In this podcast, market editors Zubair Adam (MX) and Miguel Rodriguez Fernandez (PX) discuss the challenges for future demand. 

John Richardson, Market Development Director, hosts this new series of ICIS podcasts focusing on the subject of sustainability, and more specifically, recycling.

In this first episode, John speaks to Helen McGeough, Global Plastics Recycling Analytics Team Lead, and Matt Tudball, Senior Editor for Recycling, Europe about how EU regulation is impacting the European recycling market now and in the future, and why European regulation will have a much more global impact.

Topics include: 

LONDON (ICIS)--Halfway through Q1 - and it is no surprise that there are still a host of challenges facing the phenol, acetone and derivatives chain. These include high energy costs, ongoing poor demand and the uncertainty around future trade flows given fresh Asia capacity and any tariffs – and reciprocal tariffs - from the new Trump administration.

Europe ICIS editors Jane Gibson (acetone and phenol), Heidi Finch (bisphenol A and epoxy resins), Meeta Ramnani (polycarbonate), Mathew Jolin-Beech (methyl methacrylate) and ICIS senior analyst Michele Bossi (aromatics and derivatives) discuss current market conditions, in particular demand challenges, in view of residual macro and geopolitical headwinds, so far in 2025.

Podcast editing by Mathew Jolin-Beech

The Global Impact Coalition (GIC) aims to bring chemical companies and value chain partners together to solve challenges on the road to net zero carbon. 

-          Collective effort will bring down the cost of sustainable solutions

-          GIC is spin off from the World Economic Forum 

-          Major chemical company members include BASF, SABIC, Clariant, Covestro, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi, Syensqo, LG Chem

-          Automotive plastics recycling is a key focus

-          Fully decarbonised car would only add $900 to final price

-          On average decarbonising only adds 2-4% to final price of most goods

-          However decarbonization costs rise steeply up the value chain

-          GIC aims to grow geographically and along industrial value chains

ICIS journalist Will Beacham interviews Charlie Tan, CEO of the GIC and Lars Kissau, president of BASF’s Net Zero Accelerator.

Recycled Plastics senior analyst Andrea Bassetti and US Recycled Plastics senior editor Emily Friedman discuss the main takeaways from the latest round of corporate quarterly earnings calls, as they relate to the US recycled plastics industry.

Senior Editor for Recycling Matt Tudball asks Carolina Perujo Holland, Senior Analysts for Plastics Recycling, and Travis Klein, Senior Analyst for PET how the European markets compare to other regions in terms of competitiveness, impacts of regulation and feedstock costs, and what they'll be covering in their presentation at the ICIS PET Value Chain Conference.

The ICIS PET Value Chain Conference runs from 6-7 March in Amsterdam. Click here to register and see the full agenda.

SINGAPORE (ICIS) --The Trump administration swiftly withdrew financial support for its hydrogen sector, while China is accelerating hydrogen expansion with strong policy backing. 

In this podcast, ICIS hydrogen analysts Patricia Tao and Anita Yang discuss how these developments could gradually shift the global hydrogen market’s center of gravity over the next three to five years.

Europe’s petrochemical sector is in the midst of a crisis which EU leaders can solve through bold actions, according to Ilham Kadri, president of Cefic and CEO of Syensqo.   

-          More than 11 million tonnes of European chemicals capacity slated to close

-          Decline can be reversed with strong EU political action  

-          Simplify bureaucracy, lower energy costs, finance low carbon transition

-          EU needs to stimulate demand for low carbon products, create level playing field against global competition 

-          Time to turn words into action through EU Clean Industrial Deal, new chemicals strategy

-          Chemicals CEOs in Europe need to examine their portfolios to identify where they can win against global competitors

-          Europe has a lot to offer – cutting edge technology, talent

-          Region needs a strong economy and that is only possible with strong chemical industry

What with tough financial results from some producers, the threat of tariffs and upstream price wobbles, 2025 already has a lot to discuss for Europe polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) senior editors. Vicky Ellis and Ben Lake look back on January trends and what's being tussled over for February in contract talks.

They touch on LyondellBasell's Q4 results,  Dow CEO Jim Fitterling's downbeat view on demand, early February market trends and ICIS' article about the SE Asia PE plant shutdowns deemed necessary for rebalancing.

Podcast edited by Will Beacham

LONDON (ICIS)--Relatively stable demand expectations is anticipated to be met with evolving global supply dynamics within the European acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile (ACN) markets in 2025.

In this latest podcast, Europe ABS report editor Stephanie Wix and her counterpart on the Europe ACN report, Nazif Nazmul, share the latest developments and expectations for what lies ahead.

ABS is the largest-volume engineering thermoplastic resin and is used in automobiles, electronics and recreational products.

ACN is used in the production of synthetic fibres for clothing and home furnishings, engineering plastics and elastomers.