ICIS - chemical podcasts

European politicians must decide if they want to save the region’s chemical industry as the wave of energy-intensive closures continues. -          Dow to close cracker at Bohlen, Germany plus two other sites with loss of 800 jobs-          More than 5 million tonnes/year of ethylene capacity now under threat in Europe-          Industry still faces high energy costs, regulatory burdens, unfair competition-          China will continue to add capacity at least to 2030-          China chemical plants running at higher-than-expected operating rates-          Importing ethylene and propylene can be expensive-          Political support will be vital to save Europe’s chemical industry-          New US tariffs may see two-tier chemical markets emerge in Asia-          Uncertainty and chaos likely to persist

Joining the discussion is Paul Hodges, Chairman of New Normal Consulting and an expert in global economic trends impacting the chemical industry. He delves into the fragility of key economies, revealing that they aren't as robust as they seem. The rising challenge of China's polypropylene exports and the massive crisis due to European plant shutdowns is alarming. Hodges also highlights the urgent need for climate change action and how resilient innovation in the industry could pave the way for a sustainable future amidst these economic trials.

In this podcast, market editors Zubair Adam (MX) and Miguel Rodriguez Fernandez (PX, OX) showcase the low levels of consumption in Europe.

China's expansion of its carbon market and the EU's implementation of CBAM are reshaping the landscape for high-emission industries. Steel, aluminum and cement are under increasing pressure to decarbonize, and hydrogen is emerging as a strategic solution.In this podcast, ICIS analysts Patricia Tao and Lewis Unstead compare China and Europe’s approaches to decarbonizing heavy industry, and discuss the role of hydrogen in this transformation.

Weak demand continues to plague Europe’s oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets, particularly affecting automotive and construction sectors. Economic and geopolitical challenges are tightening supply levels and pricing trends. The discussion covers how the Middle East conflict influences market sentiment, pushing reliance on contracted volumes instead of spot trading. Experts analyze the oversupply situation and the low pricing trends for products like butyl acetate, shedding light on potential future implications despite a lack of immediate geopolitical effects.

Dorothee Arns, Director General of the European Association of Chemical Distributors, discusses how the Israel/Iran conflict and other geopolitical issues are shaking up the chemical distribution sector. Paul Hodges, Chairman of New Normal Consulting, shares insights on the overcapacity crisis driven by China and the resulting volatility. The conversation highlights the urgent need for innovation and local sourcing to navigate these challenges. With prolonged uncertainty ahead, both guests emphasize the importance of agility in supply chains to mitigate risks and harness new opportunities.

The worst chemicals downturn in living memory is forcing ratings agencies to downgrade more companies and raising fears of bankruptcies. -          Chemical company earnings have been bottom-of-cycle since 2023-          Leverage (borrowing) is high compared to historical levels-          Low earnings increase pressure on leverage, raises risk of default-          Fitch has downgraded more chemical companies over last 12-18 months-          Extended trough in chemicals may lead to bankruptcies-          Operating rates have not recovered as they did after Global Financial Crisis-          Fitch expects gradual recovery from 2026-          A lot more closures needed to rebalance market – could delay recovery-          Ratings agencies look at company costs, strategies and compare to peers-          Diversification of geography and product helps manage riskIn this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Guillaume Daguerre who leads Europe chemicals for ratings agency Fitch, John Richardson from the ICIS market development team, ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting. Click here to register for the ICIS/European Association of Chemical Distributors (Fecc) distributors CEO round table on Monday 16 June. 

HOUSTON (ICIS)—US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Markets Reporter Melissa Wheeler, Vice President of the North America PET/Polyester Chain, Antulio Borneo, Senior Recycled Plastics Editor, Emily Friedman, Latin America PET Senior Markets Editor, Daniel Lopes discuss the implications to the virgin PET and recycled PET (R-PET) markets as a result of tariffs and anti-dumping duties.PET and R-PET market factors discussed include: US PET, R-PET demand outlook for peak summer season Canada’s anti-dumping duties (ADD) investigation on China, Pakistan R-PET, PET production and capacity changes Latin America PET protectionism continues

Mark Victory, Senior Editor for Recycling Europe, and Helen McGeough, Global Analyst Team Lead for Plastic Recycling, discuss the recent trend of brands lowering recycled content targets. They explore the impact of these revisions on demand for recyclate and investments in both mechanical and chemical recycling. The conversation highlights the importance of quality feedstock access and consumer pressure, as well as regulatory implications in the US and Europe. Listeners gain insights into market dynamics and the future of sustainable practices in the recycling sector.

Michael Haite, Group Sustainability Director at Azelis, discusses the future of low carbon products in the chemical industry. He emphasizes how renewable energy access will reshape product offerings and highlights the critical role that distributors play in communicating sustainability data. Haite advocates for standardized carbon footprint measurements and stresses the need for lifecycle analysis. With smaller companies in Asia driving innovation, he foresees a wave of low carbon products within the next few years. Reshoring is also spotlighted as a key trend reshaping regional value chains.