS)--LyondellBasell
reported sharply lower second quarter profits
on Friday but said it believed that the
pandemic-driven decline in demand had bottomed
out.
Turkey August PE/PP
outlook complicated by rising upstream,
supply
By Ben Lake 31-Jul-20
12:21 LONDON (ICIS)--The outlook for Turkish
polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) for
August has been complicated by a range of
competing factors.
Europe R-PP prices
rollover in July as rebounding demand
counterbalanced by holiday
closures
By Mark Victory
31-Jul-20 12:05 LONDON (ICIS)--Rising recycled
polypropylene (R-PP) demand has been
counterbalanced by traditional holiday closures
and ongoing automotive weakness, resulting in a
rollover in July values.
Asia
adipic acid trade to remain slow on weak
end-demand
By Zhi Xuan Ho
31-Jul-20 11:56 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Asian
adipic acid (ADA) markets saw weak trades in
July amid lacklustre demand in the key
downstream thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
sectors, and are expected to remain weak
through August.
Europe capro, nylon
demand slowly picks up but uncertainty
prevails
By Marta Fern
31-Jul-20 09:26 LONDON (ICIS)--Europe
caprolactam (capro), nylon 6 and nylon 6,6
markets are expected to continue trading
reduced volumes for quite some time, as
downstream demand recovery is likely to be
prolonged and slow.
Focus: China MMA under
pressure from weak supply-demand, falling
acetone costs
By Olivia Dai
31-Jul-20 08:32 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s
methyl methacrylate (MMA) market may face
headwinds from weak supply-demand fundamentals
and falling feedstock acetone costs, although
units’ shutdowns in late July have led to
slight price rallies.
Q3
methanol prices, production to be similar to Q2
- Methanex
By Anna Matherne
30-Jul-20 23:21 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Despite a
recent increase in global methanol pricing, not
much change is expected overall from Q2, as the
outlook on Q3 remains uncertain, Methanex’s CEO
said on Thursday.
US
July oxo-alcohols settle flat, new August
effort emerges from Dow
By
Larry Terry 30-Jul-20 23:06 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
July oxo-alcohols contract ranges settled flat
for July amid largely improved but uneven
demand.
European HCl tightens on
low upstream availability, production
issues
By Chris Barker
30-Jul-20 22:46 LONDON (ICIS)--European
hydrochloric acid (HCl) availability has
tightened and spot prices have increased in NWE
(northwest Europe) because of production
issues, according to market sources.
US
DuPont expects idled polymer capacity to stay
down in Q3
By Al Greenwood
30-Jul-20 20:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--DuPont expects
most of the polymer capacity that it idled in
response to the automobile slowdown will remain
down in the third quarter, the company said on
Thursday.
Europe glycerine prices
stable on minimal activity
By
Samantha Wright 30-Jul-20 17:34 LONDON
(ICIS)--European glycerine prices are unchanged
this week amid subdued market activity.
Latin
America PE demand stronger than other plastic
resins
By Renato Frimm
30-Jul-20 16:21 HOUSTON(ICIS)--Latin America
polyethylene (PE) demand has outperformed other
resins through the pandemic as food and
medicine packaging films continue close to
normal levels and have fared better than
durable goods.
Latin
America PP markets face lack of feedstocks,
lower production and upward price
pressure
By Renato Frimm
30-Jul-20 16:21 HOUSTON(ICIS)--Latin America
polypropylene (PP) markets are facing shortened
supply of propylene feedstocks amid reduced
refinery rates and several outages affecting
supply within the region.
Weaker demand due to
coronavirus to weigh on H2 business -
Kraton
By Lucas Hall
30-Jul-20 16:13 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Kraton
Corporation expects weaker demand related to
the coronavirus and other factors including
lower planned operating rates, the timing of
turnarounds and maintenance activities as well
as the absence of its H1 Cariflex business
prior to the Q1 2020 sale to have an adverse
impact on its H2 financial results, the company
said in its quarterly earnings presentation.
Black
Sea Q3 soda ash contracts
fall
By Cameron Birch
30-Jul-20 15:48 LONDON (ICIS)--Free on board
(FOB) soda ash contract prices in the Black Sea
market have fallen on the back of the
significant impact the coronavirus has had on
certain key areas of end-user demand. The most
serious impact was felt by buyers of soda ash
from the flat and container glass manufacturing
sectors which accounts for approximately
one-half of all soda ash demand in Europe.
DuPont hit hard in second
quarter by automotive market
decline
By Nigel Davis
30-Jul-20 13:34 LONDON (CIS)--A significant
non-cash impairment charge related to near-term
weakness in the automotive industry hit
DuPont’s earnings in the second quarter, the
company said on Thursday.
Wacker sees Q2 profits
tumble on weak demand from automotive and
textiles
By Nigel Davis
30-Jul-20 11:42 LONDON (ICIS)--Second quarter
2020 profits were sharply lower for Wacker
Chemie, on sales down 15.5% at €1,072m, the
German-headquartered specialty chemicals group
said on Thursday.
Eni's
chemicals operation posts €131m operating loss
in H1
By Morgan Condon
30-Jul-20 10:41 LONDON (ICIS)--Eni’s chemicals
outfit Versalis made an operating loss of €131m
in the first half of 2020, 77% lower
year-on-year as the coronavirus pandemic
flattened demand, the Italian oil major said on
Thursday.
Malaysia local PP offers
firm, talks muted on holiday-shortened
week
By Leanne Tan 30-Jul-20
07:25 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Polypropylene (PP)
offers in the domestic Malaysian market rose
for a third consecutive month, although
discussions were muted amid a holiday-shortened
week.
India
NBR offers rise on BD surge; demand driven by
agricultural sector
By Helen
Yan 30-Jul-20 04:52 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Offers
for acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) in
India rose on the back of surging cost of
feedstock butadiene (BD) and improved demand
from the agricultural sector.
China’s June MA exports
rise 30.5% month on month
By
Ai Teng Lim 30-Jul-20 01:40 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--China exported 4,593 tonnes of maleic
anhydride (MA) in June 2020, 30.5% higher than
May, according to data from ICIS Supply and
Demand Database.
US
August PC prices roll over as weak demand
persists
By Adam Yanelli
29-Jul-20 23:21 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Despite
pressure from rising upstream costs, US August
polycarbonate (PC) prices were assessed at a
rollover, as gradually improving demand and
ample supply kept a ceiling on values.
US
SBR spot prices edge higher; August contracts
face upward pressure
By
Amanda Hay 29-Jul-20 23:03 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
styrene butadiene spot prices edged higher,
tracking firmer prices in Asia and higher
costs.
US
Trinseo reports Q2 net loss on lower
sales
By Al Greenwood
29-Jul-20 22:51 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US-based
styrenics producer Trinseo reported on
Wednesday a Q2 net loss because sales fell
faster than costs.
US
ABS costs rising, but slow demand growth
creates headwinds
By Adam
Yanelli 29-Jul-20 21:55 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Upstream costs for
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) are
trending higher, but the market faces headwinds
from slow demand growth as the country restarts
its economy following the coronavirus
(Covid-19).
US BD
August contracts rise on cost pressures while
demand slowly improves
By
Amanda Hay 29-Jul-20 20:58 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
butadiene (BD) August contracts settled higher,
as cost pressures have mounted.
