ICIS - chemical podcasts

In this podcast, ICIS Analysts Jady Ma and Olivia Dai discuss China’s toluene and mixed xylene markets. 

New cracker projects in China and the Middle East may lead to older capacity closures, 27m tonnes of new ethylene production expected by 2028, poor profitability to drive M&A, the potential impact of crude oil to chemicals projects, the consequences of the stimulus program on businesses, and China's actions and their global economic consequences.

 In this podcast, ICIS Analysts Jady Ma, Yoyo Liu and Mason Liang discuss supply and demand changes in China’s phenol /acetone industry and introduce the new price assessment for Shandong. 

Chemical companies can harness new sources of data which will help them make strategic decisions on new business models for a less carbon-intensive future. -          Chemical companies need analysis of short and long-term market drivers-          Data and analytics can forecast long-term supply & demand trends-          Decision-making increasingly complex, marrying net zero with the need to remain profitable -          New sources of data can help companies measure Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions-          There are no agreed standards for Life Cycle Assessments -          Emerging green premiums for low carbon products-          Huge volatility in prices, margins for recyclers-          Recycled polymer markets behave completely differently to virgin

European melamine editor, Melissa Hurley, looks at the global situation for melamine with Joy Foo and Daniel Lopes as year end approaches. US bleak manufacturing industry outlook continues to impact market sentiment China’s domestic demand slow in January 2024; likely pick up after Lunar New Year Production cost pressure continues for European suppliers Additional reporting from senior editor Daniel Lopes and Market Reporter Joy Foo.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used by chemical company leaders to help solve their biggest challenges, such as predicting demand and pricing. -          AI can develop demand scenarios for chemical markets-          Companies should focus AI only on their biggest pain points-          AI could measure market sentiment-          ICIS is developing algorithms to forecast pricing-          AI allows programs to perform tasks normally carried out by humans -          Machine learning is an algorithm with the ability to learn-          Deep learning is a neural network which can learn from data -          In aerospace AI already forecasts demand, alters pricing, using algorithms -          Watch an ICIS webinar on digital transformation trends in the chemical industry

LONDON (ICIS)--The outlook for global acrylonitrile (ACN) markets remain bearish as geopolitics-led economic challenges loom for 2024. In this latest podcast, editor of the US ACN report Ramesh Iyer, editor of the Asia ACN report Corey Chew, and editor of the Europe ACN report Nazif Nazmul share the latest developments and expectations for what lies ahead.·       Forms of oversupply expected to persist despite feedstocks volatility·       Buyers aiming to secure additional contractual volume flexibility·       Ongoing economic downturn to constrain global demand recoveryACN is used in the production of synthetic fibres for clothing and home furnishings, engineering plastics and elastomers.

SINGAPORE (ICIS)—Petrochemical markets in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) have faced challenges this year, owing to an unfavourable economic climate and the ongoing regional conflict.In this podcast, ICIS Markets editor Damini Dabholkar and Senior Reporter Nurluqman Suratman discuss recent market conditions in the GCC region and the outlook for 2024, ahead of the 17th Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals (GPCA) Forum in Doha, Qatar.

The Asian and European butanediol (BDO) markets have faced demand weakness throughout 2023 across downstream sectors, and while there is little sign of that changing in the near future given the macroeconomic conditions, new capacities in China are adding yet more uncertainty for market players. Demand to stay limited for remainder of 2023 and into Q1 2024 Increasing supply from China weighing on pricing trends More Chinese producers looking to export outlet, putting additional pressure on Europe, which is already seemingly in the "red-zone" In this podcast, ICIS editors Corey Chew and Yashas Mudumbai discuss the outlook for BDO in both Asia and Europe.

With COP28 pushing climate change up the news agenda, we untangle the mysteries of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and explain what it means for chemicals and fertilisers. -          CBAM puts price on carbon for imports to Europe-          Potential cost of €3.2bn for fertiliser importers, based on 2022 imports, prices-          Covers iron, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity, hydrogen-          Price will be same as existing European Trading System (ETS)-          Importers will pay for the cost of carbon-          Transitional reporting ends 2025, charging phased in 2026-2034 (2.5%-100%)-          Designed to ensure level playing field for imports and local production-          Chemicals get around 75% free allowances for CO2-          Could fall to zero if chemicals added to CBAM likely after 2030-          EU allowance currently €75-80/tonne-          European Commission aims for all imports to be covered by CBAM