Chemical Week

Christian Krueger, head of global sustainability and advocacy for chemical recycling at BASF, joins S&P Global Commodity Insights editors Abdulaziz Ehtaiba and Iris Poon for a conversation about chemical recycling. Topics include the key differences between chemical and mechanical recycling, the investment environment for chemical recycling in the US and Europe, and the role of legislation and governments to incentive a maturing industry.

Thomas Watters, managing director/oil, gas and chemicals at S&P Global Ratings, joins the podcast to discuss the intersection of credit conditions and the industry's outlook. Topics include the impact of 'higher-for-longer' interest rates, what Europe's weak operating environment means for credit, and the impact of China's relentless capacity additions.

CW editor Jameson Croteau joins the podcast to discuss Chemical Week's net zero tracker and the industry's so-far-fitful progress towards reaching its climate goals. Topics include regional differences in goal-setting and the gap between the targets and implementation. You can check out Chemical Week's net-zero tracker here: https://chemweek.com/document/show/phoenix/5077186/Push-for-net-zero-plateaus-in-2023-While-industry-makes-strides-to-curb-Scope-3-implementation-lags-behind-ambitions

Dow CEO Jim Fitterling and Evonik deputy chairman Harald Schwager chat with Chemical Week editor-in-chief Rob Westervelt about their views on chemical markets for 2024, energy transition, European competitiveness, and Dow's net-zero cracker in Alberta. The interviews were recorded live at the 2024 World Petrochemical Conference in March.

Rob Westervelt and Antionette Smith discuss World Petrochemical Conference takeaways, challenges in recycled plastic markets, industry capacity rationalization, Q1 dynamics, economic indicators, and market trends.

Katja Wodjereck, EVP at Neste, discusses the company's renewable fuels strategy, regulatory challenges, competitiveness of renewable feedstocks. Topics include growth strategies, global market trends in renewable polymers, shift to bio refineries in Europe, and the benefits of using biofeedstocks for sustainable development and combating climate change.

With the World Petrochemical Conference by S&P Global getting underway in Houston, join Chemical Week editors Clay Boswell, Mark Thomas and Vincent Valk for a special episode on key trends for the petrochemicals sector in 2024 and what to watch out for at WPC. Topics the outlook for demand and margins, the diverging fortunes of the European and American industry, and why Asia can attract investment despite subpar economics.

Irene Tasi, senior vice president/global industrials at PPG, joins the podcast for a discussion of the evolving role of women and state of gender equality in the chemicals industry. Topics include what the industry can to do attract and retain women, how the industry can be a home for people with diverse personal and professional backgrounds, and what work still needs to be done to advance equality.

Jennifer Abril, president and CEO of Socma, the US trade association for specialty and custom chemical makers, joins the podcast to discuss how the year is looking for companies in the sector. Topics include a topsy-turvy 2023, the likely end of destocking, interest in AI, and Socma's advocacy agenda for 2024. This episode was recorded live at the Socma Show 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. on February 20. 

S&P Global Commodity Insights vice president Mark Morgan and executive director Karine Boccara, lead authors of recent report on sustainable chemicals, join the podcast to to discuss advances in sustainble chemicals. Topics include the role of chemical recycling in sustainability and the challenges - and opportunities - in creating chemical building blocks from renewable or biobased feedstocks. To learn more about S&P Global's Chemical Strategic Reports, including the report on sustainable chemicals, click or tap here. If you enjoyed this episode, we think you'll get a lot of out of the 2024 World Petrochemical Conference. Register here.