Moody’s lifts North
American, EMEA chemicals outlook to ‘stable’ on
tentative recovery
By Joseph
Chang 29-Jul-20 19:54 NEW YORK (ICIS)--Credit
ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service on
Wednesday upgraded its outlook on the North
American and Europe, Middle East and Africa
(EMEA) chemicals sectors to “stable” from
“negative”, based on a tentative recovery from
a Q2 trough.
US
Axalta guides to Q3 sales decline of up to 20%,
but is ‘encouraged’ as demand improves month on
month - CEO
By Stefan
Baumgarten 29-Jul-20 19:39 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Axalta Coating Systems expects sales in
Q3 to fall 15-20% year on year, but that
guidance is on the conservative side.
Europe AA prices firm on
healthier demand
By Mathew
Jolin-Beech 29-Jul-20 17:33 LONDON
(ICIS)--European acrylic acid (AA) spot prices
have increased this week as a result of an
uptick in demand.
Europe July capro
contract prices rise, driven by benzene
increase
By Marta Fern
29-Jul-20 17:24 LONDON (ICIS)--European
caprolactam (capro) July prices have settled at
a €25/tonne increase to the low end of the
quoted range, compared with June.
Solvay manages to weather
severe headwinds in downstream
markets
By Morgan Condon
29-Jul-20 16:00 LONDON (ICIS)--Despite its
position as a specialty chemical producer,
Solvay is not far-enough removed from the
global economic storm to come away unscathed.
US-Canada PP production,
sales decline in H1 2020
By
Zachary Moore 29-Jul-20 15:39 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Production and sales of polypropylene
(PP) in the US and Canada declined in the first
six months of 2020 when compared with the same
period of the prior year, according to data
recently released by the American Chemistry
Council (ACC) and Vault Consulting.
INSIGHT: BASF remains
cautious in face of limited order
visibility
By Nigel Davis
29-Jul-20 15:35 LONDON (ICIS)--BASF’s comments
on Wednesday on visibility and the third
quarter show how cautious the German chemicals
major is in the face of the uncertain recovery
this July and August from coronavirus
lockdowns.
US
July barge acetone contracts increase amid
tightness
By Tarun Raizada
29-Jul-20 15:26 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US July barge
acetone contracts increased by 2.25 cents/lb
($50/tonne), according to sources.
US
base oil markets face higher costs,
balanced-to-snug supplies as demand recovery
begins
By Amanda Hay
29-Jul-20 15:24 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US base oil
market players entered the second half of 2020
facing upward price pressure from firm costs
and balanced-to-snug supplies - bullish factors
that were offset by ongoing demand weakness
downstream.
PODCAST: PE, PP diverging
in supply, demand outlook
By
Zachary Moore 29-Jul-20 14:47 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Zachary Moore, deputy managing editor
covering polyolefins at ICIS, and Brian Pruett,
senior vice president covering polyethylene
(PE) and polypropylene (PP) at CDI, discuss key
market fundamentals.
BASF
mulls impairments on new normal lower demand,
China on V-shaped recovery -
CEO
By Jonathan Lopez
29-Jul-20 13:06 LONDON (ICIS)--The “extreme
scenario” caused by the pandemic makes even
short-term forecasts impossible, but
petrochemicals demand may decrease in the
long-term in the new normal and BASF is mulling
impairment charges on its assets, the CEO at
the German chemicals major said on Wednesday.
OMV
petrochemical profits down 47% in second
quarter as Borealis share drops
74%
By Nigel Davis 29-Jul-20
11:43 LONDON (ICIS)--Petrochemical profits for
Austrian oil group OMV were down 47% in the
second quarter at €41m, it said on Wednesday,
with profits from its Borealis chemicals and
polymers venture down 74% at €54m.
Europe Q3 BDO contracts
settle at €50/tonne
decrease
By Nick Cleeve
29-Jul-20 11:30 LONDON (ICIS)--European
contract prices for butanediol (BDO) have
settled at decreases of €50/tonne for the third
quarter amid lengthy supply and weak demand.
Europe R-PET August
demand increases 10-20% from the sheet industry
on virgin rebound
By Mark
Victory 29-Jul-20 10:06 LONDON (ICIS)--Europe
recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET)
clear northwest Europe end-use flake demand
from the sheet and textile industries is
increasing moving in to August on the back of a
rebound in upstream virgin values since June,
and the easing of lockdown restrictions in much
of Europe that has seen the retail industry
restart.
Asia
PBT stagnant as demand wobbles; US-China
tensions weigh on
sentiment
By Clive Ong
29-Jul-20 05:42 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Activity in
Asia’s polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) market
remained tepid as recent escalation in tensions
between the US and China dampened sentiment.
China’s demand for EPDM
to remain stable in August amid seasonal
lull
By Helen Yan 29-Jul-20
05:11 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s demand for
ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is
expected to remain stable in August due to a
seasonal lull in production during the hot
summer month.
US
paraffinic base oil prices steady to firm amid
higher selling indications
By
Amanda Hay 29-Jul-20 00:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
paraffinic base oil market prices are steady to
firm, as remaining TVAs have been removed, and
spot availability is more snug.
Price
increase initiative for US nylon 6,6 struggles
to gain traction
By Adam
Yanelli 28-Jul-20 23:58 HOUSTON (ICIS)--An
increase initiative for nylon 6,6 is struggling
to gain traction amid persistent soft demand as
the country continues attempts to restart the
economy after shutting down to help stop the
spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
US
naphthenic base oil price increases separately
emerge amid cost pressures
By
Amanda Hay 28-Jul-20 23:58 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Separately announced US naphthenic oil
price increases have emerged amid higher crude
costs.
US
Celanese Q2 earnings fall on lower
sales
By Al Greenwood
28-Jul-20 23:27 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US-based
acetyls and polymers producer Celanese reported
a decline in second-quarter net income because
sales fell faster than costs.
US
July butac nominally
weakens
By Larry Terry
28-Jul-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US butyl
acetate (butac) spot and contract prices
settled nominally weaker for July on
competitive pressure, ample supply and some
destocking of lower priced inventory.
Soft
demand, steady supply expected in H2 for US
Melamine
By Deniz Koray
28-Jul-20 21:45 HOUSTON (ICIS)--After settling
down 3.0-3.5 cents/lb ($66-77/tonne) in Q3
contract negotiations, US melamine is likely to
continue to face a soft market in H2.
Europe July nylon 6
slightly up, nylon 6,6 rolls over as demand
gradually picks-up
By Marta
Fern 28-Jul-20 19:15 LONDON (ICIS)--European
nylon 6 contract prices for July have finalised
with a €0.02/kg increase from June values at
the low end, and a rollover at the high end of
the range, with the virgin polymer spot FD NWE
assessed at €1.70-1.73/kg.
Polyurethanes demand
improving, but not yet back to pre-crisis
levels - Huntsman
By Zachary
Moore 28-Jul-20 18:59 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Demand
for polyurethanes improved later in the second
quarter compared with earlier in the quarter,
although demand is not yet back to pre-crisis
levels, Huntsman executives said during a
Tuesday earnings call.
Ciech
Pianki PU foams producer back to full
production after peak of coronavirus
crisis
By Will Conroy
28-Jul-20 17:42 LONDON (ICIS)--Ciech said on
Tuesday that its Ciech Pianki polyurethane (PU)
foams unit has returned to full production with
demand for its output in the European
furniture-making and mattress production
segments rebounding to a high level as industry
recovers from impacts of the coronavirus
pandemic.
