ICIS - chemical podcasts

Join Mark Victory, a Senior Editor for Recycling in Europe, and Helen McGeough, the Global Analyst Team Lead for Plastic Recycling, as they dive into Europe's recycling industry. They discuss the urgent need for investment in collection and sorting capacities, emphasizing the significance of high-quality waste for scaling chemical recycling. Mark and Helen also tackle the stark disparities in infrastructure investment across EU member states, and the economic risks associated with neglecting Europe's waste management challenges. A crucial conversation for a sustainable future!

The Plastics Recycling Conference is underway in National Harbor, MD, and Senior Market Editor Emily Friedman and Senior Analyst Corbin Olson break down the key topics among discussions and presentations at the show: US recycling capacity for select polymers for food-contact applications remains under 10% Sustainability-driven grades continue to see 30-200%+ premiums on PCR Tariffs, legislative changes amid top factors influencing market outlooks

The chemicals sector M&A market could see the start of a revival this year, with private equity firms and other strategic investors keen to put war chests of capital to work in a muted growth environment, but political and economic factors remain a concern.In this podcast, ICIS insight editor Tom Brown speaks to Federico Mennella, managing director for industrials at investment bank DC Advisory, about the economic outlook and shifting trends in global chemicals dealflow. Rebound still expected but timing has been pushed back towards the end of the year on trade uncertainty, energy pricing and economic stability Strategic investors have war chests of cash and are looking to M&A in difficult organic growth environment Interest strong for North America chemical sector opportunities due to competitive energy pricing Questions over whether a financial investor could do something with Europe assets that the current owner cannot Private equity continues to drive M&A Increasing trend for bids for assets not in play More flexibility in transactions, with investors taking certain assets out of a wider package Global M&A activity has remained below pre-pandemic levels in size and volume Slight rebound occurring, multiples slightly lower Financing costs remain elevated compared to pre-COVID era Disconnect between buyers and sellers on valuations narrowing

SINGAPORE (ICIS) -- Asia propylene (C3) editor Julia Tan speaks with Asia ethylene (C2) editor Josh Quah about the impact of recent tariff wars on downstream market sentiment, along with the markets' outlook for the second quarter. NE Asia C2 to see demand support from new PVC start-ups in China NE Asia C3 length to weigh on markets; import demand weak amid ample domestic supply New capacity start-ups in China to lengthen supply in olefins markets in Q2

SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- Asia and Mideast isocyanates prices climbed rapidly immediately after the Lunar New Year holiday, followed by sharp corrections in mid to end-February. Ample supply has weighed on overall sentiment, and limited recovery in demand is expected for the rest of March.  Asia MDI, TDI prices fall after Lunar New Year holiday  Ample Asian supply to keep buyers in China, SE Asia cautious  Post-Ramadan recovery in Middle East to be capped by sufficient availability In this podcast, ICIS markets editor Shannen Ng and markets reporter Isaac Tan discuss market conditions and expectations for the near future.

Moves by Germany and across Europe to boost defence spending could give a significant uplift to the region’s beleaguered chemical industry.-          Need to maintain robust national or regional supply chains may benefit chemical industry in Europe, which is threatened with closures-          German defence/infrastructure spending boost could be 2% of GDP, larger than increase linked to German reunification, post-war Marshall Plan-          Rising defence spending in Europe would help boost electricity demand significantly, estimates vary from 7%-30%-          Data-driven technology for defence would also raise electricity demand-          Will raise demand for gas and renewable-based power-          Europe will need to become more self-sufficient in energy, driven by renewables

LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have seen ongoing subdued market conditions in march, and also face the pressure of rising feedstock and production costs.Acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech speaks with glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch and oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye about conditions in these markets and expectations for the near future.

Fresh US tariffs posing a big risk for PE, a chemical industry under threat of “extinction”, more Q4 results to pore over from EU polyolefins – there’s yet again plenty to digest for Europe polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) senior editors.Vicky Ellis and Ben Lake are joined by senior analysts Lorenzo Meazza (PE) and Emiliano Basualto (PP) to consider February trends, what to expect in March and the rest of 2025.Last but not least, they look at different scenarios that US tariffs will affect PE and PP.They touch on articles including US PE exports most vulnerable to retaliatory tariffs, Saudi plans for a new Sipchem/LyondellBasell mixed feed cracker and Orlen’s Q4 petchem operating loss improving.

HOUSTON (ICIS)—US polyethylene terephthalate markets reporter Melissa Wheeler interviews Vice President of the North America PET/Polyester Chain, Antulio Borneo.PET market factors discussed include: Tariffs on Mexico and Canada imports and the impacts to the US PET market Supply and demand balance going into the peak summer season China’s antimony bans on exports to the US and the impact that will have on PET production

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--The northeast Asian propylene import markets have been weighed down by lengthening supply amid restarts at propane dehydrogenation (PDH) units. However, lower affordability levels from derivatives such as propylene oxide (PO) have also curbed import demand.  NE Asia propylene prices cool on weaker demand amid lower affordability levels Oversupply a central issue in northeast Asia for PO makers  Tight SE Asia propylene supply likely to continue amid shutdowns In this latest podcast, ICIS senior editor Julia Tan speaks with markets editor Shannen Ng to discuss market conditions and expectations for the near future.