ICIS - chemical podcasts

Senior Editor for PET, Caroline Murray, and Senior Editor for Recycling, Matt Tudball talk about the current state of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET (R-PET) markets and the uncertainties both face for the rest of the year. These include: PET feedstock situation High freight costs impacting availability Capacity growth in Asia Upcoming recycled content targets for R-PET Limited availability of food-grade R-PET pellets

SHANGHAI (ICIS)—In this podcast, markets reporter Shannen Ng discusses how northeast Asia’s methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) supply is expected to remain tight as Q3 progresses, however, poor demand expectations in the Asian import markets for the rest of this quarter remain. Polymeric MDI sentiment in SE Asia, India supported by tight supply Monomeric MDI particularly sluggish and expected to remain so Weak demand outlook for China’s downstream construction and automotive sectors

In this discussion, Josh Quah, an Asia ethylene market expert, and analyst Aliena Huang dive into the intricacies of ethylene arbitrage between the US and Asia. They reveal how recent storms and affordability issues may hinder spot trades, while term arrivals for July remain strong. The pair also explores the unique dynamics affecting the US-China arbitrage, seasonal trends, and the impact of global logistical challenges like congestion at the Panama Canal, hinting at a return to normalcy later this year.

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- In this podcast, ICIS analysts Patricia Tao, Lewis Unstead and Aliena Huang delve into how the upcoming CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) will impact China’s export-oriented manufacturing sectors and hydrogen’s crucial role in its low-carbon economy. China's national energy law draft includes hydrogen, a shift towards low-carbon  Move comes ahead of EU's CBAM CBAM to affect global trade, particularly for high-emission products  

LONDON (ICIS) -- Europe’s run up to holiday season has been unusually busy for polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) markets, including some spot prices reversing for the first time since March 2024.In this ICIS podcast, European PE and PP senior editors Vicky Ellis and Ben Lake pick out July’s big themes, from logistics (hurricane Beryl and still-spiked Asian freight rates) to the mismatch between how local suppliers and converters are experiencing demand this month.They also highlight what to watch for August.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published the July World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report, which shows that corn production is forecasted to increase by 240m bushels while for soybeans the outlook is for a decrease by 15m bushels.Senior editor Mark Milam talks to Sylvia Traganida about the report and the latest developments in the US market.

China's petrochemical landscape is becoming increasingly complex with looming refinery capacity caps and a projected shift in feedstock availability. The rise of electric vehicles threatens traditional supply chains, prompting concerns about future plant construction under zero carbon rules. Geopolitical dynamics are also changing, as China strengthens ties with oil-rich Saudi Arabia. With these transformations, Europe faces urgent challenges to safeguard its industry amidst declining prices and fluctuating demand.

Caprolactam (capro) availability in Europe has been very tight until recently due to a shortage of sulphur and low downstream demand. Slow capro demand has also helped balance the market.Senior capro editor Marta Fern talks to senior editors Julia Meehan and Sylvia Traganida about current developments in the market and what lies ahead.

The US overtook the Middle East for the first time as China’s largest supplier of propane and butane in the first half of 2024. 

SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- China is pushing ahead with plans to meet its national emissions targets by facilitating low carbon hydrogen production through regulatory reforms.  China’s hydrogen production and demand have been increasing steadily in recent years but renewable hydrogen, a critical enabler for hard-to-abate industries to reduce carbon footprints, accounted for less than 2% of China's total hydrogen production in 2023.China has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2060.ICIS Asia deputy news editor Nurluqman Suratman and ICIS hydrogen analyst Yu Yunfeng discuss China’s hydrogen developments on this podcast.