Analytics

Price Forecast

What are the Price Forecasts?

The price forecasts are concise monthly reports that include predicted prices, margins, capacity, supply and demand over 18 months of a chemicals commodity, created by carefully assessing market drivers and feedstock prices.

Forecasts are developed by our independent, global network of market experts and analysts across the value chain.

Available for a range of commodities, a forecast covers everything you need to know to understand where the market is heading. They support you when you need to make decisions, fast.

How do I use the Price Forecast?

You can learn everything you need to know about Price Forecasts with this video

How often are the Price Forecasts updated?

The price forecasts are updated monthly, however, when major unplanned market changes occur, our analysts will re-assess and deliver forecast updates through our dynamic digital platform showing the in-time adjustments to their plans.

Check individual commodities Outlook section for the following month’s official publication date.

Do I have access to Price Forecasts?

They are readily accessible through ICIS.com to customers who have opted for an ICIS Analytics subscription package. 

How do I access Price Forecasts?

Access the latest forecast updates and market drivers via the dynamic and interactive Commodity Page.

Do I have access to feedstock forecasts and data?

Feedstock forecasts are not accessible unless subscribing to the feedstock commodity forecasts.

How many years of price history can I add into the forecast graphs?

You can plot up to 5 years of historical data on price forecast graphs.

What factors do you include in the methodology?

ICIS Price forecast models are fully integrated from crude oil, feedstocks to downstream commodities, mapping the strong interconnections across chemical chains.

Where can I find the Price Forecast methodology?

Each price forecast commodity has a specific methodology document. The methodology button can be accessed from the price forecast chart and is also accessible via the ICIS compliance page.

Are the Price Forecasts available on the ICIS App?

The forecasts are not currently available on the ICIS App on Android / iOS, but we will be exploring this further in future. ICIS.com is optimised for access through popular mobile device browsers, making the forecasts readily accessible.

Margins

What’s new with ICIS margins modelling?

From Monday 19 June 2023, ICIS released an updated version of ICIS Margin Analytics and ICIS Cost Curves, impacting all products and historical data.

What is changing:

  1. Price data resampling
    The way we calculate the price inputs for margins over a particular time period is changing, to ensure internal consistency with other modelling and improve accuracy during periods of greater price volatility. ‘Resampling’ refers to calculation of (for example) monthly price inputs based on weekly price assessments, or weekly price inputs based on daily price assessments.

This data is being recalculated for the whole price history so that trends remain intact.

  1. North East Asian coal price inputs are changing – these will be based on a new price series more reflective of industry costs. 

Changes specific to Margin Analytics:

  1. North East Asian utility inputs are changing to make North East Asian fuel gas, fuel and hydrogen values consistent with the North East Asian natural gas price source.
  2. The factors for utility inputs for MEG processes will be updated based on industry feedback.
  3. The factors for production costs for Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP) as part of the Plasticizers margins will be updated based on industry feedback.
  4. There are some price substitutions to be aware of:
    1. prices for Latin American olefins are being changed to improve consistency with other ICIS modelling
    2. Inland China prices for benzene are being changed due to price series discontinuation.
Previous price series used New price series Margins affected
HDPE Blow Moulding spot FOB Brazil, Assessment, International, 2-4 Weeks, Full Market Range, Weekly

Series ID: 4021196

HDPE Blow Moulding Bagged Hybrid Spot/Contract FOT Brazil Domestic 2-4 Weeks

Series ID: 8602497

Polyethylene Latin America HDPE
LLDPE Butene C4 spot FOB Brazil, Assessment, International, 2-4 Weeks, Full Market Range, Weekly

Series ID: 4021190

LLDPE Butene C4 Bagged Hybrid Spot/Contract FOT Brazil Domestic 2-4- Weeks

Series ID: 8602494

Polyethylene Latin America LLDPE
LDPE Film Liner Grade spot FOB Brazil, Assessment, International, 2-4 Weeks, Full Market Range, Weekly

Series ID: 4021184

LDPE Film Liner Grade Bagged Hybrid Spot/Contract FOT Brazil Domestic 2-4- Weeks
Series ID: 8602489
Polyethylene Latin America LDPE
Polypropylene (Homopolymer) Injection spot FOB Brazil, Assessment, International, Full Market Range, Weekly

Series ID: 4022118

Injection Bagged Hybrid Spot/Contract FOT Brazil Domestic no-data

Series ID: 8602505

Polypropylene Latin America
Benzene China N Domestic Spot Ex-Works 0-7 Days CNY Week

Series ID: 4721003

Benzene Spot CFR Asia NE 2-6 Weeks

Series ID: 4010022 (to apply from 29 May 2023)

Benzene North East Asia
Methanol Barges Contract FOB USG Month

Series ID: 4009014

CDI Methanol US Contract FOB Month USD Month

Series ID: 8603597

Methanol Americas

 

  1. The contract price discounts used in ICIS Margin Analytics for some commodities are being updated to reflect industry levels.
Commodity Region Series ID
Ethylene Europe 4001052
Ethylene North America 4001007
Propylene Europe 4002040
Propylene North America 4002006
Butadiene Europe 4003027
Butadiene North America 4003006
MEG Europe 4006038
MEG North America 4006008
Polystyrene (GPPS) North America 4020146
Polystyrene (HIPS) North America 4020147
Polyethylene (HDPE) Europe 4021238
Polyethylene (LLDPE) Europe 4021235
Polyethylene (LDPE) Europe 4021234
Polypropylene Europe 4022160

How far back does your variable margins data go?