Europe EG imports
decreased in April at height of lockdown
measures
By Melissa Hurley
28-Jul-20 16:59 LONDON (ICIS)--Ethylene glycol
imports decreased by around 30% year on year in
April, according to data from the ICIS Supply
and Demand database.
EU
butadiene exports surge in April as producers
act to mitigate poor
demand
By Nel Weddle
28-Jul-20 13:04 LONDON (ICIS)--Butadiene (BD)
exports from the EU surged in April as
producers battled to offset oversupply
following the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic on the key downstream automotive
sector, according to data from the ICIS Supply
and Demand database.
Asia
NBA demand recovering; widened price gap with
2-EH may remain
By Jude Chan
28-Jul-20 05:19 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Demand for
n-butanol (NBA) in Asia is recovering gradually
from a trough in the first quarter at the
height of the coronavirus pandemic. But a
rebound in its prices is unlikely to catch up
with the gains of fellow oxo-alcohol
2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) anytime soon.
Europe-bound acetone
trade seen growing as arbitrage window
widens
By Fergus Jensen
27-Jul-20 18:50 LONDON (ICIS)--Europe spot
acetone prices are at a three-year high, and
material is increasingly being offered from
Asian suppliers to take advantage of a wider
west-bound arbitrage. Demand for co-product
phenol remains depressed, keeping a lid on
domestic operating rates and maintaining upward
pressure on the domestic acetone market.
Europe July ABS contract
price increases driven by
styrene
By Stephanie Wix
27-Jul-20 17:44 LONDON (ICIS)--European
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) contract
prices for July have finalised with increases
of between €60-70/tonne, mostly driven by the
€86/tonne hike for upstream styrene.
Europe ABS margins see
large weekly increase
By
Yashas Mudumbai 27-Jul-20 17:10 LONDON
(ICIS)--Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
producers in Europe enjoyed a large increase in
margins week on week.
INSIGHT: Chemical
producers need to understand the consequences
of industrial recovery
By
Nigel Davis 27-Jul-20 17:04 LONDON (ICIS)--The
major chemical companies need a stronger
industrial recovery to make real headway in the
second half of the year.
Europe glycol ethers
sellers seek increases amid hopes of a limited,
seasonal lull in demand
By
Eashani Chavda 27-Jul-20 16:19 LONDON
(ICIS)--The European glycol ethers market is
preparing for the summer, with producers hoping
for healthy demand for paints and coatings used
in home decorating and construction.
Europe PE, PP slow as
players wait for new monomer
contracts
By Linda Naylor
27-Jul-20 15:46 LONDON (ICIS)--Polyethylene
(PE) and polypropylene (PP) buyers are standing
on the sidelines waiting for upstream ethylene
and propylene contracts to settle before
committing to new volumes.
Q3 a
‘turning point’ in Europe MMA market after
lengthy slide
By Fergus
Jensen 27-Jul-20 13:32 LONDON (ICIS)--A string
of approaching plant turnarounds, limitations
on domestic and imported volumes, higher raw
material costs and sturdy demand for clear
plastic sheets, resins and coatings, are
supporting views that a downtrend in the Europe
methyl methacrylate (MMA) market that began in
early 2018 may be over.
July
Latin America PE prices rise amid additional
August nomination hikes
By
Renato Frimm 24-Jul-20 23:29
HOUSTON(ICIS)--Latin America polyethylene (PE)
prices are facing upward pressure, as ethylene
feedstocks stabilise at higher levels amid
producer price increases implemented in July -
with new nominations for August increases
surfacing.
Latin
American PP prices rising on shorter propylene
supply, higher feedstock
costs
By Renato Frimm
24-Jul-20 23:00 HOUSTON(ICIS)--Latin American
polypropylene (PP) prices are rising in some
countries amid several outages and reduced
refinery rates affecting feedstock supply.
US
MEG spot prices rise on supply
constraints
By Antoinette
Smith 24-Jul-20 22:35 HOUSTON (ICIS) --US
monoethylene glycol (MEG) supply has tightened
amid production issues and upcoming supply
constraints.
Europe stocks end week
down as dim outlook offsets green
shoots
By Jonathan Lopez
24-Jul-20 21:30 LONDON (ICIS)--European
chemicals stocks and major indices closed the
week in the red as sporadic green shoots could
not hide the severe hit to the economy brought
about by the coronavirus, with unemployment
across the region expected to rise beyond the
summer.
US
acetone to face tight supply, uneven demand
recovery
By Tarun Raizada
24-Jul-20 21:17 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US acetone
supply is tight, with prices mostly holding
steady, but demand recovery is likely to be
uneven across segments.
BASF
declares force majeure from US TDI
plant
By Zachary Moore
24-Jul-20 20:25 HOUSTON (ICIS)--BASF has
declared force majeure from its toluene
diisocyanate (TDI) plant in Geismar, Louisiana,
a company spokesperson confirmed on Friday.
PVC
contract prices stable to firm against
feedstocks, H2 2020 outlook
uncertain
By Chris Barker
24-Jul-20 19:04 LONDON (ICIS)--European
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contract prices are
under discussion for July, with negotiations
centring on increases equivalent to, or above,
the cost increase from feedstock ethylene as
availability has tightened.
Europe oleochemicals Q3
contract prices mixed, demand outlook
unclear
By Samantha Wright
24-Jul-20 18:58 LONDON (ICIS)--European
oleochemicals third-quarter contracts settled
in diverging directions amid varying levels of
availability and demand.
INSIGHT: EU recovery
funds to boost Spain chems as push for
decarbonisation powers
ahead
By Jonathan Lopez
24-Jul-20 16:23 LONDON (ICIS)--Spanish
chemicals got a confidence shot this week after
the EU agreed a €750bn recovery package to
soften the pandemic-induced downturn focused on
decarbonisation, the CEO at trade group FEIQUE
told ICIS.
European plasticizers
supply/demand balances shift to support some
higher spot prices
By Jane
Massingham 24-Jul-20 15:32 LONDON (ICIS)--The
European plasticizer markets have seen spot
prices increase further in July, with support
arising from a gradual demand improvement and
reduced supplies.
Q2
proves unsatisfactory for Covestro, but volumes
on the rise – CFO
By Tom
Brown 24-Jul-20 15:10 LONDON (ICIS)--The second
quarter of 2020 was not a strong one for
Covestro, with a slump in demand due to the
coronavirus pandemic exacerbating bearish
trends for polyurethane (PU) pricing, although
it has gradually improved from April to June
and beyond, according to the company’s CFO.
EU
commercial vehicles slump in June, but France
bucks trend
By Morgan Condon
24-Jul-20 13:59 LONDON (ICIS)--France saw an
increase in commercial vehicle registrations in
June, bucking the trend of continued declines
elsewhere in the continent, according to the
European Automotive Manufacturers Association
(ACEA).
Versalis completes
Finproject stake purchase to expand specialty
polymers footprint
By Tom
Brown 24-Jul-20 13:24 LONDON (ICIS)—Veralis has
completed the purchase of a 40% stake in
compounder Finproject to expand its speciality
polymers footprint and create an integrated
Italian supply chain provider for the
materials, the producer said on Friday.
Europe July PP offers
raised by some sellers, buyers
hesitant
By Linda Naylor
24-Jul-20 13:19 LONDON (ICIS)--Polypropylene
(PP) views were mixed this week as larger
sellers stopped sales at earlier levels for
July and increased offers for new business,
while some smaller sellers are still seeing
poor volumes.
