Chemical markets across Asia are seeing more trade flows from low cost producers such as China and the US as competition grows amid rising overcapacity.
- Asia downstream markets not expected to recover until 2027/8
- Low cost producers such as US, China, competing for market share
- US tariffs, sanctions disrupting regional chemical markets
- Moves in China, South Korea, Japan to close uncompetitive plants may help rebalance markets
- China producers are exporting to other regions, such as Latin America
- New China acetic acid plants add 10% to capacity in 2025
- Downstream demand growth not keeping pace
- Since the podcast was recorded on 3 November, a major plant has shut, driving up demand for imports into India, potentially widening arbitrage for Atlantic spot trades
- In China, retirement of older acetic acid plants unlikely to offset capacity addition in near future
ICIS - chemical podcasts