Europe top stories: weekly summary

LONDON (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Europe for the week ended 24 December.

OUTLOOK ’22: Europe isocyanates, polyols growth faces COVID-19 consumer spending doubts
A complex swirl of energy costs, unpredictable consumer trends, politics and regulations – both COVID-19 and otherwise – are set to perplex the polyurethane (PU)-focused markets of isocyanates and polyols in 2022.

OUTLOOK ’22: Europe’s construction, auto sectors face persistent challenges after tough 2021
The construction and automotive industries – two of the largest markets downstream of the chemicals sector – battled against relentless bottlenecks and higher input costs throughout 2021.

OUTLOOK ’22: Europe benzene supported by near-term tightness, healthy demand
The Europe benzene market recently reverted to backwardation, as higher prices open the arbitrage window wide and in anticipation of tightness and healthy demand in the first half of 2022.

OUTLOOK ’22: Europe olefins upbeat on demand, import opportunities but repeat of 2021 unlikely
Europe’s ethylene and propylene market players are generally optimistic for 2022, largely on the back of demand forecasts.

Europe Q1 methanol contract settles at record high
The European methanol contract price for the first quarter has settled at a record high of €495/tonne.