Europe SAN July contract
prices rise double digits
By
Stephanie Wix 24-Jul-20 09:56 LONDON
(ICIS)--July contract prices in the European
styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) market have
finalised at increases of €70-80/tonne, driven
by the €86/tonne increase for styrene.
SE
Asia SBR demand up as tyre makers raise run
rates ahead of US duties
By
Helen Yan 24-Jul-20 07:51 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--Demand for styrene butadiene rubber
(SBR) has risen in southeast Asia as the
downstream tyre factories increase their
purchasing volumes in anticipation of US
anti-dumping duties on passenger car tyres from
Thailand and Vietnam.
US
August oxo-alcohols price efforts driven partly
by expected upstream
pressure
By Larry Terry
23-Jul-20 23:25 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August
oxo-alcohols price-increase initiatives have
emerged on an anticipated increase in the
upstream July propylene contract and persistent
margin pressure.
US
Dow sees first signs of recovery in durable
goods
By Al Greenwood
23-Jul-20 20:58 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Dow is seeing
the initial signs of a recovery in durable
goods, an end market pummelled by the effects
of the coronavirus, the CEO said on Thursday.
Polyurethanes demand to
improve in H2, pre-crisis levels expected by
2022 - Dow
By Zachary Moore
23-Jul-20 17:07 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Demand for
polyurethanes (PU) is expected to improve in
the second half of the year after significant
reductions in volumes in the second quarter,
with full recovery to pre-crisis levels
expected around 2022, Dow executives stated
during a Thursday earnings call.
PP
demand in Indonesia wanes, local offers remain
competitive
By Leanne Tan
23-Jul-20 16:34 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Polypropylene
(PP) demand in Indonesia has weakened
noticeably compared with early July, and buying
interest in imports could remain muted amid
competitive local prices.
Thai
suppliers cut local PP offers amid bearish
sentiment abroad
By Leanne
Tan 23-Jul-20 16:26 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--Polypropylene (PP) producers in
Thailand have cut domestic offers in the hope
of spurring cargo off-take amid brewing bearish
sentiment abroad.
China
PO prices rise to yearly high on delayed import
arrivals, strong demand
By
Claire Gao 23-Jul-20 16:12 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--China’s domestic propylene oxide (PO)
prices have risen to the highest level so far
in 2020, on the back of delayed import arrivals
and strong demand for downstream polyether
polyols.
Automotive market may not
recover this year –
AkzoNobel
By Tom Brown
23-Jul-20 13:03 LONDON (ICIS)--The automotive
and aerospace sectors may not recover fully
this year or even next, while decorative paints
demand rebounded faster than companies had
expected in parts of the world during the
second quarter of the year, the CEO of
AkzoNobel said on Thursday.
European SBR July
contracts increase on upward feedstock
pressure
By Melissa Hurley
23-Jul-20 12:35 LONDON (ICIS)--European styrene
butadiene rubber (SBR) July contract prices
increased by varying double-digits depending on
account and starting point, due to higher
feedstock costs this month.
Europe extrusion PC July
prices fall for third month on weak demand,
ample
availability
By Miguel
Rodriguez Fernandez 23-Jul-20 11:32 LONDON
(ICIS)--Contract prices for extrusion grade
polycarbonate (PC) have fallen slightly for the
third consecutive month in July amid weak
demand and ample supply.
Asia
BD to face upward pressure from high naphtha
costs and limited spot
supply
By Helen Yan 23-Jul-20
07:56 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia butadiene (BD)
prices may continue to face further upward
pressure because of limited spot availability
and negative margins from naphtha costs.
Covestro swings to Q2 net
loss amid lower sales
volumes
By Nurluqman Suratman
23-Jul-20 06:53 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Covestro
posted a second-quarter net loss of €52m in the
second quarter of this year following a massive
drop in demand in all key customer industries,
the Germany-based polymers major said on
Thursday.
SE
Asia tyre makers ramp up ops ahead of US duty;
PBR demand up
By Helen Yan
23-Jul-20 06:18 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Demand for
polybutadiene rubber (PBR) has increased in
Southeast Asia as the downstream tyre factories
ramp up their operating rates ahead of the
anticipated US anti-dumping duties on light
truck tyres from Thailand and Vietnam.
Further US August glycol
ethers price efforts
surface
By Larry Terry
22-Jul-20 23:58 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Additional
separate US August increase initiatives emerged
for butyl glycol (BG), butyl di-glycol (BDG),
propylene glycol methyl ether (PM) and
propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PMA),
also on likely stronger July feedstock
propylene.
Upstream costs rising for
US ABS as demand is slow to
return
By Adam Yanelli
22-Jul-20 23:25 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Feedstock costs
in the US acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
market are rising, but demand remains soft from
the auto industry, slowed by a sputtering US
economy as it attempts to restart following
stay-at-home orders to help stop the spread of
the coronavirus (Covid-19).
US
August acrylates price-hike initiatives
emerge
By Larry Terry
22-Jul-20 23:11 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US August
glacial acrylic acid (GAA) and acrylate esters
price-hike initiatives emerged on an
anticipated increase in the upstream July
propylene contract.
US
fatty acids markets face mixed feedstock
pressures; overall demand
choppy
By Lucas Hall
22-Jul-20 23:03 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US fatty acids
prices were held steady following this month's
assessments.
US
TDI demand gradually improving as automotive,
furniture demand pick up
By
Zachary Moore 22-Jul-20 23:02 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Demand for toluene diisocyanate (TDI)
is gradually improving from the low points seen
during April and May, in line with improving
economic activity.
US PC
demand strong from medical sector but lagging
in others as raw material costs
rise
By Adam Yanelli
22-Jul-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US
polycarbonate (PC) market is facing upward
pressure from rising raw material costs, but
despite new end-uses for the engineered plastic
related to the coronavirus overall demand is
soft and is likely to keep a ceiling on values
in the near term.
US
August butac price initiatives usher in a mixed
H2 2020
By Larry Terry
22-Jul-20 22:29 HOUSTON (ICIS)--As this year's
first US butyl acetate (butac) price-hike
initiatives in nine months emerged for August
on a likely increase in July propylene, the
market is experiencing mixed results.
US
spot propylene nears nine-month high amid
outages, rising feedstocks
By
Michael Sims 22-Jul-20 22:29 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
July polymer-grade propylene (PGP) on Wednesday
was traded at 34 cents/lb ($529/tonne), its
highest mark in nearly nine months.
US
aromatic, aliphatic solvents expected to
continue gradual demand rebound in
H2
By Deniz Koray
22-Jul-20 19:06 HOUSTON (ICIS)--After
experiencing steeply declining prices in April
and May 2020 due to declining crude oil prices
and falling demand, aromatic and aliphatic
solvents have begun to gradually rebound across
all products. As a result, there is some
optimism for H2 among market participants,
despite soft demand for solvents, especially
compared with previous years.
Feedstock benzene rally
triggers price rises for downstream
products
By Zubair Adam
22-Jul-20 17:53 LONDON (ICIS)--The recent
resurgence in Europe benzene prices following
higher crude oil values has lifted downstream
cyclohexane (CX) and styrene prices.
