PODCAST: Indorama, BASF strategy shift could signal end of integrated European sites

BARCELONA (ICIS)–High costs and cheap imports from Asia may force the owners of integrated petrochemical sites in Europe – such as Indorama Ventures and BASF – to import feedstocks and cease local upstream production.

• Indorama suffers low operating rates, poor profitability
• Six upstream sites under review for closure
• More feedstocks in Asia as refineries start up, less in Europe
• China, India can access cheap Russian oil and gas
• Moves may not be enough to save downstream plants
• Massive capacity growth in China means more trade barriers needed
• Chemicals CEOs need to prepare for constant instability

In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Nigel Davis, ICIS Senior Consultant Asia John Richardson and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

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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Read Paul Hodges and John Richardson’s ICIS blogs.