SINGAPORE (ICIS) – Asia’s base oils market is in a period of adjustment, with narrowing light–heavy grade spreads, rising regional supply and evolving trade relationships reshaping sentiment. Heavy-grade premiums in Group II have sharply corrected, while upcoming turnarounds may lend short-term support to lighter grades. New capacities across Singapore, India and Saudi Arabia are set to heighten competition, alongside China’s growing export ambitions and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Meanwhile, discussions around a potential US–India trade deal and India’s expanding crude sourcing options add further uncertainty to future cost structures and import flows.

In this chemical podcast, ICIS editors Michelle Liew and Olivia Dai break down key takeaways from the 30th ICIS World Base Oils & Lubricants Conference and discuss how capacity expansion, changing trade patterns and policy developments are shaping the outlook for Asia’s base oils market.

LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have largely been driven by supply factors and upstream movements, as underlying demand remains subdued on continued wider economic weakness and geopolitical tensions.

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.

Join Mark Victory, Senior Editor, Recycling at ICIS as he asks Valentijn De Neve, CEO of BlueAlp and president of industry association Chemical Recycling Europe, and Egor Dementev, ICIS EMEA recycling analytics team lead about mass balance accounting and the future of the chemical recycling industry following the publishing of the  Single Use Plastic Directive implementing act.

Key topics covered include:

ICIS assesses more than 100 grades throughout the circular plastic value chain globally – from waste bales through to pellets. This includes recycled polyethylene (R-PE), recycled PET (R-PET), R-PP, mixed plastic waste, agglomerates, pyrolysis oil and bio-naphtha.  For more information on ICIS’ recycled plastic products, please contact the ICIS recycling team at [email protected]

The UK chemical industry needs more swift and powerful regulatory support to save it from further erosion as production falls by more than half compared to 2021 levels. 

-          25 UK chemicals closures since 2021, country now only has one cracker

-          Massive social impact of closures, often in deprived areas

-          UK no longer produces some critical chemicals

-          Lost UK chemical production could reach 55-60% from 2021 levels

-          UK needs much more powerful government policy shift to save industry

-          UK chemicals sees toughest business environment for many years

-          Slight pick up expected in 2026

-          For 2026, chemicals output forecast to contract in US, tepid growth in Europe, China

-          India forecast 7% in chemicals output for 2026

-          More protection needed against China, which has moved up the chemicals value chain and subsidises production

In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Stephen Elliott, CEO of the UK Chemical Industries Association and ICIS market development director John Richardson.

LONDON (ICIS)--European ammonia and acrylonitrile (ACN) players are facing supply and demand challenges while regulatory changes, including the recently enforced carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), are further complicating the market picture. 

In this podcast, European ACN editor Nicole Simpson speaks to global ammonia editor Sylvia Tranganida about the likely outlook for the markets. 

·       European ACN market operating at reduced rates as European industry in decline

·       Russian ACN imports virtually gone following new EU sanctions in December 

·       China’s ACN overcapacity is growing but infrastructure for exports is lacking 

·       ACN demand set to remain soft, well served by existing contracts 

·       CBAM creating discontent in ammonia market 

·       Ammonia imports into Europe slowing after CBAM enforced

·       Tight supply in global ammonia market 

·       Natural gas supply a concern for ammonia players 

·       Ammonia demand set to pick up in spring for seasonal reasons

Matt Tudball, Senior Editor, Recycling talks to Carolina Perujo Holland, Senior Analyst Plastics Recycling for EMEA, and Salmon Aidan Lee, Principle for Recycled and Virgin Polyesters in Asia about their highlights from the 2026 PETCORE Europe Annual Conference. The event took place on 5-6 February in Rome, with a packed audience covering both the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET (rPET) markets, and much more. 

Highlights include: 

EU and industry leaders meet in Belgium to call for urgent action to stop and reverse the erosion of the region’s industrial value chains. 

-          New Antwerp meeting of industry leaders and EU leaders aims to speed up moves to save chemicals and other heavy industry

-          Industry is in crisis and action is required right now to stop further deindustrialisation 

-          EU must move to a federal structure to allow for swift decision-making and more powerful tools to support it

-          Coalition of the willing to get action without full consensus

-          Rising tide of regulation needs to be reversed

-          Criticism of member states for “gold-plating” EU regulations, adding new rules at national level

-          Proper pan-European energy market is required

-          Podcast was recorded on Thursday 12 February

LONDON (ICIS)--Europe’s phenol, acetone and derivatives markets have entered 2026 under pressure, with weak demand and rising costs shaping the markets.

Jane Gibson covering the Acetone and phenol editor Jane Gibson is joined by Mat Jolin-Beech covering MMA, Heidi Finch senior editor covering the European BPA and epoxy resins, Sam Lovatt covering PC and Michele Bossi - analyst for the chain.

Join Egor Dementev, ICIS EMEA recycling analytics team lead, as he asks Valentijn De Neve, CEO of BlueAlp and President of industry association Chemical Recycling Europe, and ICIS senior editor recycling Mark Victory about Chemical recycling regulation following the passing of the implementing act on mass balance accounting under the Single Use Plastic Directive, and the future of the industry.  

Improving sentiment in manufacturing, especially in the US, raises hopes of a turning point, but industry needs strong action to save it, especially in Europe. 

-          Big jump in US purchasing manager indices (PMIs) with Europe and China moving in the right direction

-          New report by Roland Berger highlights Europe’s chemicals crisis

-          Rising costs, poor demand, continue to pressurise margins

-          New Antwerp Declaration expected next week 

-          Storms, cold weather bring chaos to Europe, disrupting logistics

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