US
Avient CEO hails Asia sales rise as ‘positive
signs’ amid uncertainty
By
Stefan Baumgarten 22-Jul-20 16:15 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--While Avient’s overall Q2 sales fell
18.6% year on year, hurt by the coronavirus
outbreak, sales in Asia rose 13%, Robert
Patterson, CEO of the US-based polymer and
materials company, said on Wednesday.
European July
ethanolamines prices stable to soft as buyers
resist increases
By Jane
Gibson 22-Jul-20 15:30 LONDON (ICIS)--European
ethanolamines contracts have settled for July
at rollovers or small decreases.
Coronavirus dents US
Avient’s Q2 sales, profit as consumers
retreat
By Stefan Baumgarten
22-Jul-20 13:27 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Avient's Q2
sales and profit fell year on year amid weak
automotive and consumer discretionary demand
because of the coronavirus pandemic, the
US-based polymer and materials company,
formerly known as PolyOne, reported on
Wednesday.
INSIGHT: Plastics
'winning on every front of the materials game'
– analyst
By Morgan Condon
22-Jul-20 10:43 LONDON (ICIS)--Despite the bad
publicity in recent years “plastics are winning
on every front of the materials game”,
according to the principle director of global
resources research at professional services
company Accenture.
Dutch
AkzoNobel Q2 net income amid lower sales
volumes
By Nurluqman Suratman
22-Jul-20 06:39 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--AkzoNobel’s
net income fell in the second quarter of this
year amid lower sales volumes, the Dutch paints
and coatings firm said on Wednesday.
Asia
BDO holds steady while demand recovery
uneven
By Clive Ong 22-Jul-20
05:57 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia butanediol prices
held steady in the week, while market
participants continued to await a fuller return
of demand.
Asia
PBT weakens further as demand outlook
uncertain
By Clive Ong
22-Jul-20 04:37 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The Asia
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) market
weakened further this week with demand showing
limited pick-up and the outlook remaining
uncertain.
US
nylon 6,6 faces upward pressure on rising
feedstocks, tighter supply
By
Adam Yanelli 21-Jul-20 23:09 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--The US nylon 6,6 market is facing
upward pressure from higher upstream feedstock
costs, although demand remains subdued from the
auto industry as it recovers from demand
erosion associated with the coronavirus.
Firm
feedstock costs continue to pressure US base
oil prices
By Amanda Hay
21-Jul-20 23:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Firm feedstock
costs have squeezed producer margins,
supporting higher US base oil prices despite
slow demand recovery in downstream markets.
US
acetone price increases emerge for
August
By Tarun Raizada
21-Jul-20 18:14 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Two August
price increases have emerged for US acetone.
INSIGHT: Margin data show
how tough Q2 was for ethylene players in
Europe
By Nigel Davis
21-Jul-20 17:36 LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s
ethylene players lost ground in the second
quarter as profitability was hit hard at the
cracker and in glycols. Those players
integrated to polyethylene will have fared
better, as margins for high density and low
density PE were held or increased on an annual
basis.
US
cumene supply expected to meet demand in 2H
amid shift in trade, weak downstream
markets
By Adam Burkin
21-Jul-20 16:28 HOUSTON(ICIS)--US Cumene
supplies are expected to meet market demand
going into the second half of this year amid
drastic drops in exports and weakened
downstream demand.
BASF
partners on US aliphatic isocyanate
supplies
By Stefan Baumgarten
21-Jul-20 15:02 HOUSTON (ICIS)--BASF has agreed
to partner Vertrauen Chemie Solutions (VCS) to
streamline its US aliphatic isocyanate supply
chain.
Asian
MMA sentiment weakens on softer China
market
By Li Li Chng
21-Jul-20 08:09 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s methyl
methacrylate (MMA) market sentiment is weakened
with the rapid decline in China domestic
prices, but supply tightness and higher cost
pressure at some producers could lend support.
China
chemicals sector revenue revised 5-10% lower -
Moody's
By Nurluqman Suratman
21-Jul-20 04:57 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Ratings firm
Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday lowered
its revenue projections for rated Chinese firms
in chemicals, construction and engineering as
well as manufacturing sectors by 5%-10% due to
slowing economic growth and weaker demand.
SAN
imports into China stable despite weaker ABS
market
By Julia Tan 21-Jul-20
04:55 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The price of styrene
acrylonitrile (SAN) imports into China remained
stable in the week ended 17 July.
European MEG spot
stable-to-firm on limited supply; August
outlook more relaxed
By
Melissa Hurley 20-Jul-20 17:34 LONDON
(ICIS)--European monoethylene glycol (MEG) spot
bulk prices remain on the firmer side due to
limited import supply in July. Consumer bids
for August material are lower as availability
is expected to ease next month.
US BD
demand challenged through H2 while producers
face cost pressures
By Amanda
Hay 20-Jul-20 16:30 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
butadiene (BD) demand will continue to face
challenges in the second half of 2020 as
downstream sectors recover from the coronavirus
closures of Q2, although firmer crude prices
are expected to pressure producer margins.
INSIGHT: Cyclohexane
prices rise despite weak
demand
By Zubair Adam
20-Jul-20 16:25 LONDON (ICIS)--The cyclohexane
(CX) market continues to be pressured by weak
demand, mainly from the downstream automotive
sector.
Europe polyurethane
feedstock recovery begins as demand
climbs
By Fergus Jensen
20-Jul-20 16:24 LONDON (ICIS)--Prices of
polyurethane feedstocks isocyanates and polyols
in Europe have begun to recover from record low
levels hit last month, as demand has improved
and in some cases supply remains limited.
PODCAST: Petrochemicals
now driven by geopolitics more than
economics
By Will Beacham
20-Jul-20 14:12 BARCELONA (ICIS)--China’s new
plan to accelerate a huge investment in Iran’s
energy and petrochemicals shows how geopolitics
is now driving petrochemical investments rather
than economics.
Europe butac prices
stable, continued low
demand
By Nick Cleeve
20-Jul-20 13:13 LONDON (ICIS)--European butyl
acetate (butac) prices remain stable.
Latin
America PE prices facing upward pressure amid
higher feedstock costs
By
Renato Frimm 18-Jul-20 00:13 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Latin America polyethylene (PE) prices
are facing upward pressure as ethylene
feedstocks are higher amid producer price
increase initiatives taking hold.
US Q3
phenol unlikely to see major recovery amid
auto, virus headwinds
By
Tarun Raizada 17-Jul-20 23:47 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--The demand picture for US Q3 phenol is
not looking strong, especially as sentiment
continues to be impacted by the surge in US
coronavirus cases and as the auto sector is
unlikely to make a major recovery this year.
US BD
spot prices firm in line with contracts amid
limited spot availability, but demand
challenged
By Amanda Hay
17-Jul-20 23:43 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US butadiene
(BD) spot prices firmed in line with contract
values amid limited availability beyond
contract volumes.
US EG
margins remain favourable despite months of
pressure
By Antoinette Smith
17-Jul-20 23:34 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US ethylene
glycol (EG) margins have fallen by nearly 50%
from pre-coronavirus levels, but remain
favourable globally, according to ICIS
Analytics.
Latin
America PP prices facing upward pressure amid
reduced feedstock supply, increasing
costs
By Renato Frimm
17-Jul-20 23:26 HOUSTON(ICIS)--Latin America
polypropylene (PP) prices are facing upward
pressure, as feedstock propylene is rising amid
several outages and reduced refinery rates
affecting supply.