Data is available to view and download from January 2014 onwards.

How can I change the currency and unit?

You can currently view data in the Margins charts as US dollars or Euros per tonne – you can also select and download data in ‘US cents per pound’  – simply change the default currency and units selection as needed.

How can I see quarterly margin performance using the tools?

Yes! Within the ‘chart filters’ and ‘download data’ options, you can choose weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly frequency to view or download the average for the selected period.

How can I see margins generated using a different feedstock?

To view margins generated using a different feedstock, select the feedstock/process you are interested in using the Chart Filters then click Apply Filter. By default, the charts show data for the feedstock/process type in the selected region that produces the most.

Where can I find out what the charts mean?

On each chart, you will find an Info button. Click on this to find out what is represented on the chart.

Where can I find the Margin Analytics methodology?

Each Margin has a specific methodology document. The methodology button can be accessed via the link in the Key Developments tab (on the right at the top of the page) and is also accessible via the ICIS compliance page.

How can I download margin data?

You can download data from an individual chart by selecting the ‘download’ button in the top righthand corner. You can download data, or the chart itself in a .pdf, .jpg, .png or .svg format.

You can also download all page data from the download function at the bottom of the page, according to the criteria set, or data from the individual charts within the widgets.

How can I download all the available margin data each week?

Use the ‘Generate Link’ feature to avoid having to repeat your queries every time you want to update margins data in an excel file.

  1. Select the criteria for the data you want to download in the Download Data filter dropdown menu.
    If you want to continue to refresh the data in your Excel file offline beyond the date automatically selected in the ‘To’ field, make sure that you select a ‘To’ date well into the future.
  2. Click ‘Generate Link’
  3. Copy the link for your selected data
  4. Open an Excel workbook and select the ‘Data’ tab.
  5. Select ‘New Query’
  6. Click ‘Open As’ and select ‘CSV document’. A data preview will load.
  7. The page will open.
  8. Select ‘Close & Load’. Your data will load.
  9. Save your Excel file, and integrate the data into your files as needed.
  10. To download data for more than one margin into the same workbook, return to the website and select the new filter criteria in the data download function.Generate the link and then copy the link.

    Open the same Excel file and add a ‘New Query’ following the instructions above. Your data will load in a different sheet.

     To update your Excel sheet in the following week:

     If you have used a query with a date in the future, just open your excel file, select the ‘Data’ tab, and click ‘Refresh All’.

Open an excel workbook and select the ‘Data’ tab.

Select ‘New Query’

Select ‘From Other Sources’ and then ‘From Web’. Paste in link and click ‘OK’.

*The page below will open.

Click ‘Open As’ and select ‘CSV document’. A data preview will load.

Select ‘Close & Load’. Your data will load.

Are the Margins available on the ICIS App?

The Margins are not currently available on the ICIS App on Android / iOS, but we will be exploring this further in future. ICIS.com is optimised for access through popular mobile device browsers, making the margins readily accessible.

Can I access margins data via the Excel Plug-In?

No. However, you can use the ‘Generate Link’ function in the ‘download data’ section to set up refreshable queries in an Excel file

How can I download all the available margin data each week?

Live Disruptions Tracker

How do I access the Live Supply Disruptions Tracker? 

Customers can access the Live Supply Disruptions Tracker here or find it via the Analytics channel.

How do I use the Live Disruptions Tracker – Supply

You can learn everything you need to know about the Live Disruptions Tracker (Supply) with this video

How do I use the Live Disruptions Tracker (Impact)

You can learn everything you need to know about the Live Disruptions Tracker (Impact) with this video

How do I report a shutdown?

You can report a shutdown using this link Report a Shutdown to ICIS

ICIS Cost Curves

What’s new?

From Monday 19 June 2023, ICIS will be releasing an updated version of ICIS Cost Curves, which will impact on all products and historical data.

What is changing:

  1. Price data resampling
    The way we calculate the price inputs for margins over a particular time period is changing, to ensure internal consistency with other modelling and improve accuracy during periods of greater price volatility. ‘Resampling’ refers to calculation of (for example) monthly price inputs based on weekly price assessments, or weekly price inputs based on daily price assessments.

This data is being recalculated for the whole price history so that trends remain intact.

  1. North East Asian coal price inputs are changing – these will be based on a new price series more reflective of industry costs.

What is ICIS Cost Curves?

