Chemical Week

Kamna Kapoor, senior price reporter at S&P Global Energy, and Andre Mikhail, price reporter at S&P Global Energy, join the podcast to discuss the latest in methanol market dynamics. Key topics include a supply glut in the US, ongoing contract negotiations, and the impact of trade barriers.

Nirav Shah, global director/growth fields at Evonik, joins the podcast to discuss the promise and challenges of using pyrolysis oil - derived from recycled plastic - as a chemical feedstock and fuel.

Eric Byer, President and CEO of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution, discusses the current landscape for chemical distributors. He shares insights on the cautious optimism for 2025, highlighting how tariffs have impacted growth and investment. Byer emphasizes the importance of diversifying sourcing strategies post-COVID and the strengths of logistics in distribution. He also warns about the risks of digitalization and AI in product fraud, while outlining key policy needs to drive growth in the sector.

Mujidah Yahaya, a senior price reporter at S&P Global Commodity Insights, and Mark Thomas, a senior editor at Chemical Week with extensive industry experience, dive into the key themes from this year's K-show in Dusseldorf. They discuss the cautious mood due to low turnout but spot some optimism for the future. Topics include Europe's capacity rationalization, buyers pushing for larger discounts, and the impact of cheap imports on the region's competitiveness. They also examine the challenges facing circularity projects amid regulatory uncertainties.

Steve Elliott, chief executive of the UK's Chemical Industries Association, and Luca Raffellini, executive director/chemical consulting at S&P Global Commodity Insights, join Chemical Week editor-in-chief Ian Young for a discussion of Project 2035, the association's initiative aimed at improving the UK industry's competitiveness. Key discussion points include the need for regulatory reform, relief on high energy costs, and prospective future scenarios for the UK chemicals sector. For more information about Project 2035, click or tap here.

S&P Global Commodity Insights price reporters Esther Ng and Kamna Kapoor join the podcast to discuss the impact of sanctions on the Asian methanol market. They explore the resulting shifts in trade flows, pricing dynamics, and the challenges faced by importers as they navigate the transition from Iranian to non-Iranian methanol sources amid fluctuating demand and inventory levels. They also focus on major adjustments due to the sanctions in the Indian market, as well as the impact in China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Longtime Chemical Week editor Rob Westervelt joins podcast host Vincent Valk for a discussion of the chemical industry's competitive landscape after this week's publication of Chemical Week's annual Billion-Dollar Club ranking. Key topics include the implications of the rise of China, why the industry's leaderboard has been static in recent years, and whether equity markets have an appetite for diversified chemical manufacturers.

Torsten Heinemann, head of group innovation and sustainability at Covestro and member of the Global Impact Coalition's executive committee, joins the podcast to discuss the challenges inherent in using recycled material as a feedstock for specialty plastics. Key topics include why it's so difficult drop new raw materials into a process, bottlenecks to expanding recycling, Covestro's efforts to develop and scale technologies in this area, and the importance of cross-industry collaboration.

Chemical Week's Ian Young and Vincent Valk join S&P Global Platts' Daniel Pelosi and host Jameson Croteau for a discussion of Q2 earnings season. Key topics include tariff impacts, the capacity overhang in petchems, what companies are saying about the outlook, and variations in end-market demand.

Chris Jahn, CEO and president of the American Chemistry Council, dives into pressing concerns for the U.S. chemicals sector. He highlights the significance of stable industrial policies post-Trump's tariffs and discusses regulatory complexities impacting long-term investments. Jahn emphasizes the vital role of the chemical industry in reviving U.S. manufacturing, navigating recent budget bill implications for growth, and balancing optimism with challenges in trade policy. His insights reflect a mix of caution and hope for the industry's future.