ICIS - chemical podcasts

Nitrogen prices are mixed at the start of the year, with urea seeing an unexpected recovery while ammonia levels are declining. ICIS senior editors Deepika Thapliyal, Mark Milam and Sylvia Traganida discuss the reasons behind the current trend and what to expect in the coming months. •            Urea prices up but buyers still cautious•            Early spring demand may boost US demand•            Ammonia market awaits Tampa settlement

The US Department of Agriculture has published the January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report which shows record corn production at 15.3bn bushels, while soybean production was up by 35m bushel to 4.2bn bushels.In this podcast, senior editors Sylvia Traganida and Mark Milam talk about the report and its impact on the US domestic fertilizer market.

In this podcast, ICIS analysts Joanne Wang, Zhibo Xiao and Jackie Wong discuss the Asian polypropylene (PP) market and outlook in 2024.

Escalating frictions in the Red Sea have prompted serious concerns over supply and trade flows in the polyethylene and polypropylene markets.As a result, there’s – rather unexpectedly - plenty to discuss in the first European PE and PP podcast of 2024.PE & PP editors for Europe and Africa, Ben Lake and Vicky Ellis are joined by Middle East editor, Nadim Salamoun for a run-down on how the various markets of Gulf Coast, South Asia, Europe, Africa and Turkey are reacting to the Red Sea shipping attacks.They also discuss turnaround seasons, rising freight costs and some European buyers’ sluggish reaction to wider logistics issues. 

Shipping disruptions in Asia and Europe are affecting the supply of oxo-alcohols and plasticizers. Higher costs, delays, and limited spot trades are tightening supplies. European markets also face hesitant buyers, slow spot market, limited bank activity, and low hope for demand improvement.

Chemicals executives should not expect current trough conditions for chemical markets to improve in 2024 as the global slump in demand is likely to persist amid growing overcapacity.   -          China moves to permanently lower economic growth-          China will become self-sufficient, posing major challenge to exporting countries-          Giant crude oil to chemicals plants may threaten existing industry-          Demographics, debt, cost of living crisis weigh on demand-          Chemical companies should focus on advanced materials, services, cutting carbon intensity-          Trade barriers could help protect regional industries, recycling sector-          Suez, Panama canals pose new challenges for 2024

ICIS analysts Jady Ma and Candy Nie discuss China Acrylonitrile (ACN) market in 2023 and outlook for 2024.

As 2023 draws to a close, the global ICIS fertilizer team discusses market conditions across the sector and the near-term outlook for 2024. So much uncertainty, in relation to demand and price developments, especially in light of disruption to shipping routes and the delicate geopolitical landscape moving into 2024, makes forecasting almost impossible.The final podcast of the year features a special guest, acrylonitrile (ACN) markets editor Nazif Nazmul, giving his expert deep dive into the ACN market.

LONDON (ICIS)--European oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets are seeing market fundamentals winding down into the end of the year as producers and end users alike seek to destock into the year end.Attention is quickly turning towards Q1 with some restocking anticipated although beyond this expectations pertaining to underlying demand across the chain remain muted.Glycol ethers report editor Cameron Birch speaks to oxo-alcohols editor Nicole Simpson, acrylate esters editor Mat Jolin-Beech and butyl acetate (butac) editor Marion Boakye about the current conditions in these markets and expectations for the near future.

Catalysts have the potential to facilitate a decarbonized economy through technologies such as renewable-based syngas as a feedstock for chemical and energy production. -          Verbunds may emerge where renewable-based syngas can be used to make chemicals and fuels  -          We need steel in the ground now for plants to help us reach 2030, 2050 net zero goals-          Catalysts may help fuel industry transformation through crude oil to chemicals (COTC) technology-          Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could be made with CO2, creating truly circular transport-          Hydrogen economy has real potential to help reach 2050 CO2 goals-          “All hands on deck” required now throughout society to drive emissions reduction