PODCAST: Distributors see improving demand, but geopolitics threatens recovery

BARCELONA (ICIS)–Chemical distributors are seeing signs of a sequential improvement in demand, but increasing geopolitical volatility threatens any recovery, according to the head of trade group Fecc.

• Sequential improvement in demand, destocking winds down
• Red Sea disruption highlights continuing fragility of supply chains
• Geopolitics creates growing instability and volatility
• Europe chemicals need political support
• Permitting needs to speed up to enable low carbon energy transfer
• South Korea chemicals under intense pressure to consolidate

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In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Dorothee Arns, Director General of Fecc (European Association of Chemical Distributors), 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.