Join Emily Friedman, ICIS US recycled plastics senior editor in Episode 5 of Sustainably Speaking alongside Arianne Perez, Asia recycled plastic senior editor, and Joshua Dill, Americas recycled plastic analyst, as they discuss the implications of weak domestic recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) markets between the US and Asia. Even as local feedstock markets tumble, both regions are seeing further downwards pressure from global trade.

Some questions answered during this episode:

LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets have seen lower level of activity in August with supply widely ample across derivative markets and demand subdued. Into September and for the remainder of the year, substantive changes to underlying demand are not widely expected and so the principle focus is still on supply changes and the impact of planned maintenances.

Glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch speaks to oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye and acrylate esters editor Mat Jolin-Beech about conditions in these markets and expectations for the near future.

Chemical companies may see drastic AI-driven changes in sales, marketing, supply chain and product development but it will always augment, not replace humans. 

-          Companies need to work out their pain points and ambition

-          Quantifying AI’s business value is a key challenge

-          Companies often run siloed projects without a unified strategy

-          Clean, trusted data is essential for AI success

-          AI should augment, not replace, human decision-making

-          Governance and ethical frameworks are critical safeguards

-          AI can reshape supply chains and customer engagement

-          Cultural change and workforce education are vital

-          AI raises questions about intellectual property

-          AI adoption in chemicals is still at an early stage

 In this Think Tank podcast,  ICIS journalist Will Beacham interviews AI entrepreneur and consultant Eleanor Manley, Sebastian Rau, director of advanced analytics for ICIS and Carlos Soares, senior vice president for data, analytics & AI at Brenntag. 

LONDON (ICIS)--A mix of regulatory changes, market fundamentals and global economic factors is transforming the Asian biodiesel and glycerine markets.

In this latest podcast, Asia biodiesel editor Evangeline Cheung and glycerine senior editor Helen Yan joins their Europe counterpart Nazif Nazmul to share the latest developments and expectations for what lies ahead.

Biodiesel, which can be derived from vegetable oils, animal fats and other waste-based bio-feedstocks, is used as fuel in diesel engines.

Glycerine is mainly used in personal and oral care products such as skincare creams, toothpaste and mouthwash. It is also used in food products, either as glycerine directly or one of its derivatives such as glycerol monostearate.

·       Global trade increasingly driven by politics

·       Years of low inflation have distorted markets by allowing unprofitable companies to stay in business

·       Global trade terms clearer but the impacts to supply chains still unfolding

·       Demographic shifts continue to rise up policymaker agendas

·       Trade relationships and the path of AI development are key factors for the sector in future

·       At current trajectory, chemicals down-cycle could run for years

European methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) reporter; Gabrielle Jordan and methanol senior editor; Eashani Chavda discusses the supply and demand dynamics of each market as both face atypical, subdued demand in Q3, due to a subpar summer driving season.

Topics discussed include:

Podcast by Gabrielle Jordan and Eashani Chavda 

As a completely new chemical industry landscape unfolds before us, leaders should harness AI, innovation and consolidation opportunities in high cost regions. 

 In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Richard Carter from Carter Consultancy and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting. 

In this podcast, join the ICIS global base oils team as they discuss the key drivers impacting the market in H2.

Rising overcapacity, AI and protectionism may drive a swift transition in chemical production and markets in the next 5-10 years.

-          Commodity chemicals may be produced mainly by large state-owned enterprises

-          Smaller, privately-owned companies may switch to high value composites, specialties, low-carbon chemicals

-          High-cost regions such as Europe could protect their essential commodity chemicals production

-          Protective measures need to be taken in next 3-6 months to rescue EU commodity chemicals

-          A lot more commodity capacity closures required to keep operating rates healthy

-          AI will have a massive impact on chemical companies and markets

-          AI will enable us to navigate and analyse increasingly chaotic markets

-          AI could drive job losses, disrupt economies

-          Climate change will alter seasonal and geographic demand patterns

-          Electronics, property, auto markets are depressed

-          Q2 chemicals results are very poor in all regions

In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews John Richardson from the ICIS market development team, ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting. 

Join John Richardson, ICIS senior executive, business solutions group, in Episode 4 of Sustainably Speaking along with Mark Victory and Matt Tudball, senior editors for recycling Europe, and Helen McGeough, global analyst team lead for plastic recycling as they discuss the European Commission's proposals to allow mass balance for chemical recycling using a fuel-exempt accounting approach under the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), and what this means for the wider recycling world.

Plus, how amendments in the draft Implementing Decision allow for recyclate from outside the EU to count towards the 25% recycled content for polyethylene terephthlate (PET) beverage bottles, as well as whats going on in the wider world of recycling. 

Some questions answered during this episode: