Europe top stories: weekly summary

LONDON (ICIS)–Here are some of the top stories from ICIS Europe for the week ended 31 December. 

OUTLOOK ’22: Europe chemical tanker contract volumes steady, spot market uncertainty ongoing
The chemical tanker shipping routes for intra-Europe and export routes out of Europe are expected to face another year riddled with coronavirus pandemic uncertainty, volatile fuel pricing and limited availability of many chemicals affecting spot trade.

OUTLOOK ’22: Omicron surge dampens Europe investor confidence but chems M&A to continue
Portfolio optimisation, private equity interest, and the intensifying pressure of sustainability targets are likely to continue to drive the chemicals mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market, despite the battering that investor confidence took in late 2021 when the Omicron COVID-19 variant emerged.

OUTLOOK ’22: Europe R-PET landscape facing fundamental changes from January
European recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) is facing fundamental changes that will alter the landscape of the market during 2022, stemming from a shortage of post-consumer bottles and driven by sustainability targets.

OUTLOOK ’22: Central, east Europe chemicals awaits Poland’s PKN Orlen move into mega merger territory
PKN Orlen remains a whirl of projects. Quite apart from efforts in biorefineries, wind power, and steps toward deploying small nuclear reactors, in its old core businesses of oil and petrochemicals, the Polish major remains intent on creating a central and east Europe (CEE) leviathan by absorbing its biggest domestic rivals.

OUTLOOK ’22: Europe PET, PTA to tackle tough logistics, uncertain demand
The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) value chain in Europe is set to grapple with high logistic costs and disruption amid unpredictable demand.

OUTLOOK ’22: Europe naphtha bullishness to stay amid tight supply, steady demand
The European naphtha market is likely to continue the bullishness into 2022 as it becomes more dominant as a petrochemical feedstock, with consistent gasoline demand and expanding Asian downstream capacity keeping fundamentals steady.