PODCAST: Red Sea issues dominate Europe phenol, acetone and derivatives markets

LONDON (ICIS)–Red Sea shipping issues have been the hot topic in Q1, with import delays opening up domestic demand opportunities and leading to a firmer price sentiment in some markets. There has been some increase in buying in January, but underlying demand is yet to recover in a shaky macro-economic climate.

Europe ICIS editors Jane Gibson (acetone and phenol), Heidi Finch (bisphenol A and epoxy resins), Mathew Jolin-Beech (methyl methacrylate) and Meeta Ramnani (polycarbonate) discuss the impact of rising sea freight and feedstock costs in the acetone, phenol and derivatives markets.

• Phenol and acetone markets look to downstream demand pull for support
• Red Sea crisis set to continue impacting MMA supply for remainder of Q1
• Europe epoxy and BPA markets exposed to Red Sea issues/import delays, tendency firmer
• European PC suppliers benefiting from the unavailability of Asian imports

Podcast editing by Meeta Ramnani