US
ACN supply expected to remain ample to meet H2
demand
By Lucas Hall
17-Jul-20 23:14 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
acrylonitrile (ACN) supply is expected to
remain ample to meet H2 demand, with a light
turnaround schedule, slower than expected
demand recovery and rising feedstock costs
globally expected to continue to weigh on the
US domestic and export market in the
second-half of the year.
US
MEG export prices rise on Europe
demand
By Antoinette Smith
17-Jul-20 23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US monoethylene
glycol (MEG) spot export prices are higher, on
improving demand from Europe.
INEOS
seeks August price increase on US
PP
By Zachary Moore 17-Jul-20
23:00 HOUSTON (ICIS)--INEOS Olefins and
Polymers USA is seeking a price increase of 3
cents/lb ($66/tonne) on US polypropylene (PP)
resins in addition to any change in polymer
grade propylene (PGP) prices between the months
of July and August.
US
DEG, TEG spot prices flat
By
Antoinette Smith 17-Jul-20 23:00 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US diethylene glycol (DEG) and
triethylene glycol (TEG) spot prices are flat
on consistently low demand.
US
SBR faces demand-recovery challenges through H2
amid rising costs
By Amanda
Hay 17-Jul-20 19:51 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US styrene
butadiene rubber (SBR) markets will gradually
recover from the demand destruction of Q2's
widespread coronavirus closures well into 2021.
US
refined glycerine markets expected to moderate
in H2, but supply concerns
linger
By Lucas Hall
17-Jul-20 19:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US refined
glycerine markets are largely expected to
moderate in H2 as demand eases, but lingering
supply concerns are expected to underpin
relatively firm pricing through the end of the
year.
Europe PMMA Q3 contracts
decrease amid mixed demand and loose
supply
By Mathew Jolin-Beech
17-Jul-20 17:46 LONDON (ICIS)--European
polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) third-quarter
contracts settled at a decrease driven by mixed
demand and loose supply.
Small
improvements in Europe butadiene fundamentals,
all eyes on Asia price
uptick
By Nel Weddle
17-Jul-20 14:33 LONDON (ICIS)—Small
improvements in domestic European butadiene
(BD) demand have been witnessed this month but
producers continue to tailor output to suit,
leaving limited availability for spot exports.
R-HDPE natural injection
moulding pellet values below virgin for first
time since November
By Mark
Victory 17-Jul-20 13:54 LONDON (ICIS)--European
recycled high density polyethylene (R-HDPE)
natural injection moulding grade pellet prices
have fallen below virgin HDPE values for the
first time since November, amid a recovery in
virgin values.
INSIGHT: Nylon market in
Europe will continue to be deeply impacted by
automotive woes
By Valentina
Cherubin 17-Jul-20 12:00 LONDON (ICIS)--The
collapse of the nylon market in Europe is
expected to continue until the end of the year,
due to the negative pressure on its main
end-use sector, automotive.
Europe highest priced
region for acetone spot as rally continues on
short supply
By Heidi Finch
17-Jul-20 11:59 LONDON (ICIS)--Europe acetone
spot prices continue to spike this week,
lifting prices to the highest level globally,
on the back of limited spot supply and short
covering needs.
India
Q1 polymer demand drops 50%; industry expects
demand resurgence
By Priya
Jestin 17-Jul-20 08:19 MUMBAI (ICIS)--India's
plastics industry expects to see resurgence in
demand after first quarter sales crashed over
50% due to coronavirus pandemic induced
countrywide lockdown.
SE
Asian MA import offer eases further on weak
buying
By Ai Teng Lim
17-Jul-20 02:58 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Southeast
Asian maleic anhydride (MA) import offers are
softening, as sellers chased deals.
Demand for US ACN
improving but rising feedstocks weigh on
activity
By Lucas Hall
16-Jul-20 23:14 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US domestic
acrylonitrile (ACN) demand is recovering in
July after bottoming out in May and June.
August increase
initiatives emerge in US TDI, polyol
markets
By Zachary Moore
16-Jul-20 23:02 HOUSTON (ICIS)--August price
increase initiatives have emerged seeking
increases of 3 cents/lb ($66/tonne) on both
toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and polyether
polyols, according to customer letters.
Production issues,
improved demand limiting prompt PP supplies in
US
By Zachary Moore 16-Jul-20
22:58 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Prompt availability in
the US polypropylene (PP) market is facing some
limitations as several plants are experiencing
production issues while demand is beginning to
improve.
US
PPG Q2 earnings fall sharply on lower
sales
By Al Greenwood
16-Jul-20 22:50 HOUSTON (ICIS)--PPG's
second-quarter earnings fell sharply because of
a decline in sales and a one-time charge, the
US paints and coatings producer said on
Thursday.
US H2
MEG production to remain ample despite upcoming
supply constraints
By
Antoinette Smith 16-Jul-20 22:15 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Production of monoethylene glycol (MEG)
is likely to remain sufficient to meet demand
in H2, despite a reduction in available North
American supply from August.
US
polyol demand expected to improve in H2, full
recovery not expected until
2022
By Zachary Moore
16-Jul-20 19:53 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Demand for
polyether polyols and downstream polyurethane
systems is expected to pick up in the second
half of the year, although a recovery to 2019
demand levels is not expected until 2022.
DOMO
Chemicals forms 3D printing
partnership
By Stefan
Baumgarten 16-Jul-20 15:54 LONDON (ICIS)--DOMO
Chemicals has formed a partnership with
Austrian 3D printing product developer RPD
Rapid Product Development, to focus
on Sinterline polyamide 6
(PA6) selective laser sintering (SLS) powders,
the Germany-based international PA producer
said on Thursday.
INSIGHT: Private equity
seeks chemicals deals amid tighter
credit
By Al Greenwood
16-Jul-20 15:50 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Private-equity
firms see the current market for mergers and
acquisitions (M&A) as an opportunity to
acquire businesses from chemical companies
eager to raise cash and fine-tune their
portfolios, an investment banker said.
Europe fatty acids Q3
contracts fall on subdued
activity
By Samantha Wright
16-Jul-20 15:02 LONDON (ICIS)--European fatty
acids third-quarter contract prices decreased
in the main on the back of very muted market
activity and fluctuating feedstock values.
EU
first-half car sales down 38%, France up in
June after rescue package brings
hope
By Jonathan Lopez
16-Jul-20 11:23 LONDON (ICIS)--EU consumers are
returning to car dealerships, with sales in
June approaching 1m units, but the impact from
lockdowns led to a drop of 38% during the first
half of 2020, according to trade group ACEA.
India
bent on seeking alternative to China for
petrochemical imports
By
Pearl Bantillo 16-Jul-20 09:03 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--Indian petrochemical importers are
seeking alternative sources of cargoes to
China, on what appears to be a government-led
campaign to reduce heavy reliance on imports
from the northeast Asian economic giant.
Asia
PBT declines on soft demand and ample
stocks
By Clive Ong 16-Jul-20
03:54 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s polybutylene
terephthalate (PBT) prices declined as some
suppliers accepted lower numbers in a bid to
engage buyers.
Asia
BDO slips after recent consolidation as soft
demand weighs
By Clive Ong
16-Jul-20 03:28 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Asia’s
butanediol (BDO) prices slipped in the week,
amid persistently weak demand in the region,
which is expected to continue for the remainder
of the third quarter.
US
polyester polyol prices decline on weaker
feedstock costs
By Zachary
Moore 15-Jul-20 23:37 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
polyester polyol prices were assessed 2
cents/lb ($44/tonne) lower as key feedstock
costs continue to trend lower.
