PODCAST: Distributors navigate market chaos, must build resilience

Will Beacham

10-May-2021

BARCELONA (ICIS)–While chemical distributors have been able to thrive, despite chaotic supply/demand conditions, they must now plan for long-term trends such as digitalisation and sustainability.

  • Current chaotic market conditions have echoes of 2008/9 financial crisis
  • Distributor financial results have shown resilience in face of crisis
  • Better quality data is helping distributors navigate crisis with agility
  • Distribution is 15-20% of total chemical demand
  • Care needed to build resilient supply chains without unsustainable costs
  • Distributors can play role in developing regional circular economies
  • Further consolidation can be expected via mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
  • Digitalisation will allow better customer engagement, user experience
  • Questions over size of Asia distribution market, quoted at $120-130bn

Register for Distribution Day on Tuesday 11 May to hear CEOs discuss the future of distribution.

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Click here to listen to the podcast

Editor’s note: This podcast is an opinion piece. The views expressed are those of the presenter and interviewees, and do not necessarily represent those of ICIS.

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