ICIS - chemical podcasts

ICIS - chemical podcasts

This podcast is brought to you by ICIS, a leading global price discovery service for the oil, energy, fertilizer and petrochemical sectors.

  1. HACE 14 H

    PODCAST: Mideast conflict adds pressure as China’s polyolefins producers eye Southeast Asia

    SINGAPORE (ICIS)-- China’s polyethylene (PE) producers are increasingly exploring Southeast Asia (SEA) as an export destination as domestic market fundamentals shift and pressure builds at home. China has traditionally not been a net exporter of PE, but weakening domestic demand and limited ability to clear material domestically are prompting producers to look overseas, with SEA increasingly viewed as a potential growth market. Polypropylene (PP) producers in China and SEA are facing similar challenges, struggling to pass on higher costs as end users have so far resisted price increases in April. While some market participants expect greater acceptance of higher prices from June onwards, converters are considering run rate reductions if margin pressure persists. In this podcast, Senior Editors Izham Ahmad and Jackie Wong discuss evolving supply‑side strategies, demand conditions following an earlier wave of panic buying, and expectations for potential demand easing in the near term. Depleting inventories by end‑May may mark a turning point for demand recovery Shipping constraints and geopolitical risks sharpen focus on shorter‑haul, lower‑risk cargoes Downstream uptake slows after panic buying, market players flag potential demand easing

    7 min

  2. HACE 17 H

    PODCAST: China’s aromatics end-industries demand slows amid rising raw material costs, Mideast conflict

    SHANGHAI (ICIS)--Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in late February, attention has increasingly focused on its impact on energy and petrochemical markets. A steep rise in crude oil and naphtha prices has driven a rapid increase in prices across aromatics and their derivatives. According to ICIS data, as of 22 April, prices of downstream polymer products derived from aromatics in China, including polyester fibre, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polystyrene (PS) and expandable polystyrene (EPS) have risen by 25–40% compared with pre‑conflict levels. This inevitably raises questions about whether end-industry companies can withstand such immense price pressure, what their current countermeasures are, and how these dynamics may feed back into upstream markets. In this podcast, Asian Senior Aromatics Analysts Jenny Yi, Jimmy Zhang, and Yoland Chen discuss how the Middle East conflict is affecting demand across China's aromatics end-use industries and share their views on near- and medium-term implications. The 38th China International Plastics & Rubber Industry Exhibition (Chinaplas) - the world's leading trade fair for the sector - is taking place from April 21 to 24 April in Shanghai, China. ICIS held extensive discussions with market participants attending the event, with key insights shared in today's podcast. End-use industry performance is mixed: nylon, PET resin demand grows, home appliance demand slows, textile and clothing demand may decline ABS demand growth in China is expected to be lower this year than in 2025, while EPS and PS demand is forecast to slow in 2026 before rebounding in 2027 China's polyester fiber consumption and production are set to decline this year, while PET resin demand remains strong, prompting integrated producers to prioritize PET resin output

    11 min

  3. HACE 1 DÍA

    Think Tank: As Iran war drags on, impact moves from base case to serious scenarios

    With the Iran war now in its eighth week, we can expect more serious consequences for chemicals from rising inflation, demand destruction and a prolonged post-war recovery period.  -          43 force majeures in Middle East and Asia, Europe prices hitting record highs -          Sanctioned Russian and Iranian crude oil stored on ships is nearly depleted, exposing markets to greater shortages  -          5-10% of global oil and gas supply is unavailable -          Prepare for demand destruction as global economy adapts to shortages -          Food price inflation likely to hurt poorer nations most, but all economies will suffer -          Inflation may spike to 5-10% as supply shortages impact downstream consumer marketsIn this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

    27 min

  4. HACE 4 DÍAS

    PODCAST: Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives prices high but stabilizing in wake of US-Iran war

    LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have seen prices spike in the wake of the US-Iran war, although they have started to stablize through the month of April. With a challenging two months since the start of the US-Iran war pushing prices up dramatically and tightening the global supply chain, the European markets have been hit hard. However, there are some signs that prices are starting to stabilize, even if supply remains tight and prices high. Acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech speaks to oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye and glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch about how each sector has been hit and impacted by the war.