US
acrylates price weakness emerges amid July
negotiations
By Larry Terry
15-Jul-20 23:19 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US July glacial
acrylic acid (GAA) and acrylate esters
free-market price negotiations continue to be
mostly range bound for July, but some price
weakness emerged on mixed demand and no
discernible pressure from June propylene.
US
ABS market stable amid gradual return of
demand
By Adam Yanelli
15-Jul-20 23:11 HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) market is
stable, with supply ample to meet
slowly-improving demand as the US continues to
restart its economy following stay-at-home
orders used to stop the spread of the
coronavirus.
US
polycarbonate supply ample to meet slowly
improving demand
By Adam
Yanelli 15-Jul-20 22:13 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US
supply of polycarbonate (PC) is ample to meet
slowly improving demand, as the US continues to
restart its economy following stay-at-home
orders used to stop the spread of the
coronavirus.
US
Ascend Performance Materials seeks immediate
increase for nylon 6,6 and
intermediates
By Adam Yanelli
15-Jul-20 20:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US nylon
producer Ascend Performance Materials is
seeking an increase of 6 cents/lb ($130/tonne)
for nylon 6,6 and 8 cents/lb for intermediate
chemicals hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and
adiponitrile (ADN), effective immediately, the
company announced on Wednesday.
INSIGHT: Global recycling
markets can rally despite pandemic-related
challenges – Part I,
Europe
By Mark Victory
15-Jul-20 17:05 LONDON (ICIS)--2020 was
supposed to be the year of growth in the
recycling markets, with the likes of recycled
high density polyethylene (R-HDPE), recycled
polypropylene (R-PP) and recycled polyethylene
terephthalate (R-PET) expecting a sharp
increase in demand from the packaging and
preform sectors.
LANXESS launches
e-mobility initiative
By
Stefan Baumgarten 15-Jul-20 15:26 LONDON
(ICIS)--German chemicals producer LANXESS has
launched an “e-mobility initiative” to further
exploit the market potential for e-mobility and
battery technology.
India
PBR market may see more competition following
10% safeguard duty on Korean
imports
By Helen Yan
15-Jul-20 05:33 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India’s
polybutadiene rubber (PBR) market may see more
suppliers competing for market share in the
subcontinent, following the imposition of a 10%
safeguard duty on Korean PBR imports.
Europe SBR June contracts
roll over on BD stability; spot prices
stable-to-firm
By Melissa
Hurley 18-Jun-20 19:04 LONDON (ICIS)--European
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) June contracts
have rolled over on the back of stable upstream
butadiene (BD) costs.
Spain
automotive rescue package ‘very positive’ for
chems, certain optimism
returns
By Jonathan Lopez
17-Jun-20 14:12 LONDON (ICIS)--Spain’s rescue
package for the automotive industry surpassing
€1.0bn was higher than expected and has
“created a lot of confidence” that the downturn
this year, set to hit chemicals hard, may not
be as severe as initially expected, the CEO of
the country’s chemicals trade group FEIQUE told
ICIS.
US
PolyOne expects Q2 sales to fall 20% led by
automotive
By Stefan
Baumgarten 16-Jun-20 15:52 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--PolyOne expects a 20% year-on-year
decline in second-quarter sales as the
coronavirus pandemic slashed demand for its
products, Robert Patterson, CEO of the US-based
international polymer materials company said in
an update on Tuesday.
BASF
on track to build EV battery production sites
in Finland and Germany
By
Morgan Condon 15-Jun-20 11:54 LONDON
(ICIS)--BASF has started construction of its
battery materials plant in Harjavalta, Finland,
the German major announced on Monday.
DOMO
Chemicals to close biaxally orientated PA line
on global nylon oversupply
By Morgan Condon 12-Jun-20 13:41 LONDON
(ICIS)--DOMO Chemicals will close its third
line of biaxally oriented phthalic anhydride
(PA) production at its site in Leuna, Germany
due to global overcapacity the
German-headquartered producer announced on
Friday.
Europe capro, nylon faces
tough conditions on weak auto demand
outlook
By Marta Fern
10-Jun-20 15:31 LONDON (ICIS)--Europe
caprolactam (capro), nylon 6 and nylon 6,6
markets will continue to face challenging
trading conditions in the coming months, as key
derivative automotive demand will remain weak.
German auto production,
sales remain weak through
May
By Stefan Baumgarten
05-Jun-20 16:43 LONDON (ICIS)--Germany’s auto
industry remained weak throughout May - with
production down 66% year on year and new car
registrations 50% lower, according to the
latest data on Friday.
Automotive, houseware
segments weakest links in Malaysia PP
market
By Leanne Tan
05-Jun-20 05:09 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Downstream
demand from the automotive and houseware
segments is currently among the weakest in
Malaysia’s polypropylene (PP) market.
Weak
auto sector and slow recovery potential likely
to weigh on Europe PC Q3
sentiment
By Heidi Finch
04-Jun-20 16:29 LONDON (ICIS)--The
coronavirus-weakened automotive sector and slow
recovery potential is likely to weigh on
sentiment for Q3 Europe moulding grade
polycarbonate (PC), despite higher bisphenol A
(BPA) feedstock costs.
UK
May car sales collapse by 89% to 1952 levels as
lockdown devastates industry
By Will Beacham 04-Jun-20 12:39 BARCELONA
(ICIS)--UK new car sales collapsed by 89% year
on year in May to levels not seen since 1952 as
the coronavirus shutdowns and closure of most
automotive production devastated the country’s
market.
INSIGHT:
Electrification in automotive industry could
generate recovery
By Morgan Condon 03-Jun-20 16:10 LONDON
(ICIS)--The European automotive industry is
unlikely to restart smoothly despite the
continued rollback of lockdown restrictions,
which could lead to demand in many chemicals
markets seizing up.
Brazil industrial
activity plunges 27%, durable goods down 80% in
April
By Renato Frimm 03-Jun-20 16:13 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Brazil industrial activity in April
plunged 27.2% year on year, the state
statistical agency said on Wednesday.
Asia’s spot
demand for EPDM to remain subdued amid weak
global auto industry
By Helen Yan 03-Jun-20 09:15 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--Spot demand for ethylene propylene
diene monomer (EPDM) in Asia is likely to
remain subdued as the automotive plants were
still mostly running at reduced rates despite
the reopening of economies in several
countries.
INTERVIEW: US
construction outlook far more positive than
automotive - Huntsman CEO
By Joseph Chang 02-Jun-20 23:56 NEW YORK
(ICIS)--The US building and construction market
is recovering and proving far more resilient
than the automotive sector, the CEO of Huntsman
Corp said on Tuesday.
Moody's assigns B1 rating
to new US Axalta debt
By Juhi
Varma 01-Jun-20 23:44 HOUSTON (ICIS)--Moody’s
assigned a B1 rating to the unsecured debt that
two subsidiaries of Axalta Coating Systems plan
to issue, the US ratings agency said on Monday.
European MEG spot market
breaks downward price
spiral
By Melissa Hurley
01-Jun-20 15:48 LONDON (ICIS)--The European
monoethylene glycol (MEG) market hit a turning
point as May drew to a close, after rising
feedstock costs bolstered sellers and reignited
buying interest.
US
May MEG contracts assessed flat to
lower
By Antoinette Smith
29-May-20 23:01 HOUSTON (ICIS)--US May
monoethylene glycol (MEG) pricing was assessed
flat to lower, on steady demand from
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging as
well as for export, amid sufficient supply.
US
automaker General Motors to increase production
rates; Ford temporarily pauses two
lines
By Adam Yanelli
29-May-20 22:37 HOUSTON (ICIS)--North American
automaker General Motors Co will increase
production rates at multiple plants in the US
and Canada on Monday, one week after restarting
plants that had been idled because of the
coronavirus since mid-March.
Japan
April industrial production falls led by motor
vehicles
By Pearl Bantillo
29-May-20 06:53 SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japan’s
industrial production in April declined, led by
motor vehicles, with further contraction
expected in May as the world’s third-biggest
economy is in the throes of a pandemic-induced
recession.
India’s antidumping probe
into NBR imports to have limited
impact
By Helen Yan 28-May-20 09:38 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--The impact of anti-dumping
investigations into acrylonitrile butadiene
rubber (NBR) imports into India will be limited
as overall demand has shrunk due to the fallout
from the coronavirus pandemic.
Companies still committed
to switching from fossil fuels -
Deloitte
By Juhi Varma 27-May-20 21:35 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Industry and energy executives remain
committed to using less fossil fuel despite
coronavirus-related setbacks, indicates a study
by Deloitte released on Wednesday.
Slow
automotive recovery to maintain weak conditions
for US SBR in H2
By Amanda Hay 27-May-20 21:01 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)
markets appear set for a sluggish second half
of the year as recovery from coronavirus begins
at a slow pace.
Asia
PBT demand in the doldrums amid auto
weakness
By Clive Ong 27-May-20 08:17 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--Asia’s polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)
resin demand remained lacklustre, with limited
improvement expected in the near term.
Demand for US nylon
likely to improve, but long supply could weigh
on market
By Adam Yanelli 26-May-20 23:00 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US demand for nylon is likely to
improve amid efforts to restart the economy
following coronavirus mitigation policies, but
long supply and existing inventory could keep a
ceiling on prices.
European nylon 6, nylon
6,6 May contract prices fall on low automotive
demand
By Marta Fern 26-May-20 20:29 LONDON
(ICIS)--European nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 contract
prices finalised at decreases for May, driven
by low demand and despite the increase in the
May feedstock benzene price.
Europe ABS May contract
prices fall double digits on weak automotive,
feedstocks
By Stephanie Wix 25-May-20 17:01 LONDON
(ICIS)--European
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) May
contract prices have fallen €50-60/tonne driven
by the €13/tonne decrease for feedstock
styrene, ongoing automobile weak demand, and
the €200/tonne decrease for secondary feedstock
butadiene (BD).
Stalled automotive sector
puts hopes on China, decrease in air
travel
By Morgan Condon 25-May-20 11:04 LONDON
(ICIS)--The pandemic has left the automotive
industry on cinder blocks, thwarting any
expectation of recovery from an already-slower
2019.
US
antifreeze-grade MEG prices rise amid bumpy
restart to auto production
By Antoinette Smith 22-May-20 23:00 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US auto production restarted this week,
lifting antifreeze-grade monoethylene glycol
(MEG) prices, but obstacles remain on the road
ahead.
Europe May SBR contracts
hit fresh lows on upstream
losses
By Melissa Hurley 21-May-20 12:30 LONDON
(ICIS)--European styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)
contract prices for May have slumped by various
triple-digit decreases depending on starting
point and account, to new historic lows.
INSIGHT: US MEG
production remains high amid lower demand,
falling margins
By Antoinette Smith 20-May-20 15:37 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US ethane-based monoethylene glycol
(MEG) margins have fallen by nearly 30% in less
than three months, while margins globally have
improved significantly, but this has yet to
cause a reduction in domestic production rates.
US
BDO to see demand slowly return after auto
restart
By Antoinette Smith 20-May-20 14:40 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Typical demand levels for butanediol
(BDO) will be slow to return even as the key US
downstream automobile sector restarts
production.
Demand for US nylon
improves amid efforts to restart
economy
By Adam Yanelli 19-May-20 23:00 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Demand for US nylon 6,6 is likely to
improve now that North American automakers have
restarted idled plants that were shuttered
because of the coronavirus, but with lengthy
supply chains and existing inventory, it
remains unclear how quickly the market will
recover.
India's ailing auto
industry needs long-term reforms for
revival
By Priya Jestin 18-May-20 04:11 MUMBAI
(ICIS)--While the Indian government’s recent
move to infuse liquidity into the economy
through a $266bn fiscal stimulus package could
help the domestic auto industry, the sector
will require long-term reforms to revive it,
said industry experts.
Early
May SBR contracts fall significantly on
upstream BD losses and tyre demand
woes
By Melissa Hurley 16-May-20 01:04 LONDON
(ICIS)--Early European styrene butadiene rubber
(SBR) contracts have been agreed at significant
decreases month on month, due to large losses
seen this month in the upstream butadiene
contract price.
INSIGHT: Pandemic woes to
drive down Europe PP demand in
2020
By Fabrizio Galie 14-May-20 11:00 Vergiate,
ITALY (ICIS)--Lockdowns, production stoppages
and demand falls are all likely to weigh on
Europe polypropylene (PP) consumption this
year, despite resilience for some packaging and
pharmaceutical end markets.
China’s spot interest for
SBR may pick up as car sales
rise
By Helen Yan 14-May-20 07:13 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--China’s styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)
market may see an increase in spot interest
following the latest April car sales data,
which showed a reversal in the year-on-year
downtrend for the first time in 21 months.
US PC
demand to improve as North American automakers
restart idled plants
By Adam Yanelli 13-May-20 23:04 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--Demand for US polycarbonate (PC) is set
to improve now that North American automakers
are restarting idled plants that were shuttered
because of the coronavirus.
EU
passenger car sales fall 76% in
April
By Tom Brown 19-May-20 11:28 LONDON (ICIS)--EU
passenger car sales fell 76.3% year on year in
April, the sharpest fall since records began,
as the automotive industry suffered the
lockdowns across the 27-country bloc, the
European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association
(ACEA) said on Tuesday.
US
nylon market participants eye restart of N
American auto production
By Adam Yanelli 13-May-20 00:31 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US nylon demand is likely to improve as
North American auto production is set to
restart after most plants were idled because of
concerns over the spread of the coronavirus
(Covid-19).
China's April vehicle
sales up 43.5% month on
month
By Fanny Zhang 12-May-20 08:45 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)--China’s vehicle sales in April reached
2.07m units, an increase of 4.4% year on year
and 43.5% month on month, according to data
from China Association of Automobile
Manufacturers (CAAM).
US
April new auto sales fall amid coronavirus
impacts
By Tracy Dang 11-May-20 21:00 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US sales of new light vehicles in April
fell by nearly 25% month on month and was down
by nearly 48% year on year, according to
seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) from
the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
Restart of auto
production bullish for US antifreeze-grade
MEG
By Antoinette Smith 08-May-20 23:23 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US automakers have set restart dates
for 18 May, which will significantly improve
demand for US antifreeze-grade monoethylene
glycol (MEG).
Michigan reopening
prompts firm dates for Big 3 automaker
restarts
By Amanda Hay 08-May-20 16:49 HOUSTON
(ICIS)--US automakers firmed restart dates for
18 May as Michigan announced phased reopening
plans following coronavirus-related shutdowns.