ICIS Cost Curves visualises the production costs of individual plants and their relationship to the regional price floor/ceiling; arming you with critical data to act more decisively when  buying, selling, or negotiating.

How regularly is ICIS Cost Curves updated?

Weekly through ICIS’s global network of market experts.

Which commodities are available?

Available commodities:

  • Ethylene
  • Methanol
  • Monoethylene Glycol
  • Polyethylene
  • Polypropylene
  • Polyvinyl Chloride
  • Propylene
  • Styrene

Which regions are available?

ICIS Cost Curves is available for EMEA, APAC and Americas

EMEA covers: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Former USSR
APAC covers: NE Asia, S&SE Asia
Americas covers: North America, South & Central America

You can highlight plants in specific countries, or sites on the cost curve.

Is historical cost curve data and/or historical price window data available?

Historical data for cost curves is available back to 2016.

A time series of the price window is not currently available.

How can I download ICIS Cost Curves data?

You can download the raw data as a CSV file.

The cost curve chart is downloadable as a PNG file.

How does ICIS Cost Curves take volatility in prices into account?

Volatility is a factor when unexpected events happen in the market, so ICIS Cost Curves reflects those changes. It uses spot prices as the basis of its short-term cost calculations, which are typically more responsive than contract prices to changing markets and more closely reflect the absolute price level of deals.

When is the pricing analysis available?

Pricing analysis is available when there is a reported ICIS price against which to compare. Therefore, in regions where there is no ICIS reported price, there is no floor and ceiling.

These are:
Ethylene & Propylene: Middle East, Former USSR, Africa, South & Central America
HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE and PP: Africa
PE: No pricing windows because this is an aggregate of HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE

How do I get access to ICIS Cost Curves?

ICIS Cost Curves is an add-on to ICIS Insight or ICIS Analyse

LNG Edge

Can I get a summary of all vessel specifications, propulsion, containment, capacity all in one place?

Yes, the quickest way to access this is to go to the Charters page, located under the Shipping tab.

Once you are on this page please click Download at the bottom of the table and you will have an excel file with every vessel’s technical specifications.

How can I see the location of FSRUs (floating storage units) globally?

Yes, please go to the Fleet Map and look to the filters down the left of the page. There is a section titled Vessel Filters. Under these filters you can select Vessel Type and Current Usage to find the location of vessels that are currently being used as floating storage units.

How do I create a Watchlist for a country or group of ports?

You can create a watch list from the Watchlist tab located at the top of the screen, in between where it says Fleet Map and Downloads.

Alternatively, while you are on a vessel, port or country page you can click the eye symbol to create a new watchlist or add this item to an existing watchlist.

To delete an item from a watchlist go to the watchlists tab and click the trash can next to the item you want to remove.

How do I download the Excel Plug-In?

Click the Downloads page at the top of the screen. You will then see a green box saying Download Excel plug-in.

How do I see the track/route of a vessel’s previous voyages?

From the vessel page click the tab marked “Voyage History”, scroll to the right and for each voyage you can click “View Voyage”.

What does it mean when there is a number next to the price (3, 2 or 1)?

The number next to a price on the Edge portal is a confidence key. This is a score of 1, 2 or 3 used to rank the level of confidence we have in this value.

1 – Highest level of confidence – Confirmed value verified through cross-referencing our estimated value with customs data. Prices can also be verified by speaking to market participants directly involved in the trade.

2 – Medium level of confidence – Where we have part of the necessary data to confirm the value but the analyst is unsure it can assigned a ranking of one. This is normally happening when we have confirmed the value with a trusted market source, but they were not directly involved in the trade.

3 – Lowest level of confidence – This is more of an approximate value that has been calculated using regression analysis (working backwards from customs data). We take extra care when calculating these values and use an advanced methodology, but they are un-confirmed so cannot be assigned a higher ranking under our methodology.

What does it mean when there is a P symbol next to the Buyer or Seller?

The P symbol stands for provisional or un-confirmed. We label these values as provisional to tell the user that although we have some intel to support this buyer/seller it has not been officially confirmed with a counterpart involved in the trade. Our LNG team will make every effort to confirm this value as soon as possible.

Where can I find the LNG Edge Methodology?

The LNG methodology is available via the ICIS Compliance page.

Supplier Carbon Footprints

What is Supplier Carbon Footprints?

Supplier Carbon Footprints provides specific CO2 equivalent emissions (carbon emissions) for 71 of the world’s chemicals broken down by region, supplier and plant.  

Data covers 71 bulk chemicals and plastics, which are used for the manufacture of many types of goods. 

Which commodities are covered?

Supplier Carbon Footprints are available for 71 commodities. List of commodities available here 

How often is the data updated?

The data is updated annually. The data will be live in the Supplier Carbon Footprints tool by the end of April each year. 

Where can I find information on the methodology?

For subscribers there will be a link to the methodology on the user interface.  

For customers who do not have access to the product it is also available here