    12 min

  5. HACE 4 DÍAS

    Sustainably Speaking: Early action, enforcement needed for PET trays to meet PPWR - PETCORE Europe

    In the latest episode of the ICIS Sustainably Speaking podcast, PETCORE Europe’s Jose‑Antonio Alarcón talks to Matt Tudball, ICIS Senior Editor, Recycling, why PET thermoform recycling remains significantly behind bottle recycling and what must change as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) approaches. He outlines efforts to move from theory to real‑world compliance, including tray‑to‑tray recycling demonstrators and the development of functional barrier technologies under Regulation (EU) 2022/1616. Alarcón also warns that progress will depend heavily on earlier investment and stronger engagement from packers and retailers, despite growing technological readiness across the recycling value chain.The PETCORE Europe Thermoforms Conference on 18-19 June 2026 in Valencia, Spain.Key topics discussed: PET thermoform recycling lags far behind bottles PPWR demands proven, scalable recycling solutions Tray‑to‑tray recycling is achievable, not theoretical Functional barriers critical for food‑contact approval Packers and retailers remain key bottleneck Early action and enforcement needed to meet targets

    28 min

  6. 17 ABR

    Middle East conflict tightens fertilizer supply, lifts prices and erodes demand

    The Middle East conflict has affected fertilizer markets pushing prices up due to tight availability and leading to demand destruction in some regions. In this podcast, urea editor Deepika Thapliyal, sulphur editor Manuja Pandey, phosphates editor Chris Vlachopoulos, sulphuric acid editor Andy Hemphill and ammonia editor Sylvia Traganida discuss the latest market developments.   ·       Urea prices jump on tight availability, drop in demand on low affordability ·       Sulphur supply tightness leads to two-tier market for industrial users and fertilizer producers ·       China export ban of sulphuric acid pushes prices to record highs ·       Concerns arise in Europe on farmer affordability leading to phosphates demand destruction ·       Lack of ammonia availability from the Middle East pushes Asian prices up and makes buyers look eastward for product

    22 min

  7. 17 ABR

    Think Tank: Chemical industry needs more innovation despite geopolitical turmoil

    Investment in innovation remains critical to the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the chemical industry, despite the current geopolitical chaos and challenging macroeconomic environment. Innovation is essential for differentiation, long‑term growth and sustainability, not just short‑term commercial success Chemical companies must continue investing in R&D during uncertain periods rather than adopting a “stop‑and‑go” approach Sustainability‑driven innovation is increasingly central to business resilience, customer trust and regulatory compliance Open innovation and partnerships with customers, suppliers, academics and startups are becoming more important than internal R&D alone Digitalisation and AI can help structure vast amounts of unstructured data and support faster, more informed decision‑making Product‑level carbon transparency and credible sustainability data are emerging as competitive necessities New materials enabling recyclability – such as debondable adhesives – illustrate how innovation can link performance and circularity Shifts away from fossil feedstocks towards recycling, renewable raw materials and CO2 utilisation will accelerate over the next decade Regionalisation of supply chains and circular economy solutions are likely to gain momentum amid geopolitical fragmentation Entering innovation awards helps companies benchmark progress, gain credibility and increase the visibility of their innovations Enter the ICIS Innovation Awards! Deadline 12 June.  In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Innovation awards judges Alessia Ielo, global sustainable solutions manager for Brenntag; Denis Bortzmeyer, scientific director for open innovation at Arkema and Eric de Deckere, executive director innovation at Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council).

    42 min

  8. 17 ABR

    PODCAST: Mideast conflicts reshape recent Asian C3 market, and what lies ahead?

    Asian propylene (C3) supply has been shrinking with the ongoing shipping disruption through the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Supply tightness is expected to persist and support the market as feedstock availability and cost pressure remain key problems, weighing down regional plants’ operating rates.  Downstream demand and end-use consumption, however, are facing greater uncertainties as the geopolitical tensions weaken the global economic outlook, which could cloud the upside potential of propylene. In this podcast, ICIS editors Seymour Chenxia and Joy Foo, together with ICIS senior analyst Joey Zhou, Doris He and Lillian Ren revisit Asian propylene price trends since the Middle East conflicts, discuss price forecast, supply/demand conditions and outlook and trade flow changes.

    21 min
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This podcast is brought to you by ICIS, a leading global price discovery service for the oil, energy, fertilizer and petrochemical sectors.

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  • Creador
    ICIS - chemical podcasts
  • Años de actividad
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodios
    300
  • Clasificación
    Apto
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    © Copyright 2026 ICIS - chemical podcasts
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    ICIS - chemical podcasts

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