In this ICIS Americas podcast, senior market editor Judith Taylor discusses the US paraffin wax market with pricing reporter Dustin Hall.

Taylor explains how shifts in Group I base oil production could affect paraffin wax supply in the months ahead, and examines the possible impact of new gas-to-liquid (GTL) wax production.

In this ICIS Americas podcast, senior market editor Judith Taylor discusses the US base oil market with pricing reporter Dustin Hall.

Taylor explains factors that have pressured base oil prices in the fourth quarter, including weakness in crude oil and supply length in several grades.

In this ICIS Americas podcast, deputy news editor Al Greenwood and pricing reporter Dustin Hall discuss the planned sale of US-based Airgas to France-based Air Liquide. The $13.4bn transaction would create the world’s largest gas company by revenue.

Greenwood explains why Airgas was an attractive purchase for Air Liquide and examines the sale’s potential impact on the industrial gas market.

Senior editor John Dietrich discusses the October ethylene contract settlement and its implications.

A round of contract price decreases in the US base oil market took effect this week, ICIS Americas senior market editor John Dietrich tells pricing reporter Dustin Hall in this podcast episode recorded on Wednesday.

Dietrich explains how base oil pricing has been affected by weakness in crude oil and improving supply/demand fundamentals, and looks back at the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association annual meeting held last week in Boca Raton, Florida.

The winner of Argentina’s upcoming presidential election could help reform the country’s troubled economy and spur an expansion of its petrochemical industry, ICIS Americas deputy news editor Al Greenwood tells pricing reporter Dustin Hall in this podcast episode recorded on Friday.

Greenwood explains the possible implications of increased natural gas production in Argentina – which has the world’s second-largest reserve of shale gas – and the complex political and economic circumstances that could stand in the way of any attempts at expansion.

Fourth-quarter Tampa sulphur contracts have settled at a significant decrease, ICIS Americas markets editor David Tonyan tells pricing reporter Dustin Hall in this podcast episode recorded on Tuesday.

Tonyan explains how soft international prices have pressured the domestic sulphur market, and looks ahead to the possible effects of increased US import activity in 2016.

HOUSTON (ICIS)--US fatty alcohol contracts have settled for the fourth quarter after a series of hard-fought negotiations, ICIS Americas senior market editor Judith Taylor tells pricing reporter Dustin Hall in this podcast episode recorded Thursday. Taylor explains factors that impacted the contract discussions and led to a sharp decline in mid-cut alcohols pricing.

US September ethylene contracts have settled at a six-year low, ICIS Americas senior market editor John Dietrich tells pricing reporter Dustin Hall in this podcast episode recorded Monday.

Dietrich explains how weakness in ethylene spot pricing affected the September contract settlement and looks at ramifications of the contango state of the spot market.

US base oils prices have fallen throughout the month of September, ICIS Americas senior market editor Judith Taylor tells pricing reporter Dustin Hall in this podcast episode.

Taylor examines factors behind the declines, including volatility in crude oil and vacuum gas oil (VGO), and explains how upcoming regulatory changes will affect base oil supply/demand dynamics.