ICIS - chemical podcasts

BARCELONA (ICIS)--Europe’s petrochemical industry is in steep decline and the region risks losing access to locally-produced critical raw materials unless stronger, faster action is taken by political leaders and regulators.

In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Rob Ingram, CEO of INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe, presdient of Plastics Europe and chairman of Petrochemcials Europe.

LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets continue to face high cost uncertainty and volatility as Q4 beckons. Sentiment in the market remains widely mixed after a subdued start to the autumn on the purchasing side. As 2027 contract discussions commence, there is a renewed focus on sourcing origin, particularly for products which were more exposed to Middle East origin export constraints this year, as well as the close attention being paid to anti dumping duty investigations still ongoing in some cases.

Glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch speaks to oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye and acrylate esters editor Mathew Jolin-Beech about current market conditions and expectations for the near future.

BARCELONA (ICIS)--As Europe’s chemical industry battles for survival, a BASF tie up with Evonik could form a regional leader capable of competing in a chronically oversupplied global market.

In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

As the Middle East war continues, many chemical distributors in Europe are growing their sales and margins by helping customers maintain security of supply through this period of intense disruption.

In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

Recorded after the 2026 European Association of Chemical Distributors (Fecc) annual congress in Vienna, Austria.

This year has seen record price highs, then plunging lows, as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were rocked by the US-Iran war and choppy Red Sea logistics disruption.

After a brief hiatus, the European PE & PP podcast returns, as ICIS senior editors unpick what the Middle Eastern war has meant for September pricing and what we expect for the rest of the year.

ICIS senior editor Vicky Ellis is joined by fellow senior editors for Europe, Ben Lake and Marta Fern, Middle East editor Nadim Salamoun and India market specialist Aswin Kondapally.

The spread of conflict across the Middle East threatens another period of extreme market volatility, as players face up to increasing disruption with strategic reserves much lower than at the start of the conflict. 

• Seizure of the port of Mokha and Perim Island in the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, threatens the closure a second key Gulf trade route
• Global diesel supply critically short with Russian and Gulf refineries severely impaired
• The magnitude of closed-off crude supplies and constrained oil product availability increases the risk of a 1973-74-style fuel crisis
• Higher prices, tighter supply adds fuel to inflation, which could skyrocket over the next 12 months
• Weaker US polyethylene margins and a slide back to negative margins in northeast Asia point to limited pricing power and weak demand 
• Inflation and energy costs could further hit consumer demand as northern hemispheric winter approaches
We also mark the passing of friend and contributor John Richardson. If listeners have memories of John they would like to share please get in touch at [email protected]

Europe’s increasing reliance on LNG leaves chemical producers exposed to winter price and supply shocks as the Middle East war drags on.

In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Ed Cox, global LNG editor at ICIS. 

The summer lull continued to limit spot business across Europe's oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets, while Rhine water levels fell to exceptionally low levels through much of August, disrupting logistics and restricting barge traffic. Although recent rainfall has provided some relief, Rhine logistics remain a key uncertainty as market participants turn their attention to the traditional late August-September restocking period.

Oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate reporter, Marion Boakye,  joins acrylate esters editor, Mathew Jolin-Beech, and glycol ethers editor, Cameron Birch, to discuss current conditions along the oxo-alcohols value chain.

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India's dependence on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) imports from the Middle East has made the country vulnerable to disruptions stemming from the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

In this podcast, ICIS market specialist Aswin Kondapally discusses feedstock constraints on domestic production, how China has helped bridge supply gaps, and the shifting priorities of buyers navigating logistical uncertainty.

This is part two of a two-part series.

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--India's dependence on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) imports from the Middle East has made the country vulnerable to disruptions stemming from the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

In this podcast, ICIS market specialist Aswin Kondapally discusses feedstock constraints on domestic production, how China has helped bridge supply gaps, and the shifting priorities of buyers navigating logistical uncertainty.

This is part one of a two-part series.